The Irish Film Board (Ana Guevara)

The Irish Film Board is the national film agency and major film funding body, that originally ran from 1980 to 1987 and during this period they produced Eat the Peach, a comedy film from 1986, also Anne Devlin, a drama film from 1984, and Angel, also a drama film from 1982. After its closure the success of several externally funded Irish films motivated local lobbyists to push for its re-establishment, and it worked because in 1993 it was re-done.

Their aim is to help filmmakers to make Irish films, and provide production and development loans for features, television shows, animation projects, documentaries and short films.

Its role is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. The agency supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. The IFB is a key investor in the film and television content production industry which sits at the heart of this new Creative Knowledge Economy and therefore represents an important value proposition for Ireland.

The Irish Film Board is under the aegis of Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The annual budget for the IFB is decided by Dáil Éireann and had a total capital budget of €14.03 million in 2015. The IFB provides funding for the development, production and distribution of Irish feature films, documentaries and short films. The IFB supports and promotes the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, inward investment, the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming location in Ireland. The agency provides a strategic vision for industry training through Screen Training Ireland. They also with this budget help to promote individual films but when it come to Irish writers, directors, producers and crew, they are represented by individual guilds which aim to support the interests of each group. The Irish film industry as a whole, and Ireland as a film location.

From 1993 to 2004 the Broad supported an indigenous industry which produced over 100 feature films many of which gained much success both critically and commercially. Irish film talent was recognized internationally and industry collaboration of Irish producers, writers and directors were well underway producing such work as Ailsa from 1993, I Went Down from 1997, About Adam from 1999, Disco Pigs from 2000, Intermission from 2003, Man About Dog from 2004, Breakfast on Pluto from 2005, His & Hers from 2009, The Guard from 2011, The Lobster from 2015, Brooklyn from 2015, Room from 2015, among others. Notable Irish box office successes for Irish film include Intermission which grossed over €2 million at Irish box office in 2003, Man About Dog which in 2004 grossed over €2.5 million at the Irish box office, The Guard which grossed over €18 million at the international box office and Brooklyn which has earned over €2 million at the Irish box office and €11 million at the US box office as of December 2015.

Ireland was innovative in introducing a film production tax incentive making Ireland more competitive for film production than its international competitors. As a result of the high levels of incoming production into Ireland, the craft and skills base of Irish crews improved exponentially, and was then also available to work on Irish films. Major international films shot in Ireland during this period include Braveheart from 1997 and Reign of Fire.

In recent years Ireland has become the base for a number of high-end international TV dramas including The Tudors (2007-2010), Ripper Street (2012 – today), Vikings (2013 – today) and Penny Dreadful (2014 – today).

 The Irish film industry has grown hugely over the last decade and the industry is now achieving a huge amount of filmmaking talent to match the kind of influence, disproportionate to its small size, that it has always enjoyed in the fields of literature and theatre.

The audio visual content production sector in Ireland itself is estimated to be worth over €550 million and employs over 6,000 individuals, with over 560 small and medium enterprises operating in the sector and this is before the added value that the industry can bring to the tourist industry.

Irish films have received much international attention in recent years with Irish films winning almost every major international award and Irish talent have also been recognized the world over with cast and crew picking up accolades at some of the most prestigious international award ceremonies and festivals such as the Golden Globes, the Emmys, the BAFTAs, Tribeca Film Festival, among other awards.

Ireland is an excellent co-producing partner for European and international productions with a wide range of financial incentives for film and television, excellent facilities, stunning locations and award winning cast and crew on offer.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Film_Board

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Ireland

http://www.ifi.ie/about/history/
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie