Fastnet Short Film Festival

Jim Sheridan

: Jim Sheridan at the Fastnet Short Film Festival May 2009 (Photo courtesy of Tom Newman)

Jim Sheridan was born in Dublin, the son and Anna and Peter Sheridan, an actor and railroad worker. Jim was initially educated by the Irish Christian Brothers and later graduated from University College Dublin. He immigrated with his wife Fran to Canada and then New York City in 1981. He has three daughters Naomi, Kristen and Tess.

Bio:

In 1989, he directed My Left Foot, which became a critical and commercial success and won Daniel Day Lewis and Brenda Fricker Academy Awards.

In 1990 he followed that with The Field ,starring Richard Harris. Harris was nominated for a Best Actor Award for his role.

In 1993 he directed In the Name Of The Father, a fictionalized re-telling of the case of The Guildford Four, starring Daniel Day Lewis, Pete Postlewite and Emma Thompson

In 1996 he co-wrote Some Mother’s Son with Terry George.

In 1997 he directed The Boxer with Daniel Day Lewis which was nominated for a Golden Globe for best film drama

In 2003, he released the semi-autobiographical In America, which tells the story of a family of Irish immigrants trying to succeed in New York. The film received positive reviews and earned Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou Academy Award nominations.

In 2005 he released Get Rich Or die Tryin’, a film starring rap star 50 Cent

His most recent film Brothers starring Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal will shortly be on general release. Reviews are very favourable.

Through his connection with Maurice Seezer, co-composer on the films In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, In America and Get Rich or Die Tryin’ , Jim Sheridan took time out from a very hectic schedule to attend our festival in 2009. Greg Dyke introduced him to a packed house where he entertained the audience with anecdotes and witty stories of his life and passions. We look forward to a future connections with Jim and in the meantime are very proud to have him as a patron of our festival.