Awards for Ballydehob writer's first major movie

BALLYDEHOB writer and director, Jennifer Corcoran, has picked up 12 prestigious awards for her first movie.

She Sings to the Stars has secured world wide distribution as well as critical acclaim at the American Indian Film Festival and the Montreal Film Festival.

The movie is about Mabel, a Native American grandmother who lives alone tending her drought-ravaged corn in the deserts of New Mexico.

Two different men step into her world: one is her grandson, Third, and the other is Lyle, a magician from LA.

‘The absence of water in this barren landscape is what binds them. They are stuck – there is no water for their cars; there isn’t even enough water for them to survive.

‘It is in that situation that they are forced to look at life differently,’ said Jennifer. ‘And they discover that whatever you believe, that’s the magic.’

Jennifer very much likes the advice of one critic who said: ‘You have to leave your impatience at the door. The honour drum award from the Red Nation Film Festival pleased me most because it is a nod of recognition from the native community.’ But the film has also won awards for best director, best feature film, best actor, best actress and best cinematography.

Jennifer, who has lived in Ballydehob for the last 25 years, has a background in theatre and made numerous shorts, as well as documentaries. 

She hopes this, her first dramatic feature, will resonate with West Cork audiences because she believes that they understand magic too.

 ‘Hopefully, my next film on this subject will be shot in West Cork in late 2018 because it is a location that is every bit as captivating as the deserts of New Mexico.’

She Sings to the Stars will be shown at the Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre at 7.30pm on Friday, October 27th and Saturday, October 28th, and Jennifer will be conducting a Q&A after the viewing.