Film LOCKERBIE: Writer/Director Jim Sheridan at Syracuse University

On Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, Le Moyne College will host the Oscar-nominated Irish writer, director and producer Jim Sheridan who will talk about his career.

Sheridan directed several acclaimed films, including "My Left Foot" (for which Daniel Day Lewis won his first Academy Award as best actor), "In the Name of the Father" (which received seven Academy Award nominations) and "The Boxer" (nominated for two Golden Globes, including one for best director).

Sheridan's most recent project, "The Secret Scripture" (starring Vanessa Redgrave, Rooney Mara, Theo James and Eric Bana) is in post-production and set for a 2016 release. 

"It's a fantastic story and it was the first time I worked with a lot of those actors; they're wonderful people," said Sheridan in a phone call from Ireland. "I'm right in the middle of finishing that, then I'll fly to Syracuse on Sunday."

After "The Secret Scripture" release, Sheridan will focus on a major project with ties to Syracuse: a screenplay about the Lockerbie bombing of Dec. 21, 1988. 

Jim Sheridan. Barry McCall Photographer

Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York exploded in mid-air over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, including 35 Syracuse University students returning from a semester abroad, and five others with ties to Central New York.

"I remember when it happened; it was a terrible disaster. It would be good to put Lockerbie to rest." Right now, Sheridan is doing research for the screenplay. It's in its early stages, with the working title "Lockerbie." 

"I want to respect the families," Sheridan said. "It's still raw. My brother died in 1967 and it still controls our family in a way. I can only imagine the level of grief there is."

Sheridan said his approach to this subject is "very open-minded" and "based on the evidence. "I find it a fascinating subject but I don't want to take sides. I think the story is really about the friendship which developed between Jim Swire and Baset al-Megrahi."

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