12/12/2005

The Irish Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donogue announced last Friday that the total budget of the Irish Film Board (IFB) for production and development in 2006 would be increased by 21%, to €15m.

"Taken together with the supplementary funding of €1.5m made available to the Board in the current year, this 2006 capital allocation reflects the importance attached to the film and audiovisual industry, the recognition of the vital role of the Irish Film Board and the Government’s commitment to its continued success", said the Irish Minister. He hoped that this increased funding would "not only help alleviate some of the recent difficulties within the industry, but equally signal the seriousness with which the Government views the place occupied by the audiovisual sector within the Irish cultural and economic spheres".

The supplementary funding is meant to boost the Irish production sector which struggled this year to attract foreign feature film projects –in spite of its Section 481 tax incentive- and had a slow production year until the autumn. But 2006 should be more positive with the completion of a range of films currently in production such as Brian Kirk’s Middletown, David Gleeson’s The Front Line, Nick Roeg’s Puffball, Niall Heery’s In Like Flynn, and Marion Comer’s 48 Angels.

James Morris, Chair of the IFB said that with this increased budget, the IFB will introduce a number of new funding initiatives under the guidance of the new Chief Executive Simon Perry who will take up his new position in the new year.