Ireland appoints new film censor

The Irish Minister for Justice has appointed film and television producer John Kelleher as the new Irish Film Censor.
Kelleher takes up his post in April 2003, succeeding Sheamus Smith who has held the position since 1986. John Kelleher, a former RTE television programme controller, has produced five feature films, seven television drama series and numerous documentaries. His production company, Fastnet Films, produces Irish commercial broadcaster TV3's weekly current affairs programme, Agenda. He is also executive producer of The Halo Effect, a low budget feature film, starring Stephen Rea, which is in the final stages of pre-production.
The Irish censor heads a staff of about 20 civil servants in an office financed by fees levied on the film and video distribution trades The Irish statutory position of Film Censor was established by legislation in 1923, and has been modified and extended since to include the classification of video and DVD material and the licensing of the rental and sell-through video/DVD trade.
(GB)