MAK I N G

A ROUGH GUIDE
LFI M & TV
IN I R E LA N D
 THE IRISH FILM BOARD
The Irish Film Board (IFB) is the
national development agency for
the Irish film and television industry,
investing in talent, creativity and
enterprise. We support the industry
by funding projects, providing training
78 and by promoting Ireland as a location
for international production.

TALENT.
CREATIVITY.
ENTERPRISE.
 CONTENTS
Making Film & TV in Ireland 6
The Irish Producer 8
Irelands New Tax Credit 10
Funding Sources 12
2 Other Financial Incentives 13
Ireland & International Co-production 14

Location Location Location 18

Urban Ireland 20
Rural Ireland 24
Film Studios 28
Post-production, CGI & VFX 30
Case Study: VFX 32

IFB Location Services 36

Support Networks 38

Irish Talent 42
Irish Short Films at the Oscars 44
Case Study: Feature Film 46
Case Study: Television Drama 52
Animation 60
Case Study: Animation 64

International Awards 70
IFB Contact Details 76
glendalough, co. wicklow
 Making Film & TV in Ireland 6
The Irish Producer 8
Irelands New Tax Credit 10
Funding Sources 12
Other Financial Incentives 13
4
Ireland & International Co-production 14
6

cliffs of moher, co. clare

MAKING W orld class film and television drama is made
in Ireland year after year.
Recent projects include Jim Sheridans Secret
Scripture, John Carneys Sing Street, John Crowleys
Brooklyn, Ben Kelletts Mrs Browns Boys DMovie,
Irelands film and television industry is built on
talented Irish producers, directors, writers, cast,
crew and service providers, backed by consistent Irish
government support, delivered by a competitive tax
incentive and Irish Film Board (IFB) project funding.

FILM & TV
We hope this guidebook answers your questions
Gerard Barretts Glassland, Yorgos Lanthimos The
about making film and television in Ireland. But nothing
Lobster and Tomm Moores animated feature film Song
beats meeting face to face! So please contact us
of the Sea.
to arrange a meeting in Dublin or at any one of the
international festivals and markets attended by IFB
Television drama made in Ireland includes Penny
staff and Irish producers.
Dreadful for Showtime, Vikings for History Channel
US, Ripper Street for the BBC, Inspecktor Jury and A
We look forward to meeting you.

IN IRELAND
Dangerous Fortune for ZDF.

Naoise Barry
These feature films and television drama series were all
Film Commissioner
produced in Ireland and many are post-produced here too,
naoise.barry@irishfilmboard.ie
often taking advantage of Irelands growing VFX industry.
 THE
IRISH
8
PRODUCER
W hen considering making a film or television
project in Ireland its best to work with an
established Irish production company.

You require an Irish production company in

order to benefit from the Irish tax incentive for film
and television. In addition to providing access to the
tax credit, your Irish producer can advise you on other
sources of Irish funding, including Irish Film Board
development and production support.

Your Irish producer can provide the full range of

production services, managing all stages of the
production process including scouting, scheduling,
budgeting, casting, crewing and of course post
production too.

With over 140 member companies, Screen Producers

Ireland (SPI) is the representative body for independent
film, television and animation producers in Ireland.

Irish producers are extremely versatile.

They combine creative, financial and
production knowledge and have an
excellent reputation in the international
co-production marketplace. With extensive
experience in many genres, Irish producers
can offer a reliable, flexible and business-like
approach to any co-production.

