Silk Road International Film Festival Programme 2020

T.D., MINISTER FOR CULTURE,
HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT
JOSEPHA MADIGAN
For centuries, the Silk Road provided routes for voyage, discovery and dialogue
between cultures. The reciprocal flow of ideas and values along those silk routes
has shaped languages and cultures, building relations and strengthening
ties. Its impact has been a lasting cultural, artistic and intellectual legacy.
Now in its 8th year, The Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF) continues
to support the artistic legacy of the Silk Road as it brings together cultures,
traditions and identities and displays a diversity of features, documentaries,
shorts & student films from around the world. It will also help to create dialogue
and increase multicultural awareness through the wonderful medium of film.
The screen industry has been an area of particular focus for my Department
and the Government of Ireland has committed very significant resources to the
development of that industry including the important tax incentive Section
481 which has been augmented this year by the introduction of the regional
film development uplift which offers an additional incentive to productions
in the regions. Initiatives delivered under the Audiovisual Action Plan, which
is an industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme,
continues to support the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to
become a global hub for the production of Film, TV drama and animation.
This sector is of enormous value to Irish culture and the Irish economy,
creating jobs, supporting services and above all, offering the opportunity
to tell our stories so that we can share our identity, our cultural heritage and
our landscape. I am delighted to note that as well as screening international
films, SRIFF will also share a special selection of films from the historical
network of the Silk Road ancient trade routes. The selection – “Belt & Road”
includes Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, African, Mediterranean and European
cinema and will certainly help on delivering the mission of the film festival to
celebrate excellence in screen-based storytelling and promotion of cinema.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone involved in this year’s
Silk Road International Film Festival every success for the future.
JOSEPHA MADIGAN
.