Irish Film Board announces launch of ‘Film Dublin’

Irish Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, has launched Film Dublin, a Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB) organised partnership which brings together key stakeholders all with the common aim of reinforcing and building on Dublin’s reputation as a great city to film in.
Film Dublin, the first initiative of its kind in Ireland and inspired by the Office of Film in the New York Mayor’s office, is a partnership of BSÉ/IFB, Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Business Association, Screen Producers Ireland and The Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism.
The Film Dublin partnership provides the opportunity for consultation, coordination and communication on complex film and television projects that are in need of multiple agency cooperation when shooting in the capital.
"Film can be the best advertisement in the world for a country. Images of Ireland on screens large & small attract large numbers of visitors to these shores,” said Mr O'Donoghue. “I fully welcome the Film Dublin initiative and congratulate the Irish Film Board on launching this new service.”
Also announced was the launch of the inaugural Film Dublin publication - Filmmakers’ Code of Best Practice. This Code is a set of simple guidelines intended to ensure that the close working relationship that exists between the Irish film & television sector and the stakeholders that support its activities are safeguarded.
“The Filmmakers' Code of Best Practice will also play an important role in improving cooperation,” said BSÉ/IFB CEO Mark Woods. “It is wonderful to see the film industry and the City working together and I congratulate BSÉ/IFB Film Commissioner, Naoise Barry for driving the Film Dublin and Code of Best Practice Initiatives.”
“BSÉ/IFB intends to work closely with those in the Network of Regional Film Offices who wish to adapt and adopt the Film Dublin model and Code of Best Practice for their counties,” added BSÉ/IFB Film Commissioner Naoise Barry. “This initiative, together with the BSÉ/IFB’s Regional Support Fund for local productions, should enable all parts of Ireland to enjoy the benefits of film and television production.”
Inward international production levels are heating up in the second half of this year, with three major projects shooting or preparing to shoot in Ireland.
They are the $30 million production of Paramount Studios’, ‘The Honeymooners’, Disney’s $50 million project ‘The Banshee’ and ‘Royston Vasey’ for Film Four and Universal Pictures.
Other major international feature films are in the pipeline. Local productions shooting this year include Pearse Elliott’s ‘The Mighty Celt’ (with Gillian Anderson and Robert Carlyle), Stephen Bradley’s ‘Boy Eats Girl’ (with Samantha Mumba) and Neil Jordan’s ‘Breakfast On Pluto’ (with Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy).
Film Dublin is already assisting productions, with Paramount Studios’ The Honeymooners shooting on Dublin’s Amiens Street this month with the help of the Film Dublin partners - in particular Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána who are providing major assistance on the ground.
"An Garda Síochána welcomes the opportunity to be involved in this new and worthwhile initiative,” said Michael A. Byrnes, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioners Office. “In recognising the importance of the film industry to Dublin and indeed the rest of Ireland, An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with its partners in Film Dublin, will play its part in streamlining the process of filming in this country.”
"Hell's Kitchen International is shooting The Honeymooners with Paramount Studios and Royston Vasey with Film Four and Universal Pictures in Dublin this year, so any initiative that helps makes Dublin a more film friendly place makes our job of attracting incoming productions easier,” stated Hell's Kitchen International Producer, Andrew Lowe (‘Omagh’, ‘Laws Of Attraction’).
“We need initiatives like this if we are to maintain our competitive edge. The Irish Film Board's Location Services unit does a great job of both promoting Ireland as a location internationally, while also working to make the country a more film-friendly place to come and work.”
(GB)