Bord Scannán na hÉireann / Irish Film Board Outlines Plans For 2012 With Fostering Of Talent and Job Creation Key Drivers for the Year Ahead
TWO NEW BBC TELEVISION SERIES WILL RESULT IN INVESTMENT OF €11M AND CREATE EMPLOYMENT FOR 350 CAST AND CREW
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB), the national development agency for the Irish film industry, today published a catalogue of 18 upcoming feature films, ranging from Lance Daly's LIFE'S A BREEZE starring Pat Shortt to Neil Jordan's BYZANTIUM with Saoirse Ronan, along with new animation, documentaries and shorts for 2012. The organisation also set out its priorities and plans for the year ahead.
James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board (IFB) outlined the organisation's strategic goals and announced details of the agency's new films, along with two major UK projects that will be produced in Ireland in the first quarter of 2012. These new productions will result in significant investment in the Irish industry and create employment for 350 cast and crew. "IFB funded productions created opportunities for a wide range of Irish creative talent in 2011 and continues to punch above its weight in terms of international recognition. In the next twelve months we plan to build on last year's success, further developing the audio-visual production industry," he said.
"By fostering new talent to help secure the future of the industry, strengthening relationships with broadcasters and industry stakeholders while also increasing audiences both at home and abroad, we plan to put in place the key building blocks of the Creative Capital report and commence the process of doubling employment in the sector over the next five years.
"Irish film has a vital role to play in the economic recovery efforts, not only in terms of employment creation and contributions to the economy but also through its ability to showcase Ireland and its creative talent on screens all across the world. The industry has a huge influence on the promotion of Ireland and Irish culture to audiences all over the world with 20% of visitors to Ireland stating that film and television influenced them in their decision to visit this country."
Irish films which audiences can look forward to this year which are in receipt of funding from the IFB included a film directed by Lance Daly (Kisses) starring Pat Shortt and Fionnuala O'Flanagan; Lenny Abrahamson's new feature film WHAT RICHARD DID; SANCTUARY directed by Norah McGettigan and LOVE ETERNAL directed by Brendan Muldowney (Savage) all of which have just finished production.
Major upcoming BSÉ/IFB -supported feature film projects for 2012 include SONG OF THE SEA to be directed by Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells), RUN AND JUMP, to be directed by Oscar® nominee Steph Green (New Boy) and AT SWIM TWO BIRDS to be directed by Brendan Gleeson will all be going into production in 2012.
"I am also delighted to confirm that a new major BBC television series will be filming on location in Ireland in the first quarter of 2012. This is the result of a visit by UK producers and broadcasters organised by BSÉ/IFB with funding from the IFB international production fund. RIPPER STREET is an eight part TV series which will be produced in Dublin by Tiger Aspect, Lookout Point and Element Pictures for BBC over a period of 19 weeks. The project is set to invest €8 million in the Irish economy and will lead to local job creation and spend on goods and services in this market. Over 250 Irish cast and crew will be employed in the production of RIPPER STREET.
"A second BBC project currently in pre-production is the drama VEXED which received funding from the IFB and is directed by Irish directors Kieron J Walsh and Ian Fitzgibbon. The series will invest €3 million in the Irish economy in terms of local spend and will employ 100 Irish cast and crew. These projects demonstrate the huge contribution the industry is making to the Irish economy and is similar in scale to recent international film and television co-productions such as TITANIC: BLOOD AND STEEL, EK THA TIGER and SHADOW DANCER all of which provided employment for Irish cast and crew working in Ireland.
"Over the past year, the Irish industry has enjoyed significant success and the year ahead has the potential to be even more successful. We are committed to ensure Ireland's continued growth, to nurture talent and deliver revenues and jobs to the Irish economy."
Feature films supported by BSÉ/IFB have been very successful in recent times with THE GUARD achieving over €5m in the US box office and becoming the most successful independent Irish film at the Irish box office in the past year. SHADOW DANCER, starring Aidan Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson, Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival along with GRABBERS, the new Irish horror film filmed on location in Donegal. In addition Kirsten Sheridan's DOLLHOUSE will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival next week.
Recent Oscar nominations for ALBERT NOBBS and the short film PENTECOST, funded through the Irish Film Board's Signature scheme have also created major international recognition for the industry. The nomination for PENTECOST brings to eight the number of Academy Award® nominations received by IFB funded short films since 2002.
The animation industry also enjoyed notable success in 2011 with the AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL THE QUEST picking up the best TV production award at Annecy and Brown Bag's IFB funded project HAPPY HUGGLE MONSTERS being picked up for production by Disney. 2012 will see a major focus on the Irish animation industry at Annecy, the world's most prestigious animation festival
The new IFB Production Catalogue can be downloaded at www.irishfilmboard.ie