THE chairwoman of the Irish Film Board, Ms Lelia Doolan, has called for the establishment of a levy on cinema seats in order to provide a secure fund for Irish film production.
The system being recommended by Ms Doolan is similar to a system that has operated to aid the French film industry for a number of years.
Writing in the third annual report and review, published today, Ms Doolan says a curriculum should be developed to stimulate and open minds at all levels within the education system to film and television, in order to analyse and understand the coming multimedia era.
Her suggestion of a productions levy on cinema seats has operated in France for a number of years and has attracted criticism from, among others, the US film industry for being contrary to fair competition.
A proposed film commission would market abroad the benefits of Section 35 tax incentives for film, investment and other facilities that exist in Ireland for film production. There is also a need for investment in infrastructure, marketing and distribution.
The annual report points to"stable growth" with nine new feature films completed. A number of films financed by the Film Board won prizes, including Boy from Mercury, Some Mother's Son and Trojan Eddie.
The chief executive, Mr Rod Stoneman, said the board had, since its re-establishment in 1993, supported more than 30 new Irish feature films, 10 documentaries, 15 short films and seven animations.
The board's investment in production totalled £2.5 million in 1995, which yielded production budgets of £22 million. A further £200,000 was devoted towards feature development.
The board's production loans have achieved a recoupment rate of 20 per cent from the investment between 1993 and 1995, which the board claim outstrips other national film boards around the world.
During 1995, the board advanced, a total of £3,539,787 in feature development and production loans. It expects to recoup about £700,000 in shares in profits generated, by film sales for cinema, television and video.
