World-traveling documentary filmmakers Nigel and Marianne Thornberry have come to Africa with their family–precocious Eliza, rebellious Debbie and adopted wild child Donnie–to record a miraculous event. Once every few hundred years, as the moon obscures the sun, native legend has it that thousands of elephants emerge from the safety of the forest to watch the solar eclipse. But this time, as they stand exposed in this wide-open Congo valley, they will be in grave danger. Evil poachers Sloan and Bree Blackburn plan to ambush the elephants for their rare ivory tusks. One day, Eliza and her chimpanzee friend Darwin meet a mysterious shaman who grants her the power to talk to animals. But there’s one catch–if she reveals her gift she will lose it forever. When Eliza discovers that the poachers are planning to attack the elephant herd, she and Darwin must devise a plan to stop them. But what can one freckle-faced 12-year-old with pigtails and braces do against this type of evil? How will Eliza be able to warn the elephants if she loses her gift of communicating with animals?
The Government released plans today to allocate €23 million euro to the Irish Film Board, as part of a plan by Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Seamus Brennan for Ireland’s arts and cultural infrastructure in 2008.
The new plan will provide a cash boost of €245 million for arts and culture in Ireland including several programs to develop and expand the Irish Film industry to be assessed as part of the renewal and enchantment of the Section 481 TAX Scheme, which in 2007 was worth €35 million in investment to the industry.
The plan will also deliver extended opening hours for national institutions, a new national cultural day and a doubling of funding for national touring programmes to bring drama and cultural events to a wider audience.
Speaking about the intended plans, Mister Brennan said “Overall it must be acknowledged that the arts and culture sectors in this country are of central importance, not only to the cultural development and status of Ireland, but also in contributing to the economic and social progress of the country,”.