A new all-Ireland body representing the film and television industry has been established.
The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has been set up to stimulate original and creative production work and encourage excellence in the industry.
The existing annual IFTA Awards ceremony will also be rescheduled to February each year to position it in line with the international awards season.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue said Irish film and television is experiencing a new buoyancy and confidence.
"Ireland has won the Palme D'Or at Cannes, and our actors, directors and producers continue to make an impact internationally," he said. "The establishment of the new Academy with the February positioning of the IFTA Awards is an important and welcome addition to the industry's efforts to ensure that Ireland will build on its success into the future."
Given the growing success of the existing IFTA Awards, including a primetime live broadcast to 640,000 viewers and increasing international recognition, its organisers, the Irish Film & Television Network (IFTN), initiated talks in late 2005 with key players with a view to introducing an all-Ireland Academy which would encourage excellence within the industry.
As a result, the IFTA has now been established with representation from across the industry including the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, broadcasters: RTE, BBC, TV3, UTV, TG4, Screen Producers Ireland, SIPTU, Irish Equity, Screen Directors' Guild, Irish Playwrights' and Screenwriters' Guild and IFTN.
The first decision of the Academy was to switch the IFTA Awards to February each year in line with the international awards season. The next awards will be held in February.
PA