An award-winning Belfast-based production company has announced a partnership agreement with Academy Award-winning US director Alex Gibney.

The two-year cross-Atlantic partnership will enable 'Below the Radar', a Ten Alps Company, to send two producers to spend three months working with Gibney’s New York-based production company Jigsaw.

Below the Radar's producers will have the opportunity to be involved in all stages of Jigsaw's documentary production, while Jigsaw will also help to develop Below the Radar projects for the UK market.

Trevor Birney, Managing Director, Below the Radar, (pictured above) commented: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Below the Radar producers to learn from one of the world's foremost directorial talents. We believe that it will also generate fresh ideas and skills to benefit the Northern Irish production sector."

The aim of the initiative is for both companies to benefit from the understanding of production techniques and sector developments on either side of the Atlantic.

The project has been funded by a £45,000 grant from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Creative Industries Innovative Fund.

The local expertise gained will be an additional benefit to the Northern Irish production sector, which is in the process of building a skills base to take full advantage of the increased production commitment from the BBC.

Eimhear O'Neill, who joined Below the Radar as a researcher in May 2009, will be the first participant in the programme.

Over the next 12 months, Eimhear will work in Belfast and New York gaining experience and working on projects for both the US and UK markets.

Alex Gibney directed the 2007 Academy and Emmy Award-winning 'Taxi To The Dark Side', which focused on an Afghan taxi driver who was tortured and killed at an air force base in 2002.

He also directed 2005's 'Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room', which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Last year, Alex premiered 'Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S Thompson', narrated by Johnny Depp, and is currently working on a film about Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, concluded: "This is a strong example of the kind of development work we are supporting through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund.

"Northern Ireland's competitive strength and source of wealth and job creation is shifting to our creative businesses, and there is huge potential for local businesses to tap into growing UK and global markets.

"With this funding, Below the Radar will be able to expand their skills and knowledge, leaving them in a stronger position to capitalise on these new opportunities."

(BMcN/BMcc)