Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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272. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the major film companies she met formally during her recent visit to the west coast of the United States. [15477/23]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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A trade mission to Los Angeles and San Diego to promote the Irish screen industry took place earlier this month, together with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the I.D.A., and the Department of Foreign Affairs. This Trade mission was part of the Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme with the aim to build on the recent critical success for the Irish screen industry and the recognition of Irish talent on the world’s stage.

The trade mission saw meetings with world leading US studios and production companies which included Sony and Disney, including representatives from Marvel, Searchlight and Lucasfilm.I also met with the Sustainability Production Alliance which includes representatives from Netflix, NBC Universal, Sony, Paramount and Disney. I also met with representatives of Riot Games to discuss Ireland’s incentives for the creative gaming industry.

The trade mission was about reinforcing the Government’s support for Irish film and artists, boosting investment, and of course promoting Irish tourist destinations in one of Ireland’s most important markets. I also held tourism and sport meetings and events (Tourism Ireland and the L.A. 28 Olympics Committee) in the lead up to St Patrick’s Day.

There were also a number of other cultural engagements during the Trade Mission. I visited Winston House in Santa Monica which received funding for the participation of a selection of current and emerging Irish artists at their new Irish Friends Festival this month. In addition, I visited the Los Angeles Public Library which recently hosted New York’s Irish Repertory Theatre's and Fishamble Theatre Company's collaboration, the 2022-2023 Transatlantic Commissions Program which is presenting new work by Black Irish artists and writers of colour.

I also visited San Diego for St Patrick’s Day celebrations including their parade.

We are extremely proud of our 14 Irish Oscar nominees and our Oscar winners. The success in being nominated for these prestigious awards illustrates how influential, talented and important Irish-made films are now globally. We are a nation of great storytellers, known for our arts, culture, creativity and for our beautiful film locations.

Following the remarkable success of ‘An Cailín Cíúin’ (‘The Quiet Girl’), which became the first ever Irish language film nominated for an Academy Award, I also presented a special award to the film at the Oscar Wildes event on Thursday 9th March. This event was hosted by the US-Ireland Alliance and promotes Irish film and culture in Los Angeles by honouring Irish and Irish-American screen talent. It was well-attended by studio executives and film industry talent and provided a valuable networking opportunity for the Irish film industry.

Finally, the Trade Mission also saw the announcement of a major global film conference coming to Limerick in 2023, following Ireland’s successful competitive bid to host the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Cineposium conference in Limerick City.