Barbara Galavan,
CEO, Screen Producers Ireland
www.screenproducersireland.com

dunguaire, co. galway

 Irelands Film & TV Tax Credit (aka Section 481)
Irelands New
What types of projects qualify?
The incentive applies to feature film, TV drama
(singles or series), animation (excluding computer
games), & creative documentary. Projects must either
pass Ireland's Cultural Test or qualify as an official
co-production under a co-production treaty.
Who is eligible to apply?
Tax Credit
The application to Revenue is made by the
Producer Company.
The Producer Company must:
Be Irish resident or trading through a branch or agency
Make film and TV for cinema exhibition or broadcast
or online
Be trading for at least 12 months and have filed with
Revenue a corporation tax return
Not be connected to a broadcaster
10
Hold 100% shareholding in a Qualifying Company
The Qualifying Company must:
Be Irish resident or trading through a branch or agency
Exists as an SPV to make one film
What is the Section 481 benefit worth?
The applicant producer company can claim a payable
tax credit of up to 32% of eligible expenditure.
What is eligible expenditure?
The payable tax credit is based on the cost of
ALL cast & crew working in Ireland, regardless of
nationality, as well as goods, services & facilities
purchased in Ireland.
Is withholding tax applied to international cast
& crew working in Ireland?
Film Withholding Tax (FWT), at a rate of 20%, applies
to payments made to Actors (including voice-over
artists) for artistic services rendered to the "Qualifying
Company", but only if the Actor in question is tax-
resident outside the EU and EEA. More information
What is Section 481?
about FWT is available at www.revenue.ie or by
contacting the FWT Unit at fwtunit@revenue.ie.
Section 481 is a tax credit, incentivising Is there a cap on the incentive?
There is no annual cap or limit on the funding of the
programme, meaning there is no limit to the value of
film & TV production made in Ireland, the cumulative payable tax credits made by Revenue.
administered by Irelands Revenue The tax credit has a per project cap of up to 32% of
the lower of:
Commissioners (Revenue). 1. Eligible expenditure
2. 80% of the total cost of production
3. 50 million
When is the rebate paid?
Option A Single Instalment:
On completion of the project and submission of a
compliance report to Revenue, payment of 100%
of the tax credit may be paid by the Revenue within
30 days.
Option B Two Instalments:
First instalment being 90% of the tax credit due, upon:
1. Financial Closing, including proof that 68% of
eligible expenditure is lodged to the projects
production account;
2. Irish Film Board certification (IFB funded
projects only); or
3. Tax credit guaranteed by financial institution, and
Second and final instalment being 10% balance on
submission of compliance report to Revenue.
How is payment made by Revenue?
Payment of the relief may be claimed against the
producer companys corporation tax (CT) liabilities. In
the event the relief due is greater than any tax due by
the producer company, then a payment of the excess
will be made by Revenue.
Is there a minimum spend level?
Projects are excluded from the incentive if their
eligible expenditure is less than 125,000, or the
total cost of production is less than 250,000.
When are applications made to Irelands revenue?
An application for a certificate entitling the applicant to
the tax credit can be submitted at any time up to, but
prior to, the completion of the project.
Does the tax credit apply to post production
expenditure, including VFX?
Yes, the tax credit applies to eligible expenditure,
including that which incurred during post production
and/or on VFX.
Is there a sunset date?
Irelands film and TV tax credit of up to 32% runs until
December 31st 2020.
Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue)
Irelands film & TV tax credit is administered by
Revenue. Contact details, and further information
about the incentive programme is available here:
www.revenue.ie
 Funding Sources
IRISH FILM BOARD
Irelands national screen agency supports Irish
filmmaking from script to screen. Visit the IFB
website, www.irishfilmboard.ie, and explore the IFB
Funding Programmes section, which details current
production and development funding schemes.
BROADCASTING AUTHORITY OF IRELAND
One of the BAIs objectives is to stimulate the
12
provision of high-quality, diverse and innovative
programming. To this end, it allocates public funding
through the Sound & Vision Fund. www.bai.ie
EURIMAGES
Ireland is a member of the Council of Europes
production support fund, EURIMAGES. The fund
supports feature films, documentaries and animated
films that are intended for cinema release and are
co-productions between at least two member states.
www.coe.int/eurimages
IRISH BROADCASTERS
Irelands public service broadcasters are RT and
TG4. TV3 is Irelands one commercial station. All
three commission original content.
MOONE BOY
OTHER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Corporate Tax and IP Value Added Tax (VAT)
A tax rate of 12.5% applies to all corporate trading Incoming production to Ireland is exempt from Value Added
profits. A 25% tax credit can be claimed against R&D Tax (VAT) on a wide range of Irish goods and services.
expenditure. Tax deductions are available for capital
expenditure on the acquisition of qualifying IP assets.
 IRELAND & INTERNATIONAL
CO-PRODUCTION
14
Irelands competitive tax incentive, experienced talent base, and distinctive yet adaptable
landscapes make it a unique and valuable co-production partner. Ireland has co-produced with
almost every European territory, as well as Canada, Australia and South Africa. Ireland has a
wealth of experienced co-producers across all forms of film, television, animation and digital media.
What co-production agreements is Ireland party to?
Ireland is a party to the European Convention on
Cinematographic Co-production which enables
co-production of feature films amongst members of
the EU and some EEA states. Ireland also has bi-lateral
co-production agreements with Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Luxembourg and South Africa.
What type of projects do the co-production
agreements cover?
The European Convention on Cinematographic
Co-production covers feature film production
(live-action, animation and documentary). Irelands
bi-lateral treaties cover feature film, television
production and other forms of digital production.
What are the benefits of certifying as an
official co-production?
If a project is certified as an official co-production,
it confers national status of all the co-production
territories to the relevant production.
The production can then benefit from other local
territory benefits such as broadcast licence fees,
access to tax incentives, regional subsidies and the
local distribution market. Ireland is also a member of
Eurimages, the European co-production fund, which
has an annual budget of over 20m available.
Are there any limits on financial or creative
contributions?
shadow dancer
If the official Irish co-production is bi-lateral, the
minimum contribution of a territory is 20%, with
the maximum being 80%. If it is a multi-lateral
co-production under the European Convention,
then the minimum contribution needs to be
10%, with the maximum being 70%.
How do I find information on Irish co-producers?
The Irish Film Board can assist in partnering you
with a suitable co-producer and currently provides
detailed producer information on the following database
http://companydatabase.irishfilmboard.ie/search.
Screen Producers Irelands website
www.screenproducersireland.com also
has information on Irish producers.
What recent productions involved ireland as a
co-production partner?
Feature film The Lobster directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
and starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and John C Reilly
is an Irish, UK, French, Greek and Dutch co-production.
Based on Colm Tibns novel, Brooklyn directed by
John Crowley stars Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson,
Jim Broadbent and Julie Walters is an Irish, UK and
Canadian co-production.The animated feature film Song
of the Sea, directed by Tomm Moore is an Irish, Belgium,
Luxembourg, France and Danish co-production.TV drama
series Vikings is an Irish and Canadian co-production.
byzantium calvAry
 Location Location Location 18
Urban Ireland 20
16
Rural Ireland 24
Film Studios 28
Post-production, CGI & VFX 30
Case Study: VFX 32
 Location
Location lockout braveheart the tudors

