Budget up 9% for the IFB
by Annika Pham
The Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, has agreed to a 9% increase in funding in 2004 for the Irish Film Board (IFB), bringing the Board’s total budget to €11,845m.
The announcement is particularly good news for the IFB, which suffered a 12% budget cut in 2003. It is also a positive sign for the whole of the Irish film industry, as the question of keeping the tax incentive Section 481 beyond 2004 is being discussed by the Ministry of Finance.
Commenting on the IFB budget rise, Minister O’Donoghue said: “Film is a crucial element of our cultural expression and it is vital that we continue to provide the support that enables Irish films to be made by Irish filmmakers. The IFB is at the heart of the government’s strategy to promote indigenous Irish films and filmmakers and the funding being provided for the Board in 2004 is solid evidence of this fact”.
The IFB celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and it has supported over 100 feature films and TV series, 300 short dramas, documentaries and animation films since it was formed in 1993, including the recent hits, The Magdalene Sisters [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Intermission.
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