Along with Steve Christian, chairman of the Isle of Man Film investment arm CinemaNX (NX), they will spend up to a week on board superyacht My Issue, which has cost just under £107,000 to hire.

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said the taxpayer had paid half the hire cost and NX the other half.

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Hilary Dugdale of the DTI's Isle of Man Film – who was joined for three days in Cannes by another civil servant – has been in Cannes since the start of the festival last Wednesday (May 13).

She said: 'The whole of the film production industry is going through a difficult time so it's important we have a really active presence.'

The 114ft-long, triple-decker yacht, features a master cabin, two double staterooms and two twin staterooms as well as a sundeck with a hot tub.

She said the level of taxpayers' money spent on the trip was appropriate, saying: 'There's an image we have to portray. If we didn't, we would lose momentum in terms of securing films we get into production.'

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Click the following link to read a BBC report on how many in the film industry are cutting back on their presence at this year's Cannes Film Festival
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8055070.stm

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At the festival, which ends on Sunday, Me and Orson Welles, a production starring Zac Efron filmed in the Isle of Man last year, will be screened.

Three films will also be promoted to distributors – Heartless, directed by Philip Radley, and Wild Target, a hitman caper starring Bill Nighy and Helena Bonham Carter – which were both filmed last year.

They have also taken thriller Disappearance of Alice Creed, which is currently in post-production after being filmed at the start of this year.

Ms Dugdale said: 'It's a much smaller group than usual, however it's essential we are here. It's the only major marketing opportunity we get involved in.

'It's the biggest event in the calendar so it's essential we are here if we want to be considered as a serious investor and a co-producer of feature films.'

DTI chief executive Chris Corlett said hiring a yacht was both a 'prestigious and cost effective venue'.

'Cannes is a very expensive place and it's a very cost effective way to promote the Island and our film capabilities,' he said.

He said that otherwise they would need 'several bedrooms, several meeting rooms to meet with business leaders and function rooms to entertain guests'.

He said it was 'impossible' to say how much revenue had been secured from previous appearances at the film festival but said Isle of Man Film had 'generated many millions of pounds' as well as positive publicity for the Island.

'It's a very prestigious event and it has been crucial in establishing and maintaining links with film producers and distributors and helped cement our position as a leading independent film financier in the British Isles and therefore Europe,' he explained.

The number of productions made in the Island has fallen during the last couple of years – there were nine films made in 2005 compared with three in 2007 and four last year.

So far this year, two films have been made – the Disappearance of Alice Creed and animation film Rico and Chita.

CinemaNX was appointed in 2007 to manage the Island's media development fund.

Headed by Mr Christian, NX provides film and television producers with a combination of production expertise and experience of international film financing and oversees the entire physical production process.

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YOUR COMMENTS

This is as absolute waste of money especially at a time that the DHSS is trying to cut back on facilities. The Film commission should be shut down if they persist in spending the Islands funds in this irresponsible manner.
JIM, Ramsey

I think Jim might be talking out of his hat! Cannes (French Riviera, swimming pools, movie stars etc.) sounds like an expensive sort of a place. I would imagine the hotel rooms for even civil servants would run into the hundreds per night, and having a local onshore base for attracting film types would probably add more to the taxpayer's burden - if a harbourside office could be found at this time of year! If we can bring more money to the Island in these times, so much the better. The films have to be made somewhere, so lets have them made here and earn the money.
ROSEBUD

I feel the hiring of a boat at Cannes is highly justified. Having been to the Cannes Film festival 2 years ago, the 'Manx' boat is in pride of place in Cannes Harbour amongst other film related boats and
certainly puts the Isle of Man firmly on the movie map. I just hope this year it flies a Manx flag at the stern, which it didn't the year I was there. By the way, there are usually half a dozen or so Manx registered boats in the harbour year round. Free publicity also.
PH

I feel the hiring of a boat at Cannes is highly justified. Having been to the Cannes Film festival 2 years ago, the 'Manx' boat is in pride of place in Cannes Harbour amongst other film related boats and
certainly puts the Isle of Man firmly on the movie map. I just hope this year it flies a Manx flag at the stern, which it didn't the year I was there. By the way, there are usually half a dozen or so Manx registered boats in the harbour year round. Free publicity also.
PHIL HARRISON

Like any marketing activity the cost of activity should be gauged on the return on investment. You would hope that this would be common practice in government, but maybe it would be too much to ask? If the 50K investment brings in significant income then its justified. I bet the DTL don't know what the return on investment is for all the billboards for visitisleofman on the london underground! And do the public know how much it cost?
NICK

In these difficult times,it might seem hard to justify such expenditure,but the Island has attracted many film and TV productions,and hopefully will continue to do so.I suspect the amount mentioned is peanuts compared to the spend on the Island by film production teams over the years,and to adopt the attitude of the first comment,seems very short sighted indeed.
BRIAN

Where did you get this information? At the festival, which ends on Sunday, Me and Orson Welles, a production starring Zac Efron filmed in the Isle of Man last year, will be screened. The movie is not on any of the lists at the 2009 Canes Film Festival. Not even under special screening.
MILLIE

I agree with JIM Ramsey,they can't find enough money to run the Hyperbaric chamber which saves people's lives,yet as usual money is no object for jollies. Look lets get real,no matter how much money is thrown at the film industry,or tourist averts,people are just not going to come here in the numbers we used to have,because its too expensive to get here and stay,also there is not the faculties to occupy them like there is in other countries. If this place is of any importance to the film industry in either scenery or sites which can't be found in other places,they would be here at their own cost in droves.
EORH