The Arts Council has expressed its regret at the passing of Michael Dwyer, who has died following an illness.
Speaking today, Pat Moylan, Chairman of the Arts Council, said: "With the death of Michael Dwyer the Irish film sector and cinema audiences in Ireland have lost a true friend and advocate. Driven by a personal passion for film, Michael played a key role in ensuring that audiences throughout Ireland had access to the best in non-mainstream cinema programming for over thirty years. With Access Cinema (formerly the Federation of Irish Film Societies ) and the Dublin International Film Festival, he has left a lasting legacy for film in Ireland. We offer our sympathies to his partner and family."