IFB TEAMS UP WITH ENTERPRISE IRELAND TO PROMOTE THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AT CANNES MIPTV MARKET
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) and Enterprise Ireland have teamed up to support the Irish creative industries at the MIP TV Market in Cannes which runs from 16-20 April.MIP TV is one of the world’s premiere audiovisual and digital markets attended by approximately 12,000 delegates representing over 4000 companies from 92 countries including Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros, the BBC, and European broadcasters ARTE, RTVE and ZDF. This year the IFB and Enterprise Ireland will co-host the Ireland on Screen stand and business centre which represents the Irish creative industries attending the market and promotes Ireland as a location for major TV series to market delegates.
A large number of creative Irish companies ranging from film, television, animation, facility providers and digital media, will be attending the market, to sell original programming, finance development slate concepts and sell their services to facilitate international TV production in Ireland. The number of companies attending has increased since last year, and includes Ardmore Studios, Hells Kitchen International, Irish animation companies Brown Bag, Monster Animation, Kavaleer, Jam Media, Cartoon Saloon and sales agent Network Ireland amongst others aiming to meet with international sales agents, producers and financiers.
Ireland has a strong reputation for quality animation and the Irish animation sector is well represented at MIPTV. Cartoon Saloon, the Kilkenny based animation studio are currently selling Brendan & the Secret of Kells and the TV series Skunk Fu through the sales agents Celluloid Dreams and Cake International. Cartoon Saloon producer Ross Murray is also pitching a new series Puffin Rocks, currently in development but which they hope to produce over the next 18 months and distribute over all platforms from TV to mobile. Monster are currently selling TV series Fluffy Gardens and Kavaleer are pitching a TV series Gareth created by Andrew Kavanagh and Gary Simpson to sales agents which is being produced for the BBC Children’s channel.
Sales agent Network Ireland are meeting with mobile broadcasters selling a package of 60 x 3 minute Irish short films specifically aimed to be broadcast on mobile platforms. Network Ireland will also be selling feature film Capital Letters directed by Ciaran O’Connor and for the 4th series of the Irish documentaries series Wild Trial Extinct, and Where in the World. Wildwave, Irish media content providers for digital media channels will be attending the market to launch their channel on Joost.com – the new peer to peer internet TV distribution channel from the makers of Skype, which will broadcast Irish short films.
“The IFB is delighted to be working closely with Enterprise Ireland presenting “Ireland on Screen” to the international TV industry. As Ireland moves towards a knowledge economy and new technologies transform the means of producing, distributing and exhibiting film, creative talent becomes a key resource. Our objective is to enable and promote Irish film talent and enterprise, ensuring that the value and importance of the Irish creative industries are recognized” said Simon Perry, CEO, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish film Board.
The Irish Film Board will also be promoting Ireland as a prime location for major TV drama at the market. There has been a huge influx of major UK, European and US TV dramas shooting on location in Ireland over the last 18 months include the TheTudors (Showtime), which has just been green lit for a second series, Murphy’s Law series 4 & 5 (BBC), Northanger Abbey (Granada), Kitchen (Channel 5), Rough Diamond (BBC), The Baker Street Irregulars (BBC), Gently’s Last Case (BBC), and Return to the Shannon River (RDF Media), many of which are currently selling in the MIPTV market.