Director Jim Sheridan Talks ’11th Hour’ At Tribeca Film Festival Premiere

Jim Sheridan and Salma Hayek attended the Tribeca Film Festival Premiere of their new short at Regal Battery Park. 

Based on a true story, 11th Hour recounts how, on the evening of 9/11, Maria José’s bar is heaving with locals united in grief and a building rage; a cop pulls his gun and when a surprise visitor enters Maria has to seize the moment to take back control

Tell me a little bit about what inspired you to create this short.

Jim Sheridan: Well, Lisa Hand, told me over a coffee about the story of in the bar in 9/11, and I just immediately said, “That’s a great short, and we should do it.” That’s how it came about.

How was collaborating with Salma Hayek?

Jim Sheridan: Salma, I know 25 years, and I just ring her up, and she says, “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Let’s do it.” That’s how it came about, was as simple as that.

What do you love about the medium of short film versus feature?

Jim Sheridan: I really like the short film. I think it might suit the Irish temperament. We have actually won the short film a few times now. A lot of Irish people make good shorts. Maybe they’re not so good at the long ones. [laughs]

What else do you have coming up next?

I have a movie on the escape of a prison in Ireland, and I have a movie about Lockerbie, the plane crash.