Opening Remarks from Screen Ireland Chief Executive Désirée Finnegan
Dia daoibh agus fáilte. It is fantastic to see so many of you here today and we would like to sincerely thank you all for taking the time to join us.
An enormous amount of change has taken place since I first joined Fís Éireann in 2019. Since then, it has been remarkable to witness how the Irish screen industry has responded to each challenge and success – from the global production shutdown in 2020 to the record-breaking year in 2021.
Last week, in the budget allocation for 2023, Screen Ireland was awarded the highest level of funding in the agency’s history. This is a testament to the outstanding creative work that you have all produced over decades of commitment and dedication.
This funding was, of course, made possible by Minister Catherine Martin TD, and we would like to thank her for her steadfast commitment to all screen artists and creative professionals. Screen Ireland also welcomes the collaboration that we have with the Minister and her Department officials in the transposition of the Audio Visual Media Services directive. We recognise the potential opportunity this presents to transform the industry and in maintaining the vital role of the Irish independent production sector, ensuring the preservation of European cultural diversity.
Government’s increased support for the Irish screen industry has been a welcome recognition of its value and its potential, and we are determined to continue proving this, both in cultural and economic terms.
In recent years, we have clearly seen how much the industry has grown and the significant levels of employment that have been generated - across film, TV, animation, documentary, VFX and shorts:
The essential role of public service media has never been more apparent than it is today, in promoting Irish cultural diversity and storytelling on screen that is readily accessible to all audiences across Ireland. We truly value our strong working relationships with RTÉ, TG4 and Virgin Media, and are committed to playing our role in supporting the TV sector.
The landscape of TV drama in Ireland is a very different terrain in 2022. Since the introduction of the production fund for Irish TV drama in 2015, production spend has increased by 145%, and further growth is set to continue. We know how important this is for the industry - crucial for our TV sector to compete internationally and to respond to the global demand for content.
Equally, Irish language cinema has been completely redefined. In the middle of an intensely difficult time for cinemas and the cinema-going experience, an Irish-language film broke box office records, reaching a diverse audience across many generations. It created a cultural sensation at home and abroad and is now the Irish entry for the Academy Awards.
As a result of the Cine4 scheme from Screen Ireland, TG4 and the BAI, we now have more Irish-language feature films being produced than ever before, and we plan to ensure it continues – and that Irish filmmakers’ voices can be heard as Gaeilge as well as in English.
The Irish animation industry has also continued to experience substantial growth with millions of children around the world watching animated shows produced here. Ireland is a recognised leader globally in animation with approx. 2,500 people currently employed across 42 studios, according to Animation Ireland.
Ireland has also become a world-class visual effects hub for large scale projects and we were delighted to showcase their work on the visual effects trade mission to Los Angeles with Minister Martin earlier this year.
While the impact of the pandemic is by no means over, we have now seen the results of the additional COVID supports introduced in 2020. What Screen Ireland envisioned during that time was an expansion of our initiatives to address the needs of a wider range of industry professionals, including funding creative artists directly which we have continued to do.
We all know film and television production is an intensely collaborative process driven by creative entrepreneurs, and requires the contributions and expertise of countless creatives, artists, craftspeople and professionals across multiple departments, and at all levels. Screen Ireland’s fundamental aim is to support everyone in that process in different ways.
We are for the story makers: funding creative projects, but also in developing structures that support the work you do on set; in mapping out future career opportunities and skills development in different departments; and in championing the Irish independent producer, directors, writers and creatives in every sense of the word.
This approach is rooted in building a more inclusive, stable and fairer industry – but it is also led by the understanding that when artists are supported, the breathing space is created to make the best work possible.
And when we look to the future, it is by listening to the industry and engaging with all stakeholders, that we can open up new avenues for storytelling for the next generation. Such as our Animation Innovation Fund, creating opportunities for companies who want to explore new platforms and technologies, from virtual reality to interactive content, and with a pilot gaming fund being launched today.
Across the team, the value of great storytelling, European co-production and the importance of preserving our national cinema culture remain constant. Feature film is still key to our vision. We are passionate advocates for cinema – as a shared communal experience, as an accessible art form and an influential platform for new ideas and new voices. We understand the serious challenges, post-pandemic, of encouraging audiences to return to the cinema, but we also believe in its worth and its value to communities all around the country.
The last few years have been incredibly challenging for everyone across the industry but also for the team at Screen Ireland. I would like to take a moment to thank the Board and acknowledge the team’s hard work throughout the pandemic, in trying to maintain as much regular funding activity as possible, in addition to implementing 20 Covid-19 support measures.
We have been dealing with a period of significant change within the agency – launching many new funding streams, increased application volume, a new structure across Production and Development and new team members joining us. We are aware that more work is necessary to ensure that our processes, timelines and communication all work together as effectively as they need to. We have also been developing a new digital system to streamline our processes and we appreciate the industry’s patience as we work through all of this.
Looking to the future, responsible and sustainable industry growth includes prioritising green production but also principles of fairness and equality. Screen Ireland’s support of Safe to Create, which has been led by Minister Martin, is part of the vision to help transform the sector for the future, and to encourage new entrants from all backgrounds.
Today’s sessions will touch on all of these areas:
Session 1 will focus on creative storytelling, innovation and audiences; and
Session 2 will focus on talent, skills and industry development and growth.
In conclusion, creative excellence is at the heart of our Strategic Plan, Building for a Creative Future.
We believe in what artists can achieve when they are given the freedom to create, through support and stability – and this is the value that guides all of Screen Ireland’s output across our production, development, distribution, marketing and skills teams.
We would now like to play a short piece showcasing some of your work across film, television, animation, documentary, VFX and shorts. The only thing that remains is to thank you – the story makers – for making Irish film and television a force to be reckoned with around the world.
