Kirsten Sheridan

Last updated

Kirsten Sheridan
Born (1976-07-14) 14 July 1976 (age 48)
Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, editor
Years active1995–present
Children3

Kirsten Sheridan (born 14 July 1976) is an Irish film director and screenwriter. She is best known for co-writing the semi-autobiographical film In America with her father, director Jim Sheridan, and her sister, Naomi Sheridan, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay [1] and a Golden Globe Award for and Best Screenplay. [2]

Contents

She is also known as the director of films Disco Pigs and August Rush. [3]

Early life

Born in Dublin, Sheridan moved to New York City in 1981, spending her early childhood there while her father struggled to make it as an actor and theater director. Her family moved back to Ireland eight years later, whereupon her father found success as the director of My Left Foot , [4] in which Sheridan plays the younger sister of lead actor Daniel Day-Lewis. [5] She studied script writing at New York University in 1993 and went to film school at University College Dublin, ultimately earning her film degree from Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design in 1998.

Career

Her thesis short film Patterns won several international film festival awards, including Clermont-Ferrand, Cork, Galway, Dresden, Aspen, and Chicago, and her next short, The Case of Majella McGinty, about a little girl who escapes her stressful life by crawling into a suitcase, [6] received festival awards at Foyle, Cork, San Francisco, Cologne, and Worldfest Houston. [7]

The first feature film Sheridan directed was 2001's Disco Pigs , Enda Walsh's screen adaptation of his own play, starring Cillian Murphy and Elaine Cassidy [8] as teenagers in a lifelong, obsessive, antisocial friendship. [6] The Guardian described the independent film as a "stylised, hyperkinetic drama ... that combines kitchen-sink realism and vicious fight scenes with highly stylised fantasy sequences". [4] Disco Pigs earned Sheridan nominations for best director at the British Independent Film Awards and the Irish Film & TV Academy Awards, as well as prizes at the Castellinaria Youth Film Festival, the Giffoni Film Festival, the Young European Cinema Film Festival and the Ourense Film Festival. [7]

Next, Sheridan collaborated with her father Jim and sister Naomi on the script for In America, a film based on their memories of their family's years of poverty in New York, with the story of the death of Jim's younger brother woven in as an added element. [6] Jim directed the film, which went on to success and earned several prestigious awards nominations, [9] including an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. [5] Sheridan's latest[ when? ] film is 2007's August Rush, which stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Keri Russell as star-crossed lovers and musicians, Freddie Highmore as their orphaned musical prodigy offspring, and Robin Williams as a Faginesque character. The Irish Times criticized the film as "bounc(ing) around between so many forms, moods and genres that it proves impossible to get a handle on," [10] while Variety called it "utterly predictable, but with moments of genuine charm." [11]

Sheridan directed Dollhouse in 2010. [12] Filming took place over 21 days, and it was released in 2012. [12] [13] [14] The unscripted story, featured a cast of young Irish actors, including then-unknown Jack Reynor and Seána Kerslake. [15] The film was featured at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival and won the jury prize at the 2012 Odesa International Film Festival.

Sheridan has won many awards for her short films. [7] [9]

Sheridan was a Co-Executive Producer and a writer on the FX series ‘Say Nothing’ premiering on Hulu on November 14, 2024.

She was also an Executive Producer on the upcoming Sky/Peacock series ‘Lockerbie’, starring Colin Firth and premiering on January 2, 2025.

Personal life

Sheridan has three children, sons Leo (born 2002), Séamus (born 2007) and Frankie (born 2010). [16]

Filmography

Short film

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerEditor
1995The BenchYesYesNoYes
1996Gentleman CallerYesNoNoYes
1997Walking into MirrorsYesNoYesYes
1998PatternsYesYesYesYes
1999The Case of Majella McGintyYesNoNoNo

Feature film

YearTitleDirectorWriter
2001 Disco Pigs YesNo
2002 In America NoYes
2007 August Rush YesNo
2012DollhouseYesYes

Editor

Ref.: [17] [13] [18] [3] [19] [20] [21] [22]