Location
18

P roducers regularly make film and

television in Ireland that isnt set here.
Clever use of real locations, coupled
with green-screen and VFX, mean you
can shoot and post-produce a wide range
asteriX The Count of Monte Cristo primeval
of content in Ireland.

Ireland is the obvious place to tell Irish stories like

Brooklyn,Sing Street, Mrs Browns Boys DMovie,
Glassland, Jimmys Hall, Calvary, The Wind that
Shakes the Barley, My Left Foot, The Field, The Quiet
Man and Ryans Daughter. But other stories have been
told here too.

The Normandy landings in Saving Private Ryan were

recreated on Irelands east-coast beaches. The English
battles in Braveheart were not shot in Stirling or York,
but in Ireland. Laws of Attraction, The Honeymooners
and Jim Sheridans In America were all set in New York
but shot in Dublin.

Childrens television series including Primeval,

Treasure Island and Neverland all created fantasy
worlds in Ireland. The Tudors was filmed entirely
on location in Ireland, although it was set in the UK,
and Victorian London was recreated here for Penny
Dreadful and Ripper Street. saving private ryan Penny dreadful ripper street
 URBAN IRELAND
20

the convention centre, DUBLIN CITY

22

"You get better Victorian London

in Dublin than you do in London."
John Logan, creator of Penny Dreadful
custom house quay, Dublin CITY
 RURAL IRELAND
24

connemara, co. galway

26

My team regularly used the Irish

Film Board's online locations
database during prep on Harry
Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It
is a fantastic resource. The IFB
were always on hand to answer
our questions.
Sue Quinn, Location Manager,
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,
filmed on location in Clare and Kerry.
lugGala , Co. Wicklow
 Film Studios
Ardmore Studios
Comprising five sound stages, ranging in size from
3,000 sq ft to 15,000 sq ft, Ardmore Studios offers
extensive production and post-production facilities
within a single complex. Onsite production services
28
include camera, grip and lighting hire firms.
Just 14 miles from Dublin city centre, five miles from
the stunning Wicklow countryside and 30 minutes from
Dublin airport, Ardmore is within easy reach of both
urban and rural film locations.
Over 100 major productions have been shot at the
studio since it opened in 1958, including all four
seasons of The Tudors.
E siun@ardmore.ie
www.ardmore.ie
Stiideo Telegael
Based in Galway on Ireland's west coast, Stiideo
Telegael has over 24,000 sq ft of floor space, including
two sound stages, production offices, workshops,
plus an eight bedroom manor house. The studio
is stocked with state of the art film and television
equipment. Productions which have used the
facility include Annabels Kitchen (ITV), The Guard
(Element Pictures), Stay (Samson Films) and My
Phone Genie (CITV/ZDF).
E info@stiuideotelegael.com
www.telegael.com
Ashford Studios
Comprising three sound stages on 300 acres of
pristine rural back lot, Ashford Studios nestles into
a landscape that is renowned as one of the most
beautiful parts of Ireland.
The facility is 26 miles from Dublin city centre and
50 minutes from Dublin airport. The three stages
are 30,000 sq ft, 14,000 sq ft and 12,000 sq ft.
The studio opened for business in June 2012. The
Vikings TV drama series for History Channel US was
the first project to use the facility.
E shelley@ashfordstudios.com
www.ashfordstudios.com
BLACKTHORN STUDIOS
Located in south Dublin city, just off the M50 motorway.
Features include a soundproofed stage, measuring
12,000 sq ft, and several large and well appointed
production office suites.
www.blackthornstudios.ie
ALTERNATIVE SITES
Ireland has many industrial facilities and ex-military
sites that are used as make-shift film studios.
OCarroll Mulhern Services (OCMS) specialise in
the provision of large warehouse spaces to serve as
film studios.
E cjocarroll@ocmsireland.com
www.ocmsireland.com
VIKINGS
 POST-
PRODUCTION
T
30
he Section 481 tax incentive for
film and television can deliver a cash
benefit worth approximately 28% of your
expenditure on Irish post-production, CGI
and VFX. So it makes sense to not only film
in Ireland but to post-produce here too.

Irelands post-production sector offers value, excellent

service and top talent and can look after projects from
start to finish and everywhere in between, whether it be
sound mixing, offline editing, CGI or VFX.

Irish companies are actively providing post-production

for feature films for worldwide release and television
drama programmes for Irish, UK and international
broadcasters. Irelands CGI and VFX capabilities are
expanding, driven by major international contracts won
by Irish post-production houses.

Some recent work under-taken by post production

companies includes the feature films Young Ones
directed by Jake Paltrow, Dracula Untold directed by
Gary Shore and Lenny Abrahamsons Frank starring
Michael Fassbender. Television drama post-produced
here includes Game of Thrones (HBO), Ripper Street
(BBC) and Vikings (Showtime).

The VFX Association Ireland promotes Ireland as a

VFX centre of excellence. Visit www.vfxai.com for
more details.

More information about post-production companies in

Ireland can be found on the Irish Film Board website
www.irishfilmboard.ie

THE LAST DAYS ON MARS

 CASE STUDY: VFX

The Last Days on Mars

This sci-fi thriller was directed by Irish
Oscar nominee Ruair Robinson, and its
impressive VFX were created entirely by
Dublins Screen Scene. The film was officially
selected for the prestigious Directors
Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, where
it had its world premiere.
32
Director Ruair Robinson
VFX Screen Scene (Ireland)
Irish Production Company Fantastic Films
Main Cast Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas, Olivia Williams
34

IFB Location Services 36

Support Networks 38
 IFB Location Services
T
36

he Irish Film Board provides advice and assistance to overseas filmmakers considering
Ireland as a location. Our support service includes comprehensive online database
resources and access to business support networks across the country.

FILM LOCATIONS DATABASE CREW & SERVICES DATABASE Visually arresting locations
Online self-service web access to 30,000 Whether youre looking for a production manager, that havent been overused in
photographs of 2,500 film locations from across trainee AD, post house or period action vehicles, movies? Check.
Ireland. It only takes a minute to register your project youll find up-to-date information about Irish crew
and get full access to this information resource. If you and production services on our website.
have an interesting international film or television drama Highly skilled and experienced
in development and you cant find what you need in
our online locations library, we may be able to assign ONLINE MOVIE MAP
crews? Check.
a location scout to you.
This research tool combines Google Maps and Street Financial incentive program
View, location photos and official film trailers to help
IRISH PRODUCTION COMPANY SEARCH ENGINE you find Irish-made film and television productions and that actually works? Check.
the locations in which they were filmed. Do you want
Are you looking for an Irish co-producer with a to see examples of Ireland doubling for New York, Fond memories and great
track record that means they have the experience check out In America. Do you want to see how Ireland
to co-produce with you? Our online Irish co-producers regularly stands in for period England, then watch a footage? Check.
database provides a searchable directory of Irish clip of The Tudors.
production companies with contact details and full
credit lists. Use a variety of search criteria to find Irish Contact the IFB Film Commission staff
In other words, if youre a
companies that have produced content similar to the locations@irishfilmboard.ie filmmaker, Ireland rocks.
project you want to make in Ireland. Online Resources
www.irishfilmboard.ie
Steven Soderbergh,
Director, Haywire
38
SUPPORT NETWORKS
Film dublin partnership GUILDS & ASSOCIATIONS

The FILM DUBLIN Partnership is a support network of Animation Ireland

31 public and private sector stakeholders, coordinated
by the Irish Film Board to ensure that Irelands capital
city remains an attractive base for local and international
film and television production.
The network provides an opportunity for consultation,
coordination and communication on complex film
and television projects that are in need of multiple
agency assistance.
Network of Regional Film Offices
The Network of Regional Film Offices comprises
21 local film offices across Ireland. These public sector
bodies offer a free service providing information,
advice and support to filmmakers.
Provides information about Irelands leading
animation companies.
www.animationireland.com
The Writers Guild of Ireland
The representative body in Ireland for writers
for the stage, screen, radio and digital media.
www.script.ie
Screen Producers Ireland
The representative organisation for production
companies in Ireland operating in the areas
of broadcast, film and animation.
www.screenproducersireland.com
It was a pleasure to shoot in
Screen Directors Guild of Ireland Dublin for Ek Tha Tiger. We were
The representative body for directors involved
in the Irish and international audiovisual industry. genuinely impressed by the Irish
www.sdgi.ie
shooting crew as well as the
VFX Association Ireland support of the various agencies
Promotes Ireland as a VFX centre of excellence.
www.vfxai.com particularly the Irish Film
Board and Trinity College. The
The Locations Guild of Ireland
This guild represents all Location Managers, Assistant cast and crew of Ek Tha Tiger had
Managers & Assistants operating in Ireland.
www.locationsguildofireland.com
a wonderful time in Dublin.

