Hi °C | Lo °C Film director Woody Allen has revealed he would be eager to shoot a film in Ireland -- if he received financial backing.
The Irish Film Board said it would welcome Allen with open arms if he decided to go ahead.
"There is a huge amount of Irish directors, from John Carney to Kirsten Sheridan, who would have been inspired by his work," a spokeswoman said.
"He's already worked with Irish talent, including Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Colin Farrell. We would welcome any opportunity to discuss plans with him."
Allen shot a number of recent films in both Barcelona and London after the cities extended an invitation and offered funding for the shoots.
A regular visitor to the Irish coast, Allen has given parts to Irish actors, including Colin Farrell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, in a number of his movies.
"Ireland is a place that I would not have a problem living in for the couple of months that it took me to make the film. It's a delightful place.
"I've been there on several occasions and the light in Ireland is so beautiful that you know right away you're going to get a beautiful film," said the award-winning director (72), whose work includes 'Annie Hall'.
"Those grey skies and the terrain: Ireland is one of the few places that lives up to the hype.
"It is as beautiful as everybody tells you it is, so it is a very good place to make a film."
Originally, Allen had planned to shoot 'Match Point', which starred Cork-born actor Rhys Meyers, in New York but moved it to the UK following an invitation from London.
