Cllr Keith Martin - Mayo's Film Commissioner

 

Cllr Keith Martin has served as the liaison officer with the Irish Film Board since his appointment by the Irish Film Commissioner Naoise Barry in late 2004. 

 

After his election Cllr Martin sought out a meeting with the Irish Film Board with the aim of establishing a Film Commission Office for Mayo and shortly after contacting the Board he was invited to meet with the Film Commissioner on the set of Kerry Katona's series 'Showbands' which was being made in Co. Galway.

 

Following the meeting Cllr Martin became the "de facto" Film Commission for Mayo and has been of assistance to many productions scouting Mayo for locations and assisting those filming here in Mayo.

 

On more than one occasion he has had to put his local knowledge and connections to the test and once at very short notice was able to rustle up a horse in Westport for a film production in Achill at a couple of hours notice!

 

All of this work is done on a volunteer basis, though Cllr Martin has been supported by Mayo County Council and Westport Town Council whenever he has requested assistance.

 

The long term goal for Cllr Martin is to set up a film office in Mayo County Council and he has held meetings and lobbied for such an office for the past four years to no avail as of yet - but he does not plan to stop.

 

A small success for Cllr Martin has been the establishment of Ireland's smallest film office as Westport is only town or borough council to have its own dedicated film office, which aims to promote Westport as a venue for filmmakers and assist productions here in the town.

 

To date Cllr Martin and the film office have assisted 12 productions since 2004 in Westport and Mayo and Cllr Martin estimates the value of these productions to the county to be in multiple of millions.

 

Currently Cllr Martin is preparing Westport Town Council Film Office's website for launch.  A database of local filmmaking talent, locations, accommodation and suppliers will follow as the office establishes itself.

 

Cllr Martin hopes the success of the Westport Film Office and the success of films like Return to the River and Heart's Desire will spur Mayo County Council on to establishing its own dedicated Film Office.

 

 

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