Selected awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultNotes
2004 Academy Award Best Original Screenplay In America Nominatedshared with Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan [1] [5]
Golden Globe Award Best Screenplay Nominatedshared with Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan [2]
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Best Writer Wonshared with Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan [23]
2003Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Director of a Feature Film Disco Pigs Nominated [24]
2002British Independent Film AwardsDouglas Hickox Award Disco Pigs Nominated [25]
2000Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Short FilmThe Case of Majella McGintyNominatedshared with producers Siobhan Bourke and Kate Lennon
1998Film Institute of IrelandYoung Irish Talent AwardWon [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel Byrne</span> Irish actor

Gabriel James Byrne is an Irish actor. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards. Byrne was awarded the Irish Film and Television Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and was listed at number 17 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors in 2020. The Guardian named him one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

<i>In America</i> (film) 2002 film by Jim Sheridan

In America is a 2002 drama film directed by Jim Sheridan. The semi-autobiographical screenplay by Jim Sheridan and his daughters, Naomi and Kirsten, focuses on an immigrant Irish family's struggle to start a new life in New York City, as seen through the eyes of the elder daughter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cillian Murphy</span> Irish actor (born 1976)

Cillian Murphy is an Irish actor. His works encompass both stage and screen, and his accolades include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Sheridan</span> Irish film director

Jim Sheridan is an Irish playwright and filmmaker. Between 1989 and 1993, Sheridan directed three critically acclaimed films set in Ireland, My Left Foot (1989), The Field (1990), and In the Name of the Father (1993), and later directed the films The Boxer (1997), In America (2003), and Brothers (2009). Sheridan has received six Academy Award nominations for his work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Friday</span> Musical artist

Gavin Friday is an Irish singer and songwriter, composer, actor and painter, best known as a founding member of the post-punk group The Virgin Prunes.

Ger Ryan is an Irish film and television actress, whose credits include Queer as Folk, Family, The War of the Buttons, The Van, Moll Flanders, Intermission and Little Dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elaine Cassidy</span> Irish actress (born 1979)

Elaine Cassidy is an Irish actress. Her acting credits include The Sun, the Moon and the Stars (1996), Felicia's Journey (1999), The Others (2001), Disco Pigs (2002), The Ghost Squad (2005), Fingersmith (2005), And When Did You Last See Your Father? (2007), Little White Lie (2008), Harper's Island (2009), The Paradise (2012), The Program (2015), No Offence (2015–2018), Strangeways Here We Come (2018), Intruder (2021), A Discovery of Witches (2021–2022), The Wonder (2022), and The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023).

Jonathan Figgis is an Irish film director and producer. He was a co-founder and director of award-winning film production company October Eleven Pictures. Having left October Eleven Pictures in 2012, he now heads Figgis Visuals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enda Walsh</span> Irish playwright (born 1967)

Enda Walsh is an Irish playwright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eileen Walsh</span> Irish actress

Eileen Walsh is an Irish actress. Her credits include Miss Julie (1999), Janice Beard 45 WPM (1999), When Brendan Met Trudy (2000), The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Pure Mule (2005), Eden (2008), The End (2008), Catastrophe (2015), The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aisling Walsh</span> Irish screenwriter and director (born 1958)

Aisling Walsh is an Irish screenwriter and director. Her work has screened at festivals around the world and she has won several accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award for Room at the Top (2012) as well as an Irish Film and Television Award and a Canadian Screen Award for her direction of Maudie (2016). She is known for her "unflinching honest portrayals of a Catholic Irish society".

W.C. is an Irish independent film about two toilet attendants working in a jazz bar. The film premiered at the 2007 Dublin Film Festival and was screened at several other international film festivals. It won the 'best foreign film' award at the 2009 Las Vegas Film Festival and 'best feature film' at the Waterford Film Festival. The film received a broader release in 2009.

The Kerry Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland, during October / November. The Kerry Film Festival is funded by Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council as well as having corporate sponsorship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Eliza Regan</span> Irish actress

Emma Eliza Regan is an Irish actress who has appeared in Irish feature films The Fading Light (2009), Love Eternal (2013), Darkness on the Edge Of Town (2014), and Penance 2018, and on television in Aisling's Diary (2009), Jack Taylor (2012), and Vikings (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Reynor</span> Irish actor (born 1992)

Jack Reynor is an Irish actor. His notable roles include the films What Richard Did (2012), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Glassland (2014), Macbeth (2015), Sing Street (2016) and Midsommar (2019), as well as the series Strange Angel (2018–2019) and The Peripheral (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moe Dunford</span> Irish actor

Moe Dunford is an Irish actor. He is best known for his roles in Vikings and Patrick's Day. He is the recipient of a number of accolades, including three Irish Film & Television Awards.

