Sceen Ireland has set out its long-term vision for the film industry in Ireland, at a press briefing held today in Dublin. The briefing was attended by some of the leading lights in Irish film, including the Emmy-winning Emer Reynolds, actress Seána Kerslake, Louise Bagnall (director of Late Afternoon) and Ed Guiney, producer of the acclaimed period drama, The Favourite, amongst others.

Following a rebrand from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board to Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland in 2018, the agency has redefined and broadened its remit, with the new policies – according to a statement issued this morning – being driven both by the changing and diverse nature of the industry and audience content consumption. Screen Ireland is responsible for funding and promoting Irish film, TV and animation internationally, for skills development within the industry, and for promoting Ireland as a film location.

Screen Ireland also announced its plans to drive further changes across the industry, linking future funding allocations to a number of key guiding principles. These include equality, diversity and inclusion; career and skills development; dignity in the workplace; and climate and sustainability. The objective is to incentivise and reward positive change and support the industry through what is hoped to be an era of continued and sustained growth.

Key Statistics Revealed

Screen Ireland also set out key statistics which clarify both the state of the marketplace in Ireland, and Screen Ireland’s own role.

• The Olsberg/SPI report, published last June, confirmed that 12,000 people are now employed in the film, television and animation production, up from 6,000 in 2008.
• Overall production activity is estimated to have increased on 2017 figures of €286 million in terms of spend on job and local good and services in the Irish economy. 2018 figures will be released shortly.
• In 2018, Screen Ireland invested €13.7 million across 50 projects, including 21 feature films, generating approximately €40 million return to the Irish exchequer, in terms of spend on local jobs and services.
• The agency’s funding continues to be restored by Government, and for 2019 it has been allocated €16.2 million in capital funding, up from €14.2 million in 2018.

"With the Government committing last year, for the first time ever,” Screen Ireland said, "to a long-term commitment to film culture with a funding allocation of €200 million between 2018 and 2027 – together with a growing global demand for content – the industry is poised to continue to increase and expand the significant economic and social contribution it makes to Irish society."

2018 - A breakthrough year for Irish female filmmakers

Screen Ireland were also keen to emphasise that aa programme of development intended to encourage women’s participation in teh creative processes of film and animation is paying dividends.

"As a result of ongoing efforts to support increased female participation for the last number of years, 2018 was a breakthrough year for Irish women in film and animation with many firsts celebrated,” the statement said. "Irish female talent also marked many firsts from a critical perspective in 2018.”

• Nora Twomey (pictured) was the first Irish female director to have a debut feature film nominated for an Academy Award and the first ever female solo director to win Best Independent Animated Feature at the Annie Awards;
• Emer Reynolds was the first Irish female documentary director to win an Emmy Award;
• Carmel Winters was the first Irish female to take home the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize for the Discovery Programme at TIFF.

It was also noted that the number of funding applications with female writers and directors has increased significantly.

• Production funding decisions with female directors increased from 20% in 2017 to 36% in 2018,
• Production funding decisions with writers increased from 20% in 2017 to 45% in 2018.
• Funding applications with female talent attached have increased also significantly, with applications received with female directors attached up from 15% to 31%.

Focusing on the Future

Screen Ireland also set out a number of cornerstones of policy, aimed at driving an agenda of positive change. These were explained as follows:

1 Linking funding with a positive change agenda

"Linking funding decisions to greater gender equality is already paying dividends and provides a positive model to replicate in other areas of strategic importance to the industry,” the statement said. “ In order to incentivise and reward positive change and support the industry in a continued and sustained era of growth, it is the intention of Screen Ireland to develop funding criteria for productions based on the following guiding principles; equality, diversity and inclusion, career & skills development, dignity in the workplace, and climate and sustainability.

2 Focusing on the funding of indigenous Irish drama

"As was verified in the Olsberg SPI Report, Irish TV Drama has been underfunded historically,” it was noted, "and, given its considerable potential at home and abroad, Screen Ireland is planning to allocate enhanced funding and resources to TV drama production in the coming year. Enhanced funding will also be allocated to the Irish animation sector, delivering 6 million in funding over the next three years."

3 Increased Production Activity Building capacity to meet demand

"In order to ensure that the industry is best-positioned to fulfil its full potential,” Screen Ireland indicated, "further capacity is required – both from a talent and infrastructure perspective – and this will continue to be an area of focus for Screen Ireland. International interest in Ireland as a location is at an all time high, and it is imperative that we increase our talent pool and studio production space to fully realise the potential for both inward production and indigenous production. To this end, Screen Skills Ireland is working with regional stakeholders in Limerick, Galway, Cork and Kilkenny to develop a greater regional balance in film and animation skills across the country."

“The great success story of 2018 was the breakthrough of Irish creative female filmmaking talent on the international stage,” Dr. Annie Doona, Chair, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland added, "and the robust and positive changes we are witnessing in relation to gender equality are providing a springboard to drive change in other key areas. Diversity, training, dignity in the workplace and climate sustainability are forefront on Screen Ireland’s agenda for 2019. These are areas in which we will require productions to meet essential criteria to build a truly sustainable and inclusive industry.

“The rebrand into Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is central to solidifying these changes and we remain committed to providing leadership for the Irish screen industries as we move into a new era of growth and opportunity.”

Dr. Doona also paid tribute to James Hickey, who is due to conclude his term as Chief Executive in 2019. “James has been an incredibly committed Chief Executive during his time at Screen Ireland, she said, "and has dedicated his entire career to the film and television industry. He will be missed, and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

“2018 was a galvanising year for Irish film and screen content production,” Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland, James Hickey, observed. "We saw real progress being made in our efforts to grow the strength and depth of the sector, creatively and economically. 2019 is already off to a fantastic start with Irish projects embraced by Sundance, the Berlinale and SXSW. The coming year will present a diverse slate of new Irish films from new and established talent that is sure to delight, entertain and touch audiences both at home and abroad.

“It has been an honour and a privilege for me to serve Ireland’s film, TV and animation community since 2011. The intrinsic value of Irish storytelling on screen, to Irish culture, well-being, heritage and indeed the economy, can sometimes be underestimated but it is perhaps the most immediately evocative and transformative art form,” he concluded.