An uncompromising creator, a legend of world cinema, and an icon of Irish culture –Jim Sheridan embodies all these roles in his career. Hailing from the “Emerald Isle,” this director, screenwriter, and producer is recognized within the film community as one of the most outstanding humanists of the contemporary screen. Jim Sheridan plays a key role at this year’s Mastercard OFF CAMERA, as he not only joined the recipients of the “Against the Current” award, but also presented his latest film, “Re-creation”, to the festival audience ahead of its premiere. We had the opportunity to speak with the renowned filmmaker about his work on this production, as well as discuss the state of contemporary cinema and the challenges facing young filmmakers.

Your career spans over 40 years, and you’ve received more than a dozen Academy Award nominations for your films. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from all your experiences?

I think the most important thing is just to be myself, just not to perform, not to try to fit into anybody’s preconceived idea. But survival is difficult right now in the film world because it’s kind of become dissipated. I think also in filmmaking, momentum is very important. If you have something going, you just keep it going because the business is based on momentum.

You also keep going, as evidenced by your latest film, “Re-creation”, which is having its pre-release screening at our festival. What was it like for you to direct a film and star in it at the same time?

It was very interesting and also very liberating. I just did an interview with somebody who was saying that it reminded him of Tadeusz Kantor, who used to always be on stage with the actors. I didn’t think of that at all, but it was a very interesting perspective. It was kind of like being able to orchestrate something from the inside as opposed to directing from the outside.

You mentioned at the beginning of our conversation that survival in the film industry is currently difficult. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for artists who want to bring their own vision to life?

I think the biggest challenge now is that it’s very difficult for young filmmakers to make a living making films. And that’s really going to be profound going forward. I think filmmakersare going to have to find an audience first and make a film second, as opposed to making a film and then looking for an audience. I think they’re going to have to know where the audience they’re addressing is.

So, what advice would you give to filmmakers who want to make a name for themselves in independent cinema?

I would say to them to start making very short little snippets of even talking about what their movie is about and putting it out in the world on YouTube or TikTok and just getting responses and trying to figure out how the story you’re going to tell will affect the audience and whether there’s an audience for it, rather than just blindly going ahead with a script.

At this year’s Mastercard OFF CAMERA, you were honored with the “Against the Current” award, given to artists who forge their own path. What does this award mean to you?

Well, the award is great because it’s kind of like indicating that you’re an individual who’s not like just doing the corporate shuffle, not just doing what the studios want or what the money wants. I’ve always only made whatever I want to make, like once or twice I made films that were American films that were prescripted. But in general, I just like to find stories that I’m passionate and compassionate about. And that’s what I do.

Aleksandra Kubas

photo Klaudia Kot