The Irish audio visual sector is a dynamic and growing sector employing over 6,000 people. The sector is estimated to be worth over €550 million, not to mention the added value that the industry can bring to the tourist industry.
The latest figures for the industry for 2013 show that production activity for the independent film, television drama and animation sector has reached the highest level on record, highlighting an emerging generation of talented individuals working in Ireland.
Ireland as a filming location
In addition to direct jobs in the industry, the Irish audiovisual industry benefits local economy when areas of the country are used as a filming location. Parts of Northern Ireland are now well-known as shooting locations for popular series Game of Thrones, while most recently, Star Wars filmed scenes on Skellig Michael.
One example of the impact to local business from the Irish film industry was The Guard, which grossed over €4million at the Irish box office upon it release and has been released in countries across the world in over 30 territories including US, Australia, Europe and Asia.
Over €3.6 million was spent in Galway over 25 shooting days in 2009 in locations including Spiddal, Salthill, Lettermore, and Galway city centre, directly benefitting a number of local hotels, catering companies and other businesses.
Flourishing animation sector
The Irish animation sector is also a highly international sector that is making a significant impact on the global animation scene. Irish animation companies are becoming more export focused, providing award-winning content that is bought by companies such as Disney, Nickelodeon and the BBC and viewed by millions in over 130 territories worldwide. Up to 1,500 people are employed in the Irish animation sector.
And the winner is....
The success of the Irish audio visual sector has been recognised with numerous Emmy, BAFTA and Oscar nominations. In the animation sector, Song of the Sea, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, The Secret of Kells, Give Up Yer Aul Sins and 50 Percent Grey were nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in recent years. In 2008, Once took home the Oscar for Best Original Song, while The Tudors saw Emmy and Golden Globes success back in 2008/2009. The Guard, one of Ireland’s most successful films, was nominated for multiple awards, including Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for its lead actor Brendan Gleeson, as well as winning multiple IFTAs.
Closer to home at Cannes Film Festival, The Lobster took home the Jury Prize this year, with The Wind That Shakes The Barley winning the Palme d’Or in 2006.
Providing funding to the Irish audiovisual sector
The Government provides direct financial support for the sector through Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB), which is funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The IFB is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. The agency supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, documentary, television and animation projects. The IFB also supports and promotes the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming location in Ireland. The agency provides a strategic vision for industry training through Screen Training Ireland.
Last year, the Irish Film Board invested over €13.2 million in the Irish film industry.
Interested in the film production, documentary or animation sector but not sure what is out there to help you get your project off the ground? Check out this list of funding programmes available for development, production, and distribution phases.
Development/Production Funding Schemes
Last year IFB invested €10.1m on production funding schemes and €2.18m on development funding schemes. A total of 542 applications were received by IFB across its development, production and short film schemes. Out of these 542 applications, IFB made 197 awards. Find out more about each of these supports below.
Screenplay Development Loans | Enable writers, or teams of writers and directors, to develop a first draft and/or revised draft of a screenplay for a live action fiction or animated feature film. |
Project Development Loans | Enable producers to commission screenplays and undertake all practical work necessary to prepare a feature film project for production. |
Screenplay Development Loans | Enable writers, or teams of writers and directors, to develop a first draft and/or revised draft of a screenplay for a live action fiction or animated feature film. |
Project Development Loans | Enable producers to commission screenplays and undertake all practical work necessary to prepare a feature film project for production. |
Fiction: Irish Production | This funding is for production of feature films originated (live action and animation) and creatively led by Irish talents - directors, writers, producers - the content of which will generally (but not invariably) express Irish culture in some way, and the practical management of which is primarily in Irish hands. |
Animation Development & Production Loans | Development loans enable animation companies to undertake all concept, design and story work necessary for the development of an animated feature film or TV series. Production Loans support the production of an animated TV series originated and creatively led by Irish talents - directors, writers, producers, animators. |
International Development & Creative Co-Production Loans | Enable Irish producers to originate and/or co-develop (as a minority co-producer) high-profile internationally minded feature films working with Irish and International creative talent. Creative Co-Production Loans are available to Irish producers who are seeking to co-produce and collaborate creatively on a live-action or animated feature film originated outside of Ireland, which uses Ireland as a location and involves Irish creative elements. |
Documentary Development & Production Loans | enable the development and production of documentary films, with the emphasis on feature-length creative documentaries capable of reaching an international audience through theatrical and festival exposure. |
International Television Drama Development Loans | Enable Irish producers to originate high-profile TV drama aimed at international audiences working with Irish and International creative talent. |
Completion | This funding enables filmmakers to complete a live-action, animated or documentary feature film (but not a TV drama or short film) which has reached post-production stage or later (rough cut stage) without BSÉ/IFB support, shows great promise and is in need of further funding. |
Short Film Schemes | The IFB runs a number of annual schemes to support the production of animated, live action and documentary short films from Irish producer, writer and director teams. |
Distribution Funding Schemes
In 2014, 18 Irish films were released in Irish cinemas with the support of IFB distribution funding.
| Distribution Support | Funding for bona fide Irish distributors to help defray the costs of theatrical release in Ireland (including Northern Ireland) of feature films already in receipt of IFB production funding, and to stimulate more effective publicity and promotion in support of their release. |
| Direct Distribution | Funding for Irish producers to help defray the costs of a limited theatrical release in Ireland (including Northern Ireland) for feature films already in receipt of IFB production funding, that have been unable to secure suitable theatrical distribution by a bona fide Irish distribution company. |
For more information
See the Irish Film Board's website for details on all funding programmes.