Welcome to the 5th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. We are proud that we have already reached the milestone of our fifth edition particularly given the speed with which the festival has developed into the largest event of its kind in Ireland, and a festival of true international standing, in that short period of time.

One person in particular who has contributed significantly to that progress is Festival Director Michael Dwyer. Michael holds the unique accolade of founding not just one but two film festivals in Dublin, the latter of which he co-founded in 2002 and has since then attracted the best of national and international film titles and talent, delivered to the ever expanding festival audiences. It is with sadness but with considerable gratitude that I, on behalf of my fellow festival board members, bid adieu to Michael as he relinquishes his role at the expiry of the current festival. His enthusiasm, energy and commitment to the event is greatly appreciated and we wish him well for the future. On the subject of departing talent I would also like to acknowledge Joanne Kelly, the festival's former Administrator and subsequently Marketing and Communications Manager, who also contributed greatly to the development of the festival from its foundation and who recently took up a new senior position after four dedicated years service to the event.

Our title sponsor, Jameson Irish Whiskey, has loyally supported the event since its foundation and this partnership has been further strengthened this year with the extension of their previous title sponsorship agreement with the Festival. This renewed and re-endorsed support is both highly appreciated but also vital to allow the festival to continue to present a world-class international film festival to the audiences of Dublin on an annual basis. Similar long-term support from the various funding agencies and cultural institutes, including the Arts Council, Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland, the French Cultural Service and the Goethe-Institut, has also been renewed for the 2007 event and is greatly appreciated, as is the support from Instituto Cervantes, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Austrian Embassy, and the Embassy of Switzerland. Returning sponsors that we welcome back include Cineworld; Chartbusters; our official media sponsors The Irish Times and FM104; and our official accommodation sponsor Brooks Hotel. We welcome and are grateful to our new sponsors for 2007: the Irish Film Board, Citroën Cars, Tangerine and Channel 6. The support of the many patrons and advertisers is also gratefully acknowledged, as are daily contributions to the festival's website by the journalism studentsof Ballyfermot Senior College.

As always we are indebted to the various Dublin city exhibitors and their hard working staffs where the festival's extensive programme will be screened: the Screen, Savoy, Cineworld and Irish Film Institute cinemas. Such a programme could not be presented without the co-operation and participation of the numerous directors, producers, distributors and sales agents who have made their films available to the festival, and such support is, as always, greatly appreciated. The remarkably small size of the key executive team, which puts this increasingly large event together, belies the professionalism, dedication and industriousness of the individuals involved and we are fortunate once again that such a talented group have remained with us and have worked tirelessly to present this year's event.

This group is led once again by our highly talented and ever resourceful CEO Rory Concannon, who has continued to provide the essential managerial and operational framework to allow the festival to expand to the event it is today. I wish to thank and welcome back the returning staff members: Richard Carolan, in the new senior role of Festival Manager; Sarah Smyth, also promoted to the role of Festival Administrator; Publicity Officer, Nick Costello; Production Manager, Michael O'Connell; Hospitality Manager, Una Spillane; Accounts Manager, Miriam McLoughlin; and Volunteers Manager, Liam Ryan. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a welcome to and thank our new staff members: Festival Director Designate, Grainne Humphreys; Programme Manager, Glenn Hogarty; Advertising Manager, Maeve Hickey; Publicity Assistant, Hannah Downs; Hospitality Assistant, Dorothy McDonnell; and Box Office Manager, Katri Kuikka and her hard working team.

In advance I also wish to thank the festival's unsung heroes: the large troupe of volunteer venue staff.

I wish to personally thank my fellow board members: Mary Alleguen, Paddy Breathnach, Sue Bruce Smyth, Michael Dwyer, Gordon Judge, Arthur Lappin, Martine Moreau, James Morris, and Gaby Smyth; for their continued support, guidance and dedication to the event and for all the time and energy they have generously devoted to the long-term development of the festival.

And without overly repeating my thanks one final group that we could not present the event without are you, the festivalgoers. Thank you and Enjoy.