Ben O’Connor
Ben O’Connor is an award winning filmmaker whose films have been screened on television and at Film Festivals across Europe. His debut feature film Ana Begins toured the European festival circuit winning numerous awards and accolades including Best Actor at the ‘London Independent Film Festival’ and Best Actress at the ‘British Independent Film Festival’. It was also nominated for Best Uk Debut at London’s ‘East End Film Festival’.
Over the past 10 years Ben has been directing and editing fiction films, campaign films, short documentaries, music videos and live performance films working with Rufus Wainwright, Ken Loach, Tom Hardy to name a few. Ben also specialises in films for charities, (Amnesty International, Crisis) using his skills as a film director and editor to bring an emotional maturity and storytelling ability to an often sensitive subject matter.
More work by Ben
Showreel
Ana Begins
Youthanasia
Gambia Has Decided
Pillow Bag
New York Times – Opinion
Bath City FC
Centrepoint: Abi’s Story
If Everybody Is In
Macmillan
Climate Rights For All
Michael Kiwanuka
People’s Vaccines
Blue Whales
Ten Years Of Visual
Showreel
Ana Begins
Ben’s debut feature film. Starring Steve Huison (Full Monty) and Cosima Shaw. Ana Begins is a slow burn drama about grief and starting a new. In 2010 it toured the European festival circuit winning numerous awards and accolades. Winning ‘Best Actor’ at the London IndependentFilmFestival, ‘Best Actress at the British Independent Film Festival and nominated for ‘Best UK Debut Feature’ at London’s East End Film Festival.
Youthanasia
This 4 part web series stars infamous neo cabaret artists Bourgeois & Maurice as they battle their audience, theatre management, an adult baby and a RuPaul’s Drag Race super fan in a desperate attempt to procure the life-preserving make-up that has kept them youthful for the two centuries since they first landed on Earth.
Gambia Has Decided
One of many campaign films Ben has edited for Amnesty International. This one is a short documentary about about a freedom movement in Gambia, #gambiahasdecided, and their successful campaign to uphold the presidential election results where the incumbent president attempted to hold on to power.
Pillow Bag
Directed by Nigel Shafran for Loewe Madrid. Ben edited a series of five different short films for Loewe with Nigel Shafra
New York Times – Opinion
NEW YORK TIMES – RAQQA, SYRIA
A short documentary for the New York Times Opinion. Over 1.600 civilians died in coalition airstrikes on Raqqa, Syria. Why are the U.S. and its allies reporting only 180?
Client: New York Times
Short Documentary
2019
Bath City FC
Produced by Ken Loach this is a short promotional documentary about Bath City FC, it’s history and it’s future as a fan owned football club.
Centrepoint: Abi’s Story
A short doc for homeless charity Centrepoint based on a true story of a young woman running away from home and ending up living on the streets.
If Everybody Is In
Macmillan
Featuring several major actors including Tom Hardy, Richard Gere and Jodie Whittaker, the film was made for the’ Everybody In’ campaign to end homelessness. It was was aired on Channel 5 on world homeless day.
Climate Rights For All
Campaign film linking human rights with the environmental movement. Released by Greenpeace to coincide with UN Climate Summit 2019 in New York.
Client: Greenpeace and Amnesty International
Michael Kiwanuka
Shut Out Campaign for homeless charity Crisis. A series of gigs were played at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. Ben made a series of concert films for this campaign with artists including Paul Weller, Jack Bugg and Bastille.
People’s Vaccines
Blue Whales
Blue Whales is one of several music videos that Ben has made with folk singer Uli Mattsson.
Ten Years Of Visual
A film celebrating ten years of Irish contemporary art museum, VISUAL. Playing at the museum throughout 2020.
Client: Visual Contemporary Art Gallery