American film producer Amy Hobby makes her feature debut as a director with the independent romantic comedy Coney Island Baby. Shot on digital video, the film takes place in a small section of Sligo, Ireland, affectionately known as Coney Island. Small time hooligan Billy Hayes (screenwriter Karl Geary) returns to the town after spending a year abroad in New York. His plan is to get back with his ex-girlfriend Bridget McGovern (
Laura Fraser) and eventually return to the States, where they can run a gas station together. Even though he claims he's a changed man, the townsfolk aren't happy to see him again and Bridget is already set to marry another guy. After buying a potato-chip delivery truck and reuniting with his salesman dad (Tom Hickey), Billy runs into his old lowlife friends who are plotting a big scam. Coney Island Baby was screened at the2003 Newport International Film Festival, where Hobby won the Jury Award for Best First Time Director. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide