OVER €2 MILLION AWARDED TO IRISH FILM BOARD AIMING TO CONTINUE HIGH LEVELS OF PRODUCTION ACTIVITY
John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, today granted a supplementary funding award of over €2 million to the Irish Film Board, with the aim of continuing to increase film production levels in the last quarter of 2006 and for the first half of 2007.This extra funding from the Irish government will be invested in film and television projects which are expected to generate in excess of €30 million worth of film production activity in the Irish economy in the next twelve months.
"The Irish film industry has received unwavering support from Minister O'Donoghue and the Irish Government, resulting in a substantial increase in production levels, high employment and a significant return on government investment in this sector.” said James Morris, Chairman, Board Scannán na hÉireann. “We look forward to identifying major new film and television productions for support throughout the next year" said Simon Perry, Chief Executive, Board Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board.
“I am pleased to allocate a further €2.3 million, which will bring the total allocation of funding to the Film Board to €19.4 million in 2006, an overall increase of 21% on the 2005 allocation. The government has also introduced significant improvements to the film tax incentive Section 481 this year. As a result of these improvements, we anticipate that film and television in Ireland will generate over €80 million in 2006 alone” said Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue.
“The Irish film industry has brought home an Oscar and the Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival in the last six months. Irish films are being seen by audiences all over the world and there is no doubt that this industry is delivering major economic and cultural return to Ireland and that this funding is having a major impact“ Minister O’Donoghue added.
Last year, Minister O’Donoghue, in response to the low production levels being experienced by the film industry awarded €1.5 million in supplementary funding to the Irish Film Board with the direct aim of increasing production levels in Ireland.
The additional funding ensured that Irish film production levels increased substantially during 2006, generating major opportunities for the Irish film industry. Last year the additional €1.5 million funding award was invested in projects that had a combined Irish budget spend of €28 million, delivering a leverage rate of 18:1.
THE TUDORS is an example of one project in receipt of funding last year. This major television series is still shooting on location in Ardmore studios and had an Irish spend of €19 million. THE TUDORS stars Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Myer in the lead role as King Henry VIII and Irish directors Brian Kirk (Middletown) and Ciaran Donnelly (Cold Feet, Proof) are directing episodes of the series, which will be broadcast on Showtime in the US in early 2007.
Irish film and television projects also benefits the tourist industry. Failte Ireland figures indicate that foreign tourists attracted to Ireland by film and TV spent an estimated €250 million in 2001.