A SHORT FILM BY IRIS OCONNOR
WIND HEADING WEST
SYNOPSIS
NORA, A YOUNG FEMALE FARMER IN THE IRISH COUNTRY, MUST INSPIRE HER ESTRANGED AMERICAN SISTER TO ACCEPT THEIR GRANDFATHERS’ REQUEST FOR FORGIVENESS IN THE MIDST OF HIS DEATH.
COMPS:
A QUIET GIRL
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
NORMAL PEOPLE
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
COMPS:
A QUIET GIRL
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
NORMAL PEOPLE
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
BANSHEES OF INISHERIN
WHY NOW?
The past four summers have been spent renovating my grandfathers’ late home in a small rural town about 30 minutes outside of Galway, Ireland called Milltown. I remember arriving with my dad in July, 2023. The house was completely run down - bird nests scattered the thick stone walls, overgrown plants crowding the driveway, the water, heat, and electricity were off leading to a glorified glamping situation. Safe to say, the living conditions were tough, but, day-by-day, working hours on end to paint, clean, build, and restore, I now return to a home that feels as much a part of me as it does my history.
FAMILY SEPERATION DUE TO RELIGIOUS DIVIDE
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
SISTERHOOD
UNITY
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA
SISTERHOOD
UNITY
Rooted in the quiet landscape of rural Ireland, the film attempts to question what is needed for forgiveness and how forgiveness takes shape in unity and introspection. These two sisters have completely different stories, but in the end, they need each other.
TEAM
www.irisazuloconnor.com
iao4918@nyu.edu
https://sabinehickey.com/film-1
https://www.jakehenkel.com
jakechenkel@gmail.com
PEARL SWEENEY
https://www.pearlsweeney.com/photography
Pearl graduated with her BFA in Film and Television Production at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2025. She is the 2025 recipient of the Rosco Cinematic Lighting Award presented at ARRI Rentals and received a Faculty Commendation for Camera work at the 2026 First Run Film Festival. In the Fall of 2023, she completed a rigorous 35mm cinematography program at FAMU in Prague, Czechia. Her still photography has been featured in Vogue Magazine and Paper Magazine. With her start in the grip & electric department, she's worked on countless sets ranging from narrative shorts, features, commercials, documentaries, and music videos.
SOFIA BATRES
https://sofiabatres.com
TIMELINE
- CAST AUDITIONS
- BUDGETING
- FUNDRAISING
- TRAVEL PLANNING
- GRANT APPLICATIONS
- CREW MEETINGS
- LOCATION SCOUTING
- SET DRESSING
- CREW MEETINGS
- SET DRESSING
- SHOOT
- SOUND EDITING
- COMPOSITIONS
- COLOR GRADING
- NYC PREMIERE
WHY CONTRIBUTE?
I am eager to collaborate with both New York and Ireland-based artists and filmmakers to bring this vision to life, establishing a working relationship with a new generation of irish & irish-american creatives who share the common denominator of a passion for storytelling. This international production will be a community effort.
As a student filmmaker, people always ask what I think of AI… well, I believe that as long as we, members of the community called humanity, empower, motivate, and support each other in our efforts to create honest art centered around personal memories, stories, and feelings, this art will only be more inspiring amidst an ocean of AI slop. We have the chance to create stuff that can make a difference in the way we treat each other and the way we treat the world--as long as we focus on what we spend our time, attention, and energy on.
Personally, the influx of AI art has made me pay more attention to what I spend time on, influencing my desire to want to support creations infused with human experience. Whether your contribution is monetary, circulatory, or simply supportive, your investment will go towards supporting human-centered art for not only me -- but for all the amazing and talented collaborators apart of this journey.
I hope this story will touch your hearts as much as my learning of my history has touched mine. If you are still reading this – thank you for your time and attention! I want to reiterate that while we are crowdfunding for this production, I am reaching out to ask YOU for input, advice, ideas, anything! I am a student of this world and this story is as personal as it is universal -- if you’d like to hear more information, please, reach out!
WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?
EQUIPMENT: Renting equipment is not cheap - especially overseas. Our equipment will be top-grade in order to capture our amazing cast and the beautiful Irish landscape as best we possibly can. This includes all camera gear, lighting gear, and audio equipment. TRAVEL: In order to bring this amazing collection of diverse creatives together, international travel is necessary and a major cost. Many of the New York contributors have never experienced the magic and beauty Ireland has to offer. Their contributions to this film are necessary, but the appreciation for this beautiful Ireland will touch their hearts – and through the screen, yours too!
MEALS: Our team is working unpaid out of pure love for this project, so the least I can do is keep everyone fed, happy, and energized on set!
HOUSING: While the crew will be hosted in this home (my grandfathers’ renovated schoolhouse), we will need to ensure that the cast is as comfortable as possible during the multi-day shoot. This means we will be accommodating housing for these magnificent actors!
GRANT APPLICATIONS / FESTIVAL SUBMISSION FEES: Both grants and festival submission applications are a cost for the production and must be incorporated into the budget. Grants will help this production get the best care and attention it deserves, while festivals could hopefully allow this film to be seen by cinema lovers everywhere.