New Galway Film Centre Website to Attract Filmmakers to the West
Galway Film Centre have a new website, http://www.screenwest.ie/ which is a one-stop-shop providing all the necessary information for incoming film and television productions gathered together for the first time in one location.Manager of the Galway Film Centre, Declan Gibbons commented: "There has been talk of setting up a Screen Commission for Galway for a good number of years. Over the last six months, through close consultation with the industry, we decided that the best way forward was to begin by setting up a dedicated website which is essentially a well resourced database for every conceivable contact you'd need if you want to shot in the West. If you want information on: Crew, Production Companies, Facilities, Locations, Funding/Tax Incentives, Filming Permissions, Geographical Information and Support Services it's all gathered here for you in the one place. Whether you need to know how to go about getting permission to close a road or finding experienced crew to work with, the information is all here"
The website is also endorsed by the Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann. "Competition to host Irish and international film and TV production is always fierce. The Screen West portal is an excellent web resource that definitely gives Galway the edge. The Galway Film Centre and its partners should be congratulated for taking this initiative. Filmmakers need local knowledge and that's what this website delivers", said IFB Film Commissioner, Naoise Barry.
Galway County Council, through its support of the Arts and economic development in the County, was the first local agency to support the project. Galway County Council is the principal source of funding for this new website. Mayor of the County of Galway, Councillor Tom McHugh, who helped help launch the website, noted that "we see support for the arts and cultural industries, as important in promoting County Galway as a good place to live, work and visit. Our research has shown that film companies can spend a lot of money locally, as well as giving our area a great profile and providing vital employment for those supplying or supporting the crews". He added that "this project is all about making it easier to come and do business in Galway and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Galway Film Centre and that our support has helped to realise a key step in ensuring Galway is ‘film friendly'.
The Galway Film Centre is currently chair of the Western Audio Visual Forum which is made up of eighteen organisations all of whom have supported and contributed to the setting up of this website, comprising Údarás na Gaeltachta, TG4, Galway County Council (Arts Office), Galway City Council (Arts Office), Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, The Huston School of Film & Digital Media, NUI Galway, Telegael, EO Telifis, Magma, Abú Media, Gaelmedia, Galway Film Fleadh, Galway Film Centre, Cinemobile, Studio Solas, Power Pictures, Media Antenna and Galway Picture Palace.
The website provides information on finance and co-production; a comprehensive list of all of the main production companies and facilities in County Galway; a database of locations and qualified crew working in the West; a guide to getting permissions and permits to shoot in Galway city and county and a full list of all of the key related services. The next phase is to actively market the site to help attract production companies to the West and develop a Commission as an initiative of the Galway Film Centre.
Mr, Gibbons added: "The website is a great starting point and our main researcher, Heather Mills has helped us create a very comprehensive resource. The next phase is to market it to both the national and international film community."