Reopening of International Fund Gives €750k Boost to Irish Film Industry
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (BSE/IFB) have announced today the reopening of the International Production Fund, to assist Irish producers in attracting major international film and television projects to undertake production in Ireland. The fund is worth €750,000 for the remainder of 2011.Large scale productions which have shot in Ireland in the past as a result of the fund include the award-winning series THE TUDORS starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point), BECOMING JANE starring James McAvoy (X Men: First Class) and Anne Hathaway (One Day), MY BOY JACK starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) and CRACKS starring Eva Green (Camelot). UK TV series which have located to Ireland as a result of the fund include MURPHY'S LAW, GEORGE GENTLY and THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
The fund aims to deliver a strong return to the Irish economy on BSE/IFB investment, with an emphasis placed on the employment of Ireland's highly qualified personnel in front of and behind the camera and high levels of spend on Irish facilities and services.
James Hickey, Chief Executive, BSE/IFB said: "This fund, together with the Irish tax incentive, Section 481, and our first class Irish production companies, will help create a strong package with which to promote Ireland as a location for film and television production and to incentivise the employment of Irish talent both in terms of cast and crew. We look forward to working with Irish producers identifying major new projects based on the criteria published today and to work with them to bring those projects to Ireland."
In the past the fund has created important opportunities for Irish cast and crew and added to their world class reputation. Three Irish directors Ciaran Donnelly, Brian Kirk and Dearbhla Walsh as well as many Irish cast including Maria Doyle Kennedy and Sarah Bolger were attached to THE TUDORS series. Brian Kirk was also attached to direct MY BOY JACK and Colm McCarthy has directed the last two series of MURPHY'S LAW. Young Irish actress, Jenn Murray, played the lead role in feature film DOROTHY MILLS.
Find out more about the International Production Fund and its criteria in the Funding Programmes section of the BSE/IFB website.