Filmmaker ready to roll with next project after win

A Kerry filmmaker, who won the Rising Star category at the Irish Film and Television Awards, is not sitting on his laurels.

Ger Barrett, 25, received the accolade for producing and directing Pilgrim Hill, which had already been acclaimed at festivals at home and abroad.

He will be starting work on his next major project, a drama with an urban theme, being shot on location in Dublin in April.

A cast and crew have been lined up with support from the Irish Film Board and a British broadcaster.

Ger, from Knockanure, Listowel, is currently producing an animated cartoon for Brownbag Films.

His debut feature film, meanwhile, which had a meagre €4,500 budget, was shot at various locations in north Kerry with local farmer and actor Joe Mullins playing the lead role.

“It looks more like a big budget film but I think we just did everything right and to the best of our ability.”

The 88-minute film, which he also wrote, tells the story of a middle-aged bachelor farmer living in a remote place and caring for his ailing father.

“Coming from a farm background and knowing many people like Jimmy (the lead character), I had a special interest in the whole subject. I set out to capture the loneliness and isolation he was going through.”

Pilgrim Hill has won awards in Los Angeles, New York and Colorado and at the Galway Film Fleadh.

Ger stressed he did not make the film to win awards. “I just wanted to tell Jimmy’s story and do it justice. The thing about winning awards is that you get the confidence to go and do other things and that’s what I intend doing.”

Pilgrim Hill will go on release nationally next month.