HOLLYWOOD legends Jeremy Irons and Michael Fassbender will be Kerry bound to preside over Kerry Film Festival.

The event, organised by Samhlaiocht, is celebrating a decade of bringing film to the people of the county and it will run from October 31 until November 7.

Joining Killarney native Fassbender and British star Irons on the team of adjudicators will be animator Simon Brown and movie critic James Christopher.

"The Kerry Film Festival is delighted to announce its line-up of adjudicators," said festival director Jason O' Mahony.

"We have Jeremy Irons, an Oscar-winning actor and one of the finest actors of all time and Michael Fassbender, who set the film world alight with his unflinching portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's Hunger.

"That's a role which, for my money at least, should have seen him win an Oscar," said O'Mahony.

This will be the tenth year of the Kerry Film Festival and both the quantity and quality of the films has risen year on year, he maintained.

"We felt it was important to have an adjudication panel of the very highest standing to adjudicate the short films. We're hugely grateful to all the adjudicators for giving so selflessly of their time and for agreeing to adjudicate at this year's festival," he said.

The adjudicators have the unenviable task of selecting the best films from this year's selection.

"Close to 500 films were submitted to the 2009 Kerry Film Festival, up significant-ly on the total number of films submitted last year and more than double the number of films submitted in previous years," said Mr O'Mahony.

Irons will judge the best director competition which offers a ¤5,000 cash prize.

Fassbender made his mark on the silver screen with his mesmerising portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen's Cannes Film Festival award winning Hunger.

"He is one of the hottest young actors on the planet with acclaimed directors lining up to work with him," added Mr O'Mahony.