Rod Stoneman, CEO of the Irish Film Board, is stepping down to take up the position of director at the newly-established Huston School of Film and Digital Media at the National University of Ireland Galway.

The Huston School has been established by NUIG in tribute to John Huston and with the support of his family and private donors. The Hustons' family home from the 1950s to the early 1970s was not far from Galway city and Anjelica Huston and her two brothers received much of their schooling in the area.

Stoneman, a former commissioning editor at Channel 4, was appointed chief executive when the Irish Film Board was reconstituted in 1993.

The agency has since part-funded approximately ninety feature films, together with documentaries, animation and short films. It is understood Stoneman will leave the Film Board early in the Autumn.

The Huston School will offer postgraduate training and education in aspects of film and digital media, with a special emphasis on the potential of new technologies for cinematic storytelling and documentary production. The position of director is a full-time, four-year contract post funded by private sponsorship from Coca-Cola HBC.

In welcoming NUIG's initiative Anjelica Huston, a Patron of the School said, "The Huston School will ensure that Ireland continues to bring its many creative talents to a world audience. I am delighted to be associated with the new school and look forward to welcoming friends from all over the world for a terrific launch ceremony on May 2nd."

This official launch, "The Huston Gala", at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, is a fundraiser to generate scholarship support for students at the School.