Kerry writer upbeat about prospects for debut film

THE first week of October represents another forward step in the burgeoning career of Kerry filmmaker Gerard Barrett with the premiere of his debut feature film, Pilgrim’s Hill, in his native Listowel.

The 23-year-old writer and director is upbeat about the film’s commercial prospects: “The response from selected audiences at test screenings has been very positive and I hope it will be the same with the general public,” he says. After the success of his short film, The Valley of Knockanure, and his two plays, Dacent Savage and The Job, Barrett was able to gather independent funding to shoot his debut feature.

“It was important for me to do this now. Pilgrim Hill tells the story of a small farmer in rural Ireland, struggling with both his personal and farming life.