Madam, - Your editorial "Supporting role" (August 25th) questions the current state of the Irish film industry and suggests that the "underlying trends may be less than positive". By drawing attention to these issues in your leader column and in the extensive article by Hugh Linehan you underline the idea that film matters.
The Irish Film Board's core purpose is to support the growth of indigenous Irish film-making and for this our highest priority is to create the conditions that will allow Irish film talent to emerge, in particular film directors, film producers and film script-writers. Whether it is art, culture, or entertainment, it is talent that creates the compelling work and it is compelling work that creates demand. All the board's investment in project development, company development, and film production is designed to achieve this end. The Film Board also has responsibility for attracting international film and television production into Ireland and right now the competitive arena is tough and currently does favour television. However, it is important to be aware that in recent major US series filmed in Ireland such as The Tudors, the Film Board was able to secure the appointment of Irish directors to the series in return for investment.
The idea of placing an Irish director in the director's chair of a major incoming feature film would, in the past, have been considered impossible.
High-quality TV drama is a career stepping stone of real importance for the future of the Irish film industry and is greatly enhanced by the increase in domestic Irish TV drama. It is a vehicle that is bringing international and indigenous production together with major benefits for the future.
The Film Board and the industry continue to be strongly supported by the Government and as a result, although the impact of market changes will benefit some more than others, the overall growth of the Irish audiovisual sector in the last 10 years is not in dispute. It is true that the UK film tax incentives currently offer more investment to attract major US productions than our own Section 481, but it is worth understanding why the UK has adopted such an aggressive stance. In the UK the creative industries represent 14 per cent of national GDP which, if mirrored in Ireland, would be greater than agriculture.
The Film Board will continue to make the case to Government to ensure our tax incentives remain internationally competitive and we will continue to concentrate on increasing and developing talented Irish film-makers. This is an approach which needs consistent and sustained effort to succeed, which is why consistent and sustained Government support is so vital, particularly through difficult periods. We do believe that the talent exists and it is our role to continually adapt how our own support can enable it to emerge in a way that will benefit not only the cultural life of the nation but provide major added value to the growth of our own "creative industries". - Yours, etc,
JAMES MORRIS Chairman Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, Dock Road, Galway.