Carmaker Audi has signed a three-year deal to become lead sponsor of the Dublin International Film Festival, replacing Jameson, which had backed the event since its inception.

The Audi Dublin International Film Festival, which was founded in 2003, has hosted over 500 well-known guests since it was established.

Chair of the festival board Gaby Smyth said the new sponsor was an ideal fit for the event.

“We were impressed not only by the scale of their ambition, but also their passion for supporting and celebrating culture and their willingness to help in bringing the festival to ever wider audiences,” he said.

Audi, which has previously partners with a number of similar festivals, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the Berlinale Festival and the Emmy Awards, said it saw a strong fit with the film festival and its attendees.

“The new partnership between Audi and the Dublin International Film Festival is an exciting coming together of brands that both share a deep appreciation for the craft of film-making. For us in particular, this is a natural extension of our own passion for innovation and creativity,” said Richard Molloy, head of product and marketing at Audi Ireland.

Ms Smyth said plans for next year’s festival, which is due to take place in February 2016, were well underway with some programme announcements to be made before Christmas.