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The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, is today (Saturday) beginning a four day culture mission, which includes engagements in Cannes, Brussels and Paris.

This evening the Minister will address the Irish Film Board’s annual networking event, which will be attended by up to 400 international and Irish film industrial professions, as part of the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival. Minister Humphreys will hold a series of bilateral meetings with key political and industry contacts at Cannes, including the Belgian Culture Minister. The Irish interest at this year’s Festival is focused on The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which stars Colin Farrell and was produced by Element Pictures. It has been selected to screen in open competition.

In Brussels, on Monday evening, the Minister will host a special Creative Ireland reception and on Tuesday she will attend the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council, where Culture Ministers will consider proposals on a revised Audio-visual Media Services Directive. Ministers are also expected to conclude on an EU strategic approach to international cultural relations. Minister Humphreys will meet with the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics at the fringes of the Council. The Minister will then travel on to Paris for a Creative Ireland event at the Irish Cultural Centre (Centre Culturel Irlandais).

Speaking today Minister Humphreys said:
“The Creative Ireland Programme includes a key focus on the film industry, and commits the Government to developing Ireland as a Centre of Excellence for Media Production. The Irish film industry has enjoyed a very successful number of years and Irish film makers are continuing to make their mark internationally.

“The annual Cannes Film Festival is a very important opportunity for Irish filmmakers to network, to broker opportunities, explore co-production potential and open new doors. I will be delivering a very strong message about the Government’s commitment to growing our film, TV and animation sector through the ambitions set out in Creative Ireland.

“I also look forward to engaging with my European counterparts at the EYCS in Brussels, which will provide a further opportunity to outline how the Irish Government is aiming to put culture and creativity at the centre of public policy through the Creative Ireland programme.”

Notes to Editors:

Outline itinerary of Minister Humphreys’ trip:

Saturday:
Arrive in Cannes, meet with Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason and James Hickey, CEO of the Irish Film Board at the Irish Pavilion.
Tour to the Irish Pavilion and the international Village
Meeting with Guy Daleiden, Managing Director, Luxemburg Film Fund
Meeting with Doreen Boonekamp, CEO, Netherlands Film Fund
Meeting Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, Element Pictures
Attend Women in Film Conference
Address Irish Industry networking event, hosted by the IFB.

Sunday:
Meet with Belgium Minister for Culture, Childcare and Sports Alda Gréoli, Mrs Jeanne Brunfaut, Head of the Belgium Film Centre and Emmanuelle Ronald, Director, Federation, Wallonie-Bruxelles.
Address the Belgium Co-production Business to Business Networking event.

Monday:
Travel to Brussels
Address special Creative Ireland reception, European Parliament

Tuesday:
Meet with the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics
Attend and address European Culture Council
Travel to Paris
Address Creative Ireland event, Irish Cultural Centre, Paris

Further details on the European Council meeting:
Culture Ministers will aim to reach a general approach on the proposal for a revised Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS). The proposal aims to make this legislation better fit to the digital age, for instance, by extending its scope to video-sharing platforms. The proposal also establishes stricter obligations for the promotion of European works for on-demand services.

The Council will also adopt conclusions on an EU strategy for international cultural relations, in the follow-up to the Commission and the EU High Representative joint communication on a EU strategy for international cultural relations.