CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE International Feature Competition

“Why can’t I,” devout Irish Catholic seminary student Daniel earnestly asks the church’s hierarchy, “be a priest and marry the girl I love?” So posits writer/director John Deery as he tackles the most fundamentally challenging of topics-how to reconcile human· sexuality and Catholic dogma-with commitment, passion and unflinching honesty.

Reeling from the suicide of an HIV-positive priest and determined to keep a lid on the dirty little secrets that drove him to take his life, the church decides to make an example of earnest and faithful seminary student Daniel McLaughlin, expelling him for the appearance of impropriety when he is seen leaving another student’s room late at night. Devastated by his unjust ouster Daniel joins forces with a local journalist to expose and confront the church’s hypocrisy regarding celibacy.

This is a beautiful, thoughtful and challenging feature debut that takes an even hand to the hottest of topics and powerfully succeeds.