The IFTA Film & Drama Awards are awards given by the Irish Film & Television Academy for Irish television and film. The awards were first presented in 1999. The ceremonies recognise Irish creative talent working in film, drama, and television, and winners receive a cast bronze statuette.

Seána Kerslake is an Irish actress. She is known for portraying the role of Aisling O'Dowd in RTÉ2 comedy-drama Can't Cope, Won't Cope (2016–2018). In 2017, she was named one of sixteen young actors by Screen International as a Star of Tomorrow. In 2020, she was ranked at number 50 in The Irish Times list of the greatest Irish film actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bow Street Academy</span> Acting Academy in Dublin

Bow Street Academy — the National Screen Acting School of Ireland is a film and television acting academy in Dublin, Ireland. Named after its location on the road that was once home to the original Jameson whisky distillery, graduates of its Full Time Programme include Niamh Algar, Ann Skelly, Leah McNamara, Niamh McCormack, Dónall Ó Héalai and Laurence O’Fuairan

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Harris International Film Festival</span> Annual event in Limerick, Ireland

The Richard Harris International Film Festival (RHIFF) is an annual film festival held in Limerick, Ireland, named for the actor Richard Harris (1930–2002), a native of the city. The festival is affiliated with the Irish Film and Television Academy and takes place in late October every year.

References

  1. 1 2 "Academy Awards Database Search | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences". awardsdatabase.oscars.org. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "2004 Golden Globe Nominations" Archived 22 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Premiere. Accessed 3 November 2007.
  3. 1 2 Welkos, Robert W. (22 November 2007). "Trying to strike the perfect notes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 Macnab, Geoffrey. "My life as a pig", The Guardian, 12 November 2001. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 "Person of the Month Jim , Naomi & Kirsten Sheridan", Independent.ie, 22 February 2004. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 Kemp, Rebecca. "In America" Archived 19 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Close-UpFilm.com. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Who's Who Directors: Kirsten Sheridan", IFTN.ie. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  8. "Kirsten Sheridan Filmography", IMDb.com. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  9. 1 2 "Kirsten Sheridan Awards", IMDb.com. Accessed 2 November 2007.
  10. Clarke, Donald. "August Rush",The Irish Times, 23 November 2007. Accessed 24 November 2007.
  11. Weissberg, Jay. "August Rush", Variety, 22 October 2007. Then in 2012 Kirsten released another movie called "Dollhouse". Accessed 2 November 2007.
  12. 1 2 "talented seana's reaching for the stars". Irish Independent . 20 May 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Kirsten Sheridan's "Dollhouse" set for Berlin Panorama - The Irish Film & Television Network". iftn.ie.
  14. Molumby, Deirdre (12 May 2014). "Kirsten Sheridan to Film Late Writer's Novel". IFTN.ie . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  15. Falvey, Deirdre (3 October 2017). "Are these the Irish film stars of the future?". The Irish Times . Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  16. "Kirsten Sheridan Biography". IMDB.
  17. McNary, Dave (6 November 2015). "Noomi Rapace Starring in Amy Winehouse Biopic". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  18. Felperin, Leslie (12 February 2012). "Dollhouse". Variety. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  19. Grove,AP, Martin A.; Grove, Martin A.; AP (21 November 2007). "First studio film means big time for Sheridan". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  20. Matsumoto, Jon (28 November 2003). "'In America' is a Sheridan family affair". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  21. Russell, Jamie (27 October 2003). "Gloucestershire Films - In America". BBC. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  22. "'In America' is truly captivating". Daily Pilot. 19 December 2003. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  23. "Winners 2003" Archived 14 December 2005 at archive.today , BFCA.org. Accessed 3 November 2007.
  24. Stewart, Miriam. "News: Irish Film and Television Academy Awards", Arts Ireland, December 2002. Accessed 3 November 2007.
  25. "2002 Nominations", BIFA.org.uk. Accessed 2 November 2007.