Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) Highlights and Priorities for 2015
Highlights and Priorities for 2015
2015 is set to be another exciting year for the industry.
The Sundance Festival, taking place next week gets 2015 off to a great start. Five Irish films are set to be screened at Sundance. These include: Glassland, featuring rising star Jack Reynor; Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson; The Visit, a film about the possible visit of extra-terrestrials; Strangerland and The Hallow. Following the screening at Sundance, Glassland is scheduled for general release in Ireland later this year. You're Ugly Too a film starring Aiden Gillen is set to screen at Berlin International Film Festival in February.
The new Section 481 film tax credit (replacing the investor based film and television incentive) came into effect on 1st January 2015. The new benefit of up to 32% of qualifying expenditure which includes all persons working in Ireland will provide enhanced support for film TV drama and animation production and is a strong reflection of the Irish Government's support for the sector. The IFB has been working closely with the Revenue and the production sector in developing the detailed arrangements for the new film and television tax credit and will continue to do so as the new scheme is rolled out.
2015: International Production Activity
Strong TV drama production in Ireland remains in place. Previously the IFB have successfully supported the development of inward investment from EU countries for international production. This year, with the improvements to section 481, developing inward investments from the countries outside of the EU and particularly the US will be a key objective for the agency.
2015: Reaching new Audiences
Growing the way audiences view Irish film has been a focus in 2014 which will continue in 2015.
The IFB has also prioritised supporting new and innovative ways in which to distribute films and reach audiences. The Guarantee telling the story of the bailout of the Irish banking system was one of the first Irish Event Cinema outings and we hope to support more events such as this. The world premiere of the film and live Q&A were screened across eighteen locations throughout the country. We are also looking at supporting day and date releases across all platforms including the growth area of VOD and have commissioned audience research in this area.
Irish films broadcast on RTÉ and funded by the IFB have achieved strong audience figures. RTÉ 2, in partnership with the IFB broadcast a number of Irish films on a prime Saturday night slot. Feature documentaries were also a hit with RTÉ audiences. The award-winning documentary films The Summit, Rough Rider, One Million Dubliners and Unbreakable are examples of projects which received record ratings when they were broadcast on Irish television this year. Highlighting how social media is becoming a more integrated part of the viewer experience, both productions were trending on Twitter in Ireland during their broadcast.
New Films Set for 2015
Early 2015 promises a flurry of production activity. The cameras started rolling on Monday on Jim Sheridan's Secret Scripture adapted from Sebastian Barry's novel, starring Rooney Mara, Jack Reynor, Vanessa Redgrave and Eric Bana. Alan Gilsenan will commence production on his screen adaptation of the novel Unless in February with Catherine Keener in the lead role.
The first of the recently unveiled Catalyst projects Without Name is set to start in March. The chiller penned by Garret Shanley will be directed by award winning director Lorcan Finnegan. This will be quickly followed into production by The Truth Commissioner, a collaboration with Northern Ireland, helmed by Declan Recks and Pilgrimage, the historical epic to be written and directed by Brendan Muldowney. Another exciting production - The Siege of Jadotville - will tell the remarkable true story of the 35th Irish Battalion of soldiers who refused to surrender and fought back against an army of Mercenaries in the Congo to be directed by Richie Smyth and starring Jamie Dornan.
Training & Catalyst Project
Screen Training Ireland, managed by the IFB, provided thirty-five courses which were attended by over 1,200 participants. Major training events included Screen Leaders, the VXF Summit and two successful storytelling programmes for animation and live action.
Screen Training Ireland has a new and refreshed website and the IFB will be launching a new report on screen training in 2015 which will look at skills needs and the funding of screen training in Ireland.
The IFB announced the commissioning of three successful films for the new Catalyst Project scheme. Catalyst Project offered up-and-coming filmmakers the opportunity to compete for three low-budget feature film funding awards.