2008-04-20 15:48

WORLD RENOWNED EUROPEAN FILM DIRECTORS TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN
 
The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland will host the FERA AGM at the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in Dublin
 
Dublin April 18th 2008  The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland is proud to be hosting the General Assembly of the Federation of European Film and Television Directors (FERA) in Dublin from May 30th – June 1st 2008.  This historic and prestigious event, taking place in Dublin for the first time ever, will focus on important initiatives and common concerns for European directors such as creative and economic challenges that European directors face today, new technology and the impact this has on the creative process and European legislation and the regulation of films online. Numerous special events will include screenings and a novel event on Sandymount Strand, where excerpts from Ulysses’ will be read to delegates while traditional fish and chips is served. SDGI will play host to over 70 delegates at the AGM, many of whom will be noteworthy European directors making their first trip to Dublin, along with prominent EU lobbyists and officials who will provide an expert view of topics discussed. The event also marks the historic first collaboration between SDGI and the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild. The FERA AGM is being sponsored by the Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland, FAS/Screen Training Ireland, Windmill Lane and the National Film School.
 
Mrs Liv Ullmann, President of FERA, said: “Our vision in FERA is to represent directors in a very constructive way, not only for what we are and what we aspire to be, but also to enable us to embrace the new media, the new ways of expression and new ways for us to reach our audiences.  I very much look forward to discussing these topics and others with fellow European directors in Dublin.”
 
“It is an enormous honour that SDGI, a relatively young and developing organisation, has been given the opportunity to play such a central role in the political arena of the European audiovisual industry.  As a politically motivated organisation, SDGI has moved from strength to strength in recent years.  Now, as the hosts of such a prestigious and influential conference, we can make our presence felt even more strongly, both in Ireland and internationally” said Birch Hamilton, Executive Director of SDGI.
 
The rapid progression of developments in new media and their potential impact on directors is cause for concern, and as such will form a key topic of discussion at the AGM. The implications of European legislation (existing and impending) on new technology are significant for the filmmaking community in all its variety, and ultimately for the public who engage with these artforms. The creative and artistic elements of the media industry will be impacted upon significantly by the legislation in question, and this topic will be a focus of the AGM.  SDGI hopes that this conference will highlight areas in which Irish institutions could respond better to this vital cultural debate at a European level, and raise awareness of areas where Ireland is not currently implementing existing European legislation.
 
Delegates and guests at this distinguished event will include current President of FERA and renowned director and actress Liv Ullmann, who will introduce a special screening of her film Faithless at the IFI in Temple Bar, Dublin.  This will be followed by a “director in dialogue” session with the director discussing her work. The AGM will also mark the handover of the presidency of FERA – the new president will be announced in the coming weeks. SDGI member Declan Recks will also present a special screening to delegates of his critically acclaimed film Eden.  This event will take place in the new Light House Cinema, Smithfield.  Following the event, Eugene O’Brien will join Declan Recks on stage to discuss the intricate relationship between director and writer, and how this relationship is a unique dynamic within the filmmaking community.
 
FERA (Fédération Européenne des Réalisateurs de l’Audiovisuel / Federation of European Film and Television Directors) was established in Venice in 1980 and now represents 32 national associations in European countries. FERA enjoys a strong position as a result of its significant number of members. It focuses on relaying the concerns of directors (and others involved in the filmmaking process) onto the European political scene in order to promote a European environment fostering creation and circulation of European works. FERA defends the art and craft, and the creative and economic rights of the director, as essential to the diversity of European audiovisual culture.

Established in 2000, the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (SDGI) is the representative body for directors involved in the Irish and international audiovisual industry. The guild has a number of core objectives designed to support Irish screen directors and promote Irish directors on a national and international scale, and is a member of FERA. SDGI receives funding from the Irish Film Board and the Arts Council.

ENDS

For further information, please contact: Glenn Hogarty, Limelight Communications +353 (0)1 668 0600

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