MINISTER FOR TOURISM, Culture and Arts Catherine Martin is to head for Los Angeles as part of a trade mission ahead of this Sunday’s Academy Awards.

The trips is aimed at fostering and strengthening links between Irish screen producers and Hollywood studios.

Meetings are planned with companies such as Sony and Disney, the latter of which will include representatives from Marvel, Searchlight and Lucas Film. 

The trade mission is part of the government’s St Patrick’s Day programme and will also include Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the I.D.A., Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Following the success of An Cailín Cíúin (The Quiet Girl), which became the first ever Irish language film nominated for an Academy Award, Martin will present a special award to the film at the Oscar Wilde Awards tomorrow.

Speaking about the trade mission, the minister said:

“The eyes of Hollywood and the world are on Ireland this Oscars weekend and this presents an important opportunity to showcase Ireland’s culture and creative talent to a global audience.”

“This weekend is also important for Ireland and Irish people around the world. Some 14 Oscar nominations is incredible for a country the size of Ireland and I know the nominations are a source of national pride for young and old,” she said.

“It highlights the country’s contribution to the arts and culture, provides opportunities to further promote Ireland as a tourism destination, and will inspire future generations of Irish creative talent and filmmakers.”

Tourism Ireland has produced a behind-the-scenes promotional film on Irish tourism which was shot during the filming of The Banshees of Inisherin.

The content of the promotional film is understood to focus on the positive exposure for Ireland, focusing on the scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Recent large-scale productions based in Ireland have ranged from Disney’s Disenchanted, which transformed the village of Enniskerry, to Cocaine Bear, shot in the Wicklow countryside which was recreated as a US National Park.