A NEW steering group has been established by Kerry County Council to help to foster and promote film and the film industry in the county.

Led by Kerry County Council and chaired by council chief executive, Moira Murrell, the group brings together many agencies as well as experts from across the industry with a view to promoting Kerry as a film destination and helping to nurture the sector in the county.

The Council’s Strategic Policy Committee with responsibility for the arts, chaired by Cllr Sam Locke, asked that Kerry County Council consider a more proactive approach to attracting film to Kerry.

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In keeping with the stronger national focus on interdepartmental support for creativity which forms part of the Creative Ireland programme, the new expert advisory group was given the following remit

• To investigate the most effective ways to capitalise of the international interest in Kerry as a location for film

• To investigate the potential business case for a film studio in Kerry

They have been meeting in recent months to draw up a work programme, and co-ordinate activities and pool knowledge as well as exploring the viability of film studios in Kerry.

Kerry County Council identified each film group member based on their expertise and experience relevant to film development in Kerry.

Agencies that support film were invited to the group, as were individuals working in a professional capacity in the film sector.

The group is working with the Kerry Education and Training Board which offers one of the best film, TV and digital media training courses in the country.

Kerry County Council, working with the Irish Film Board, acts as the county contact for incoming film, TV and commercial productions.

The Council’s Arts Office, with support across the departments of Kerry County Council, has functioned as the Kerry Screen Commission since 2001.

This work has seen the local authority support many productions from commercials to The Lobster and Star Wars and it is hoped the new Film Steering Group will help to achieve more in this regard in the years ahead.

The group includes Colm McEvoy, CEO Kerry Education and Training Board, Owen O’Donnell and Brian Nolan of Kerry Education and Training Board, Mary Nash, Principal Officer at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Bríd McElligott and Brigid Crowley, Tralee Institute of Technology, Maeve McGrath, Director Kerry Film Festival, Grace O’Donnell, Chairperson, Kerry Film Festival, Áine Moriarty , Irish Film and Television Awards, Conor O’Carroll, Filmworks, Darragh O’Malley, Kerry Film Studios Project, Maurice Galway, Director Dingle Film Festival/Animation Dingle, Gerry Moloney Enterprise Ireland, Kate Kennelly, Arts Officer/Creative Ireland Coordinator/Kerry Screen Commission, Kerry County Council, Brigid Fitzgerald, Economic Development Officer, Kerry County Council, Tomás Hayes, Local Enterprise Office, Kerry County Council, Paul O’Connor, Film Gaffer/Kerry Film Crew Database Coordinator, Philip King, Producer, Pat Dawson, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sharon O’Keeffe, Arts Office/Creative Ireland Office.