A Captain Unafraid
'A Captain Unafraid' is a documentary film that charts the life and times of 'Dynamite' Johnny O' Brien. From New York to Cavan, and Colombia to Cuba, we follow his blazing trail. In many ways Johnny was a rebel without a cause, that is, until he found his cause in Cuba. As well as speaking to historians, maritime experts and locals in New York and Cuba, the film also contains animated segments which resurrect some of the more memorable of Johnny's voyages. Though he courted trouble and fortune on many's the foreign shore, Captain O' Brien was born on Manhattan's Lower East Side in 1837, and died there 80 years later, in 1917. The film was shot in the U.S. Cuba and Ireland in 2014/15.
A Shorter Cut, Digital and Foreign Shores
A Captain Unafraid was shown at various community screening and events in Ireland throughout summer 2018-the Scully Fest. in Newmarket, Cork, @ the Carnegie Arts Centre in Kenmare, the Black Sheep Hostel in Killarney, and in more far flung shores, such as, in Café Rivendel in Valencia, Spain.
Recently, we've completed a shorter, 52 min cut of the film, for more academic settings. This 52 min cut was an official selection of the Miami Independent Film Festival. We've tried our luck at a few more festivals with this shorter edit, A Captain Unafraid (full length and shorter cut) is set for digital release (Amazon, Vimeo and more) in May of 2019 in conjunction with Janson Media.
Ballymac, Kerry, to Ballygunge, Kolkata!
A Captain Unafraid won the Golden Fox award for best documentary at the Calcutta Cult Film Festival on the 6th of December. 
Kerry Film Festival, Kerry to Cuba
A Captain Unafraid closed the Kerry Film Festival on the 22nd of October. I wrote this piece for Film Ireland on "The Captain" in the lead up to the festival. In a musical aside, there was also this Radio Kerry interview on JJ O' Shea's Global Village. Thanks to all who attended the 18th KFF, next stop Santiago, Cuba!
beir bua
Charles O' Brien
A Captain Unafraid Blogposts
The Captain in Havana
The world premiere of A Captain Unafraid will be in Cuba this June, in time for the 100th anniversary of the death of Dynamite John. Our film will be playing at an E.U. run film festival in Havana. To celebrate here is a music video I put together which includes graphic motion segments and extra footage from the film.
St. Peter's Church (screening and wrap party)
We had a private screening of the film and wrap party in Cork City on friday. The screening took place on North Main St. in a beautiful old deconsecrated church called "St. Peter's." The wrap party was in gulpd café (which is attached to the Triskel Arts Centre). A mighty night/evening was had by all. Seventy people attended, most of whom were connected to "A Captain Unafraid" through the support they had given, monetary and otherwise, over the last 3 years.
Film Soundtrack 
Myself and William Kemp created the soundtrack to A Captain Unafraid, it has just been released and is available on Cd and digital download. Click on the image below to check out the album, éistigí, bain sult! - 
The Captain in Kolkata
The first acceptance for "the Captain's" maiden voyage on the film festival circuit comes from India and the "Kolkata (Calcutta) International Cult Film Festival." We got an official selection! There is a monthly selection process (the Captain won the documentary category this month) leading to a live screening festival next september in "The City Of Light." The winners of each category (each month) will compete in the middle of next year for a place in the live screening.
Done And Dusted
The film has just been completed, now the real work begins, getting her out there! Read about it all in the latest newsletter.