IRISH FILM BOARD ANNOUNCE EURO 6.35M FUND

THE MINISTER for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera T.D., has announced that the Irish Film Board have introduced a new euro 6.35 million fund to support Irish Film Producers
In order to facilitate the continued growth and development of Irish production companies, the Irish Film Board are launching a Company Development Initiative.
The initiative is designed to enable a number of Irish production companies take advantage of market conditions and is a direct response to key recommendations of the Kilkenny Report with their emphasis on development.
In order to facilitate the emergence of a number of medium sized production companies over the next five years, the Irish Film Board are proposing to introduce a slate-funding scheme for a period of three years. It is envisaged that the securing of a funding commitment for a three year period will allow a company the continuity and the autonomy to develop long term strategic plans to manage their growth and development, while at the same time leverage that same funding to draw in matching funding from other sources.
The Anglo Irish Bank have agreed in principle to participate in the initiative and to provide debt funding of up to euro 1.9m for the three year period. The Board are confident that the participation of a private sector commercial bank will greatly strengthen the commercial viability of the companies in the initiative.
Under the CDI, the Irish Film Board proposes to select a number of companies, initially up to five, and commit development funding of up to euro 210,000 pa for three years for a slate of projects proposed by the company. The commitment for funding for the three-year period will be subject to the initiative's conditions being met on an ongoing basis.
The Irish Film Board are now inviting Expressions of Interest from production companies who would like to be considered for slate funding. The initial document should contain a comprehensive outline of the proposals, together with a CV for each of the principals and a brief overview of the proposed slate of projects. It is expected that the outline of the proposal will be no more than 4-5 pages with the CVs and project summaries attached as appendices with a maximum of 10 pages.
The closing deadline for the receipt of Expressions of Interest, is to be delivered to Rod Stoneman, Chief Executive Officer, Bord Scánnan na hÉireann, Rockfort House, St Augustine Street, Galway, will be Friday June 29 2001. (CD)