Slate of Irish Films for Next Year Announced as New Survey Report Demonstrates the High Value of the Audio Visual Sector
Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board (IFB) launch their latest Production Catalogue of films for next year and a new audio visual survey which demonstrates the strength of this sector. 2008 was a record for production activity with a slate of 25 films having gone into production. The survey carried out by the IFB and PWC reveals that the Irish audio visual sector is valued at over €557.3 million, employs over 6,000 individuals and represents 0.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).The new slate of films which will be launched tonight at a small reception in City Hall total twenty-five IFB-backed feature films starring a vast array of Irish and international talent. Many major Irish stars, who have achieved much international success, all returned home to work on Irish films this year such as Colin Farrell, Neil Jordan, Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, Aidan Gillen, Conor McPherson, Ardal O'Hanlon and Colm Meaney. Exciting new Irish films to look forward to next year include Ondine directed by Neil Jordan, Triage starring Colin Farrell, Perrier's Bounty starring Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson, the beautifully animated film The Secret of Kells (Tomm Moore), Wide Open Spaces starring Ardal O'Hanlon, Cherrybomb starring Robert Sheehan and The Wake Wood starring Aidan Gillen and Eva Birthistle.
Bord Scannan na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board Chief Executive, Simon Perry commented "This level of production means that more Irish stories, Irish characters, and expressions of Irish culture than ever before will be seen on cinema screens across the world, to the direct benefit of Ireland's image and economy."
The audio visual survey which will also be launched tonight, is the first of its kind to represent the broad range of disciplines in this sector, ranging from film and television through to animation, commercials, corporate video and online digital content. The results illustrate that the audio visual industry is a dynamic, highly educated and flexible sector, capable of demonstrating significant growth and value in the future. The results of this survey also played an important part in making the case to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to introduce new improvements to the tax incentive for film and television Section 481 last week.
Key findings in the survey show that this growing sector employs over 6,905 individuals, 85% in the independent sector and 15% in broadcasting. The results also testify that this sector is vibrant with strong growth activity, with over 47% of companies interviewed in the survey established in the last five years. Responses from freelancers working in the industry also reveal that practitioners in this area are very well educated, with over 59% of freelancers educated to degree level or higher and only 2% with no formal qualification at all.
Commenting on the results of the survey James Morris, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board Chair said "The key to this survey is that it includes all the people and companies involved in audio visual content production, many of whom today work across a range of production categories, and provides an accurate and complete measure of the size, character and value of the sector. From this we can establish the economic value and strategic opportunities for the future, alongside the cultural and artistic achievements of Irish created content that are the real drivers of progress."
With the completion of this survey the IFB will now be looking to facilitate a sector wide Strategic Forum in the New Year to assist the sector to produce a blueprint for the future policy in this industry for the next five years.
High production activity can be attributed to a number of factors including the increased Government support of IFB, the stability of Section 481, the entrepreneurialism of Irish producers and the wealth of emerging talent in front of and behind the camera. IFB-funded film and television projects contributed an estimated total of over €75 million to the Irish economy in 2008, showing a significant return on government investment in this sector.