The Board of the Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced that it will be seeking to appoint a new Chief Executive to commence at the start of January 2011. This date coincides with the ending of the five year term of appointment of the existing Chief Executive, Simon Perry who took up office in January 2006.
James Morris, chairman of the IFB board commented that: ”Simon has brought new confidence and renewed energy to Irish filmmakers, bringing new talent to the fore while successfully presiding over a period of rapid growth in the range and scale of activities of the IFB. His considerable previous experience as Chief Executive of British Screen and respected contacts among European filmmakers has helped the development of Irish talent and Irish producers enormously. Simon will continue as Chief Executive of the IFB to the end of his term and has agreed to assist the Board in managing a successful transition period into the New Year should this prove helpful.”
As previously mentioned Simon took up the position of CEO with the IFB in 2006. In 1982, he set up his own production company, Umbrella Films, in January 1991 he was appointed Chief Executive of British Screen Finance (‘British Screen’), the UK’s national investor in film development and production. He ran the organisation for almost ten years, until September 2000 when it was absorbed by the UK’s new Film Council. Notable British Screen successes during Perry’s time in office included Neil Jordan’s ‘The Crying Game’, Sally Potter’s ‘Orlando’, Mike Leigh’s ‘Naked’, ‘Milcho Manchevskis’ ‘Before The Rain’, Marleen Gorris’ ‘Antonias Line’, Ken Loach’s ‘Land and Freedom’, Peter Howitt’s ‘Sliding Doors’ and Gurinder Chadha’s ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. He is currently president of Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (ACE), which provides advanced training for European producers.
In relation to the new appointment the Board will commence advertising for the position of Chief Executive of the Irish Film Board towards the end of July. As to Simon’s plans for the future, a spokesperson from the IFB tells IFTN “Nothing has been finalised yet as it’s all very recent news.”
