More than 100 films from 17 countries will be screened at this year's Kerry Film Festival. At the launch of the seventh annual Samhlaíocht Kerry Film Festival yesterday at the Great Blasket Centre in Dún Chaoin, west Kerry, Minister for Arts, John O'Donoghue said film production was a major player in the economy.
"Apart from creative reasons, the key advantage of locating a production in Ireland has been Section 481," Mr O'Donoghue said.
He said 2006 was a record year, with some 17 film and TV productions underway. This included the TV drama series The Tudors, with Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Henry VIII, currently shooting in Ardmore Studios and in Dublin.
That production had a total budget of €29 million, around €19 million of which would be spent in the Republic, Mr O'Donoghue outlined.
"Section 481's availability to television is now a key competitive advantage for Ireland," he said.
However, partly as a result of US film incentives to keep production at home, there were no large budget features here this year. He warned that complacency could not be allowed to set in in a climate of growing global competition to secure the big productions.
Attractive film breaks, production incentives, a good talent pool and studio complexes to meet the needs of high-budget productions were now being offered by many countries around the world, including the US.
"Ireland now holds its own due to our talent pool and incentives package," he said.
The week-long festival is taking place around the county and is in association with Ardmore Studios and supported by RTÉ's Lyric FM. As well as international short films, it also features masterclasses in film-making.
A top prize of €10,000 will be awarded to the best director. There are also prizes for best animation, best experimental, best documentary and best Irish short - to be judged by an international panel.
Other events include the screening of the animated classic The Iron Giant and this year's music documentary Fleetwood Mac - Rumours will be introduced by its director, David Heffernan, on Friday next. An audience choice award is being introduced by John Moore, director of The Omen 666.
A panel discussion at the Institute of Technology Tralee along with two documentary shorts will focus on planning - one of the most heated issues in the county - and development in the Republic and the HSE South are supporting a screening of Calendar Girls for active retired groups around the county.
The masterclass programme, sponsored by Fás Screen Training Ireland, includes a production workshop with Hollywood producer Ned Dowd, who recently worked on Mel Gibson's Mayan epic, Apocalypto.
Further details about the festival can be located at www.kerryfilmfestival.com