The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Steering group set up to develop county’s growing film industry
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 steering group – which will be chaired by Tralee Councillor Sam Locke – will also examine the potential for the development of a dedicated film studio in the county.
The steering group includes Daragh O’Malley of the Kerry Film Studios Project the group behind proposals to build a massive ‘production village’ at a vacant factory in Tralee’s Clash Industrial Estate.
The group – who have held several meetinsg in recent months to draw up a work programme – will also investigate the most effective ways to capitalise of the international interest in Kerry as a location for film.
Kerry County Council said each film group member had been selected based on their expertise and experience in film development in Kerry.
Agencies and individuals working in a professional capacity in the film sector were invited to join the group which will also work closely with the Kerry Education and Training Board offers several film, TV and digital media courses.
“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,” said KCC spokesperson Owen O’Shea.