Aashish Singh, Producer,

Yash Raj Films
40

Irish Talent 42
Irish Short Films at the Oscars 44
Case StudY: Feature Film 46
Case StudY: Television Drama 52
Animation 60
Case Study: Animation 64
 gabriel byrne jack reynor

cillian murphy brendan gleeson john carney lenny abrahamson

42

IRISH TALENT colin farrell Charlene McKenna michael fassbender

martin mcdonagh domhnall gleeson

saoirse ronan morgan o' sullivan seamus mcgarvey neil jordan david holmes joan bergin
 pentecost granny o grimm's SLEEPING BEAUTY

44

new boy the door

six shooter

Irish Short I rish short films have performed exceptionally

well at the Academy Awards over the
last ten years, receiving a total of nine
nominations. Martin McDonaghs Six Shooter the crush head over heels
took home the award for Best Live Action

Films at
Short in 2006.

Head over Heels (2013), Pentecost (2012),

The Crush (2011), Granny OGrimms
Sleeping Beauty (2010), The Door (2010),
New Boy (2009), Fifty Percent Grey (2002)

the Oscars
and Give Up Yer Aul Sins (2002).

Six Shooter (2006) Best Live Action

Short Film Academy Award

fifty percent grey give up yer aul sins

 CASE STUDY

Mrs Browns Boys DMovie (2014)

MRS. BROWNS BOYS DMOVIE is Brendan OCarrolls
46
hilarious big-screen adaptation of his
multi-award-winning international comedy
phenomenon Mrs. Browns Boys. Agnes Browns
foray into film is a rip-roaring yet heart-warming Mrs Browns Boys DMovie

comic romp. A remarkable love letter to Dublin,

DMovie smashed box office records in the UK and
Ireland in 2014. An overall gross of $25m in the UK
and Ireland which led it to become the 3rd highest
local film in the UK and number in Ireland.

Calvary (2014)
Calvary is the new highly anticipated film
from John Michael McDonagh. McDonaghs
previous film The Guard was the most successful
independent Irish film ever released at the
Irish box office. Starring Brendan Gleeson,
Calvary had its World Premiere at Sundance 2014.

Calvary
 Mrs Browns Boys DMovie
Like all the traders in Dublins historic Moore
Street market, Agnes Brown inherited her
fruit and vegetable stall from her mother, as
her mother did from hers, and so on across
the generations. So when Agnes receives an
outrageous tax demand from the Revenue
Office its not just her livelihood thats
threatened but her heritage, and her dreams
for her daughter Cathys future.
48

Location Dublin
Director Ben Kellett Copyright BoCPix/ BocFlix

Script Brendan OCarroll

Irish Producer Conor Harrington
Irish Finance Section 481
Main Cast Brendan OCarroll, Jennifer Gibney, Eilish OCarroll,
Danny OCarroll, Fiona OCarroll, Paddy Houlihan, Gary Hollywood

Copyright BoCPix/ BocFlix

"I wanted to write a love letter

to Dublin and making the movie
here in Mrs Browns home-town
was a fantastic experience.
Great crews, the perfect film
locations, and a high level of
support from city authorities."

Brendan OCarroll
Copyright BoCPix/ BocFlix Copyright BoCPix/ BocFlix
 Calvary
Father James (Brendan Gleeson) is a good priest
who is faced with sinister and troubling
circumstances brought about by a mysterious
member of his parish. After its world premiere
at Sundance, Calvary gleaned ecstatic reviews
from the international press and was picked
up by Fox Searchlight for US release

Location Sligo, Dublin

50 Irish Production Company Octagon Films
Irish Finance IFB, Section 481
Director / Script John Michael McDonagh
Main Cast Brendan Gleeson, Chris ODowd, Aidan Gillen
 CASE STUDY

Penny Dreadful 1&2 (2013/2014) Penny Dreadful

Three time Oscar nominee and creator of Penny

52
Dreadful, John Logan, said of filming in Ireland;
"Ireland has been a truly inspirational place
to film Penny Dreadful. Not only does it have
deeply talented crews, but the city's unspoiled
architecture perfectly captures London at
the turn of the last century."

RIPPER STREET 1&2 (2012/2013)

It took Irish production designer Mark Geraghty ripper street
eight weeks to create the look and feel of
Whitechapel in 1889, working with a 40-strong
Irish construction crew to transform Dublins
Clancy Barracks.

VIKINGS 1&2 (2012/2013)

This Canadian-Irish co-production was the first
project to film at the newly opened Ashford
Studios in Co Wicklow, and in the surrounding
countryside. The second series was also filmed vikings

here in 2013.
 Penny Dreadful
Some of literature's most terrifying
characters, including Dr. Frankenstein,
Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the
novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest
corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful
which filmed entirely on locaton in Wicklow
is a frightening psychological thriller that
weaves together these classic horror origin
54
stories into a new adult drama.

