Irish Film Board production executive Alan Maher will step down from his position after six years at the IFB.
Maher will continue to work with projects which have already received funding from the IFB until the end of 2012, despite his contract ending with the IFB in July.
Throughout his six years at the Board, Maher managed a number of documentary and live action feature projects, including Ken Wardrop’s IFTA Award-winning ‘His & Hers’ documentary, Ian Palmer’s groundbreaking documentary ‘Knuckle’, and upcoming monster movie ‘Grabbers’, starring Ruth Bradley (Titanic) and Bronagh Gallagher (Albert Nobbs).
Maher was responsible for steering the Catalyst Project, a low budget filmmaking scheme aimed at developing new filmmaking talent in Ireland. This particular scheme produced a number of theatrically released feature films, including Blinder Films’ IFTA Award-winning drama ‘One Hundred Mornings’, which went on to become the first Irish feature screened at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2010.
Maher was also a co-producer on Irish horror ‘Citadel’, along with Blinder Films’ Katie Holly (One Hundred Mornings), which was recently picked up by Paris-based distributors Films Distribution.
Speaking of Maher’s departure, chief executive of the IFB James Hickey, said: “[Alan] has been a valuable and a highly regarded member of staff so it is with the warmest personal regards that we wish Alan every success in his new endeavours.”
Maher himself added: “I have had a very rewarding six years at the Board and will miss working with my talented colleagues, both inside and outside the organisation. I am also tremendously excited about pursuing new opportunities and contributing to the industry from a different perspective.”
