Tax relief scheme lights up Ireland’s silver screens

With the Section 481 production tax relief extended until 2020, the Irish film industry breathed a sigh of relief after some pre-budget suggestions that the scheme might have been axed.

“The extension and future enhancement of the Irish tax incentive for the film and television industry will strengthen the sector as an important contributor to the Irish economy,” said James Morris, chairman of the Irish Film Board.

“Despite the economic difficulties Ireland has experienced over the past few years, the Irish film and television industry has experienced high levels of production activity, contributing over €150m, in terms of spend on jobs and services, to the Irish economy.”

A number of international productions have benefited from the tax incentive scheme, most recently the Vikings series, which employed more than 500 and left an estimated €20m in revenue behind. Other projects which have taken advantage of Section 481 are the BBC shows Ripper Street, Loving Miss Hatto, and Inspector George Gently.

ITV also accessed the incentives for Life Of Crime and Thirteen Steps Down. Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan confirmed €60.7m will be allocated for the Arts Council for 2013 from current capital and European presidency funding.

The North currently offers the UK tax incentive scheme, but this is expected to change when Britain’s 2013 budget is announced in March. In recent months, the North has played host to large-scale television productions such as Game of Thrones.

Casting is under way for the Irish-language version of the US sitcom Cheers following successful negotiations between Dublin production company Sideline and CBS.

Under the working title Teach Sean, casting, script editing, and translation are under way on the 275 scripts that Sideline has agreed, and the project has already been approved for Section 481 funding.

Billy McGrath, creative director of Sideline, said: “With a scripted format we have a lot more freedom and while we will have access to the original 275 Cheers scripts, we do have the all-clear to adapt the 10 or 12 we need and change them for the Irish market.”

McGrath is working with three new sitcom writers as well as more experienced writers for additional projects. “The deal is a two-way opportunity for Sideline and CBS where Irish sitcom writers that we nurture will have the chance for their work to be read by CBS comedy executives, and from there who knows?

“We are opening doors in the UK for Irish comedy writers so why not the USA” he added.

A screen adaptation of John Banville’s Quirke began filming here in November, with Gabriel Byrne in the lead role. The Irish author’s series of novels focus on Dublin pathologist Garrett Quirke in 1950s Ireland, and is adapted for the screen by Conor McPherson with John Alexander directing. Nick Dunning and Stanley Townshend recently joined the cast, and the series will air in late 2013.

Another of Banville’s novels, The Sea, has been adapted for the screen by Windmill Lane Pictures, and recently wrapped up filming in Wexford.

Irish animated feature film, Song of the Sea, is in pre-production, with production set to begin early this year. Brendan Gleeson, Fionnula Flanagan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, and Lisa Hannigan all lend their voices to the animation.

Principal photography on Irish feature film The Hit Producer was also completed last month, with Michelle Doherty starring in her first leading role. Shooting took place in Dublin, Kells, and Kilkenny.