Location Dublin, Wicklow

Irish Production Company Octagon Films
Irish Finance IFB, Section 481
Irish Director Dearbhla Walsh
Main Cast Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton
 RIPPER STREET 1&2
Shot entirely in Dublin, this BBC procedural
police series is set in late 19th Century London.
The precinct is the notorious H Division the
police station charged with keeping order on
the chaotic streets of Whitechapel.

Location Dublin
Irish Production Company Element Pictures
Irish Finance Section 481, Irish Film Board
Irish Director Colm McCarthy
56 Main Cast Matthew Macfadyen, Adam Rothenberg, David Wilmot,
Charlene McKenna, Hugh OConor, Michael McElhatton, Jerome Flynn
 VIKINGS 1&2
The first episode of this History Channel
series screened to over six million viewers
in 2013. Vikings follows the adventures
of Ragnar Lothbrok and the powerful
Norsemen who raided their way through
Europe in Medieval times.

Location Wicklow
Irish Production Company World2000 Entertainment
58
Irish Finance Section 481, Irish Film Board
Irish Director Ciarn Donnelly
Main Cast Gabriel Byrne, Donal Logue, Travis Fimmel
 Ireland continues to build a strong
reputation in animation, with talented
and technically sophisticated 2D and 3D
studios creating and producing content the missing scarf

for television and film as well as cross-

platform interactive services, including
60
app and game development.

B y winning and being nominated for

Academy Awards, Emmys, BAFTAs
and Annie Awards, Irish animated features,
shorts and television series are leaving their
mark on the international stage.
names in global broadcasting including
Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network
and CBBC to name but a few. Some recent
projects include The Amazing World of
Gumball (Cartoon Network), Doc McStuffins
Ooops! Noah Is Gone...

and Henry Hugglemonster (Disney Junior),

Since 2008 four Irish animation companies
have been named European Producer of the
Year at the renowned Cartoon Forum (Cartoon
Saloon, Brown Bag Films, Monster Animation,
JAM Media). Cartoon Saloon picked up the
European Director of the Year accolade
at Cartoon Movie in 2009 and Monster
Distributes picked up the Best Distributor
Award at Cartoon Forum in 2012.
Irish developed animations are being
broadcast all over the world strengthening the
close relationships with some of the biggest
The Octonauts (BBC) and Roy (CBBC).
The prestigious Annecy International
Animation Festival paid homage to Irish
animation and talent with a special tribute
to Ireland and a host of screenings and
events during the festival in 2012.
For more information about Ireland's leading
animation companies and for up to date news
about the animation industry in Ireland visit
www.animationireland.com
puffin rock
62

the amazing world of gumball Nelly & Nora Henry Hugglemonster

Tea with the Dead

roy planet cosmo abadas im a creepy crawly

 CASE STUDY: Animation

SONG OF THE SEA

The second feature from two-time Academy
Award nominee Tomm Moore (The Secret of
Kells) tells the story of Ben and his little sister
Saoirse the last Sealchild who embark on
a fantastic journey back to their home by the
sea. They cross a fading world of ancient Irish
legends and magic, a world that needs Saoirse
64 to find her voice and sing the Song of the Sea to
save all of fairykind from being lost forever.

Director Tomm Moore

Script Will Collins
Art Director Adrien Merigeau
Irish Production Company Cartoon Saloon
Irish Finance IFB, Section 481, BAI, TG4
Main Cast David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson, Lisa Hannigan, Fionnula
Flanagan, Jon Kenny, Pat Shortt, Colm O Snodaigh, Liam Hourican,
Lucy O Connell, Kevin Swierszcz
66

Song of the Sea was nominated in the

Best Animated Feature Film Category
at the Academy Awards in 2015
68

International Awards 70
IFB Contact Details 76
 International
Awards &
Nominations
I
70
rish film, television and animation projects
EMMY AWARDS, USA
and the Irish audiovisual sector, including
producers, cast and crew, have built a
strong reputation worldwide, consistently
winning major international awards and
invitations to the worlds top festivals. By
doing this, the Irish film sector represents
Ireland in a very positive light with opportunities
for Irish culture, stars, stories and images of
Ireland to be communicated to audiences all
over the world.
GOLDEN GLOBES, USA
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL,
FRANCE
ACADEMY AWARDS, USA
2015 Best Animated Feature, Song of the Sea (Nomination)
2012 Best Actress, Albert Nobbs (Nomination)
2012 Best Supporting Actress, Albert Nobbs (Nomination)
2012 Best Make-Up, Albert Nobbs (Nomination)
2012 Best Live Action Short Film, Pentecost (Nomination)
2011 Best Live Action Short Film, The Crush (Nomination)
2010 Best Animated Feature Film, The Secret of Kells (Nomination)
2010 Best Animated Short Film, Granny OGrimms Sleeping
Beauty (Nomination)
2010 Best Live Action Short Film, The Door (Nomination)
2009 Best Live Action Short Film, New Boy (Nomination)
2008 Best Original Song, Once
2006 Best Live Action Short Film, Six Shooter
2002 Best Short Animation, 50 Percent Grey (Nomination)
2002 Best Short Animation, Give Up Yer Aul Sins (Nomination) 71
2013 Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, Mea Maxima
Culpa: Silence in the House of God
2013 Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming,
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
2013 Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming, Mea
Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
2010/09/08 Outstanding Costumes, The Tudors
2010 Outstanding Art Direction, The Tudors
2010 Outstanding Cinematography, The Tudors (Nomination)
2010/09 Outstanding Hair Styling, The Tudors (Nomination)
2009 Outstanding Cinematography, The Tudors
2009/07 Outstanding Art Direction, The Tudors (Nomination)
2009/08/07 Outstanding Casting, The Tudors (Nomination)
2009/08 Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -
Drama, The Tudors (Nomination)
2006 Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical or Comedy,
Breakfast on Pluto (Nomination)
2014 Official Selection, Jimmys Hall
2014 Directors Fortnight, Queen and Country
2013 Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight, The Last Days on Mars
2011 Official Selection, This Must be the Place
 2011 Official Selection, Directors Fortnight, The Other Side 1998 Silver Bear (Best Director), The Butcher Boy
of Sleep

TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL,

2010 Official Selection Directors' Fortnight, All Good Children
2014 Official Selection, Song of the Sea, Miss Julie
2007 CICAE Art & Essai Cinema Prize, Garage
2013 Official Selection, Lifes A Breeze, The F Word, Stay, The Sea,

CANADA
2006 Palme DOr, The Wind That Shakes The Barley All Is by My Side, The Stag

2005 Official Selection Directors' Fortnight (Short Film), 2012 Official Selection, What Richard Did, Byzantium, Jump,
Undressing My Mother Men At Lunch, The Pervert's Guide to Ideology, Call Girl, Mea
Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
2001 Official Selection (Short Film), Chicken
2012 FIPRESCI Prize, Call Girl
1998 Best Director, The General
2011 Gala Presentation, Albert Nobbs

SUNDANCE FILM
2011 Official Selection, Death of a Superhero, The Other Side of
2015 Official Selection, Brooklyn, Glassland, The Hallow,
Sleep, The Moth Diaries
Strangerland, The Visit
2010 Official Selection, As if I Am Not There, The Pipe, Sensation,

FESTIVAL, USA
2014 Official Selection, Frank, Calvary, The Last Days of Peter
Essential Killing, Lapland Odyssey
Bergmann, Young Ones
2009 Official Selection, Perriers Bounty, Ondine, Triage, Colony,
2013 Best Short Animation, Irish Folk Furniture
A Shine of Rainbows, Eamon, Cracks
72 2013 Editing Award: World Cinema Documentary, The Summit 73
2008 Official Selection, Kisses, A Film With Me In It
2012 Official Selection, Grabbers, Shadow Dancer, This Must
2007 Official Selection, Garage, Kings
Be The Place
2006 Official Selection, The Wind That Shakes the Barley,
2011 Official Selection, The Guard, Knuckle, Perfect Sense,
The Ugly Duckling & Me, True North
Small Change
2005 Official Selection, Breakfast on Pluto, Isolation,
2010 Official Selection, His & Hers, Old Fangs
Pavee Lackeen
2010 World Cinema Documentary Award, His & Hers
2004 Discovery Award, Omagh
2009 Official Selection, Five Minutes of Heaven, A Film From My
2002 Discovery Award, The Magdalene Sisters
Parish 6 Farms

2009 World Cinema Directing Award, World Cinema Screenwriting

TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL,

Award Five Minutes of Heaven 2014 Official Selection, The Canal

2007 Audience Award for World Cinema, Once 2013 Official Selection, Run & Jump, Byzantium, What Richard

USA
Did, Dark Touch, Fear of Flying, The Girl with the Mechanical
2002 Audience Award for World Cinema, Bloody Sunday
Maiden

2012 Official Selection, Babygirl, Death of a Superhero,

BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL,

2015 Official Selection, Youre Ugly Too El Gusto, Foxes

2014 Official Selection, Calvary, The Food Guide to Love, Last Hijack 2011 Official Selection, Lotus Eaters, The Hideaways, The Guard,
Switch, Noreen, Pentecost

GERMANY
2013 Official Selection, Slow Food Story
2010 Official Selection, Snap, My Brothers, Ondine, Zonad
2012 Official Selection, Dollhouse, Shadow Dancer, Anton
Corbijn: Inside Out, The Reluctant Revolutionary 2009 Official Selection, The Eclipse, Of Best Intentions

