Irish studio exec calls for film fund boost
A film studio executive in Ireland has called on the government to boost its funding for the Irish Film Board (IFB) to help the country compete more effectively internationally.
By Nick Goundry 10 Apr 2018
A film studio executive in Ireland has called on the government to boost its funding for the Irish Film Board (IFB) to help the country compete more effectively internationally.
Suin Ni Raghallaigh is CEO of Ardmore Studios near Dublin and Troy Studios in Limerick.
She told Screen that a return to pre-recession government support of €20m annually is needed to develop Ireland’s production infrastructure.
“There are ways for people to develop their projects as well and they (the IFB) do support, but I think at minimum their funding should be brought back to where it was a couple of years ago,” Raghallaigh told the outlet.
“That’s a given. They did get more funding this year, which is great. But it’s still not at the level that it should be at.
“The industry should have a vision for where it wants to be and what it wants to be. The industry needs to define itself more here.”
Raghallaigh said that Troy Studios has helped lift Ireland into the market for international shoots on a scale that the country has not previously been able to pitch for. However, she added that the fact that no more studio space will be available for at least 18 months is a real problem for Ireland.
Ardmore Studios itself recently found a buyer that appears to have secured the facility’s status as a film and TV studio for at least the next few years.
See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Ireland.
Main page image: iStock.com/Sebastian Kaczorowski. Article image: FreeImages/Chriki7274
She told Screen that a return to pre-recession government support of €20m annually is needed to develop Ireland’s production infrastructure.
“There are ways for people to develop their projects as well and they (the IFB) do support, but I think at minimum their funding should be brought back to where it was a couple of years ago,” Raghallaigh told the outlet.
“That’s a given. They did get more funding this year, which is great. But it’s still not at the level that it should be at.
“The industry should have a vision for where it wants to be and what it wants to be. The industry needs to define itself more here.”
Raghallaigh said that Troy Studios has helped lift Ireland into the market for international shoots on a scale that the country has not previously been able to pitch for. However, she added that the fact that no more studio space will be available for at least 18 months is a real problem for Ireland.
Ardmore Studios itself recently found a buyer that appears to have secured the facility’s status as a film and TV studio for at least the next few years.
See KFTV's production guide for more on filming in Ireland.
Main page image: iStock.com/Sebastian Kaczorowski. Article image: FreeImages/Chriki7274
Latest news & features
Featured profiles
Promote your services with KFTV
Choose from three profile types - Basic, Silver and Gold
Create ProfileWe offer a range of display advertising opportunities.
Learn More