Launch of Fís Éireann 2023 (Photos)

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland – the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation, and documentary industry – today launched its slate of productions coming to audiences and international markets this year. The Slate was launched at an event held in Dublin attended by Screen Ireland representatives together with a host of Irish screen creative talent.

The agency also published the industry’s production figures for 2022 and revealed details of a number of new initiatives that are being rolled out to support the industry in 2023. The event takes place on the back of the announcement last week of this year’s Oscar nominations which saw Irish creative talent steal the show with a phenomenal record number of 14 nominations. In 2022, the agency has revealed that Screen Ireland-supported projects garnered over 150 awards and nominations throughout the year. This high volume of recognition across a range of areas highlights the sustained growth, success and impact of the Irish screen industry on the international stage.

Also announced at the launch, starting this year, new supports will be available for people working in the screen industry as a result of funding provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, through Minding Creative Minds. Mental health supports including weekly counselling sessions for a period of 12 weeks are available, as well as legal, financial and career advice, to provide support to people in the industry, when they need it.

Among the star-studded panelists were: Chief Executive of Fís Eireann, Désirée Finnega; Chair of Fís Eireann, Susan Bergin; Writer and director, Colm Bairéad; writer and director, John Carney; Actor, Charlene McKenna; writer, director, and actor, Eva Birtwhistle; actor Marcella Plunkett; Producer and animator, Vanessa Robinson; and writer and director, Derek Ugochukwu. The entire event was hosted by actor and comedian Deirdre O’Kane.