IFTA invites membership applications

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is the all-Ireland organisation with full representation from across the industry; the Department of Arts and the Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, Broadcasters (RTÉ, BBC, TV3, UTV, TG4), Screen Producers Ireland, SIPTU, Irish Equity, Screen Directors Guild, Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild and IFTN.
The Academy will drive a range of industry initiatives, encouraging excellence through recognition, education and leadership through industry events/activities - including the annual IFTA Awards Ceremony, which has been repositioned to February each year in line with other international Academies. The next awards will be held on Friday 9 February 2007.
Minister John O’Donoghue TD said: "I am delighted to support the establishment of the new Irish Film & Television Academy which will build a membership of Irish professionals deriving their living from the making of film and television in this country. Irish Film and Television is experiencing a new buoyancy and confidence in 2006, as a result of the improvements I have made to Section 481 of the tax incentive scheme, and the increased funding that I have provided to the Irish Film Board. Ireland has won the Palme D'Or at Cannes, and our actors, directors and producers continue to make an impact internationally. The establishment of the new Academy with the February positioning of the IFTA Awards is an important and welcome addition to the industry's efforts to ensure that Ireland will build on its success into the future."
Academy membership will be made up of established industry professionals working in all related disciplines. All membership applications will be assessed by the Board who will seek to represent the industry fairly across professions, geographically, linguistically and by gender. To become a member and to vote in the next Awards, industry professionals must submit their application by Friday 25th August 2006.
Membership to the Academy will offer a range of benefits including; voting privileges in the annual Irish Film & Television Awards, free screenings during Voting Season, networking evenings, educational events (Q&As, masterclasses, lectures etc), free publications including quarterly Academy magazine, annual Awards magazine, interview booklets, special offers and member discounts (hotels, restaurants, cinemas etc).
The Academy invites the industry to apply for Membership in this Inaugural year.
Membership is open to Irish industry professionals working at various levels in all disciplines, with the opportunity to become a Full Member or an Associate Member. To become a Full Member of the Academy (with voting rights for the annual Awards), you must have a minimum of Four Years professional experience and demonstrate that you are working at an appropriate level as defined by each individual Chapter, and/or have made a significant contribution to the industry. Those of you who do not, at this time, meet the minimum eligibility criteria, may apply to become Associate Members (which has many benefits but does not have Voting rights) with a view to becoming full members in the future.Should you wish to apply, all you need to do is fill out the Membership Form (available online at www.ifta.ie) and return it with the relevant fee to the Academy’s office before Friday 25th August to ensure you are registered for the autumn Academy schedule of activities and to vote in the next annual IFTA Awards.
(GB/CD)