2011 Official Selection, The Guard, Crossing Salween, The Pipe 2009 Best Actor, The Eclipse

2010 Official Selection, Corduroy 2008 Official Selection, Eden, New Boy

2009 Official Selection, The Secret of Kells, Cherrybomb 2008 Best Actress, Eden

2008 Official Selection, Seaview, New Boy, 32A, Frankie 2008 Best Short Film, New Boy

2008 Best Short Film, Frankie 2004 Best Actor, Blind Flight

2002 Golden Bear (Best Film), Bloody Sunday

2000 CICAE Prize, Saltwater

 VENICE FILM FESTIVAL,
2010 Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, CinemAvvenire Award,
Essential Killing
2009 Official Selection, Foxes
ITALY 2007 Official Selection, Blind Mans Eye
2005 Official Selection, Pavee Lackeen
2004 Official Selection, Adam & Paul
2002 The Golden Lion (Best Film), The Magdalene Sisters
2002 Best Supporting Actor, Nothing Personal
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL
2015 Best Film plus seven other nominations, Song of the Sea,
Annie Awards (Nomination)
ANIMATION
2015 Best Pre-School Television, Peter Rabbit, Annie Awards
(Nomination)
2015 Best Pre-School Television, Doc McStuffins, Annie Awards
ACHIEVEMENTS &
(Nomination)
2015 Best Short Film, Coda, Annie Awards (Nomination)
74
AWARDS
2015 Official Selection, Somewhere Down the Line, Clermont-
Ferrand International Short Film Festival
2014 Best Animated Short Film Award, Coda, SXSW
2014 Official Selection Octonauts, Wildernuts, The Last Hijack,
The Missing Scarf, Annecy Animation Festival
2014 Best Drama & Writer, Roy, BAFTA Childrens Awards
(Nomination)
2014 Best International in 2014, Doc McStuffins, BAFTA Childrens
Awards (Nomination)
2014 Best Pre-School Animation, Bing, BAFTA Childrens Awards
(Nomination)
2014 Best Animation & Writer, The Amazing World of Gumball,
BAFTA Childrens Awards (Nomination)
2013 Best Animation, LA Shorts Fest, New Hampshire Film Festival,
Seminci, Indie Memphis Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, The
Missing Scarf
2013 Best Short Animation, Sundance Film Festival, Irish Folk
Furniture
2012 Best Animation, LA Shorts Fest, Fear of Flying
2012 European Producer of the Year, JAM Media, Cartoon Forum
2012 Best Distributor, Monster Distributes, Cartoon Forum
2012 Childrens BAFTA Award, Roy
2012 Childrens BAFTA Award, The Amazing World of Gumball
2012 Audience Award, The Boy in the Bubble, Palm
Springs Shortfest
2012 Special Focus on Irish Animation, Annecy Film Festival
2012 Official Selection, The Last Train, A Different Perspective,
Annecy Film Festival
2011 European Producer of the Year, Monster Animation,
Cartoon Tributes
2011 UNICEF Award, Santas Apprentice, Annecy Film Festival
2011 Best TV Production, The Amazing World of Gumball,
Annecy Film Festival
2011 Best Animation, Paperman, Canada International
Film Festival
2010 Best Drama, Roy, BAFTA British Academy Childrens
Award (Nomination)
2010 Best Writer, Roy, BAFTA British Academy Childrens
Award (Nomination)
2010 Best Childrens Drama, Roy, Royal Television Society Awards
2010 Best Animated Feature, The Secret of Kells, Academy
Awards (Nomination)
2010 Best European Feature, The Secret of Kells, British
Animation Awards
2010 Best Animated Short, Granny OGrimms Sleeping Beauty,
Academy Awards (Nomination) 75
2010 Fipresci Award, Miss Remarkable & Her Career, Annecy
Animation Film Festival
2010 Best Animated Feature, The Secret of Kells, ASIFA Hollywood
Annie Awards (Nomination)
2010 Best Animated Short, The Rooster, the Crocodile & the Night
Sky, ASIFA Hollywood Annie Awards (Nomination)
2010 Official Selection, Old Fangs, Sundance Film Festival
2010 Official Selection, A Film From My Parish 6 Farms, The
Polish Language, Clermont Ferrand Film Festival
2009 Best Animated Feature, European Film Awards, Niko and the
Way to the Stars (Nomination)
2009 Official Selection, The Secret of Kells, Berlin International
Film Festival
2009 Official Selection, A Film From My Parish 6 Farms,
Sundance Film Festival
2009 Audience Award, The Secret of Kells, Annecy International
Animation Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival
2009 Producers of the Year, Brown Bag Films, Cartoon Forum
2009 Director of the Year, Tomm Moore, Cartoon Movie
2009 Producers of the Year, Cartoon Saloon, Cartoon Movie
2008 Producer of the Year, Cartoon Saloon, Cartoon Forum
 Irish Film Board
1416 Lord Edward Street
Dublin 2, Ireland

+ 353 (0) 91 561 398

www.irishfilmboard.ie

Naoise Barry
Film Commissioner
E naoise.barry@irishfilmboard.ie
M +353 (0)86 813 7989
T +353 (0)91 561 398
Skype naoisebarry

The Irish Film Board is a proud member

of the following organisations

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