Local RTÉ chief wants to turn Cork into film and TV hub

The head of RTÉ Cork is to lead a new partnership to promote the region internationally as a film location, and develop it as a hub for film, TV and digital broadcasting production.

Colm Crowley has been appointed chair of the newly formed Cork Screen Partnership which will work with the Cork Screen Commission to develop the region’s film and TV production sector.

The announcement was made at a reception at City Hall hosted by the lord mayor to celebrate the 58th Cork Film Festival Shorts Programme.

The partnership is a group of key stakeholders involved in the screen, creative, business, tourism and education sectors. Mr Crowley said they will advise and support the work of the Cork Screen Commission to maximise the benefits that screen industries could bring to the economic and cultural life of the city and county.

“I am delighted to be asked to take on this role at such a pivotal time, not only in the development of film and TV industries in Ireland, but especially here in Cork,” he said.

“Working with all our partners, both locally and internationally, we are determined to position Cork as a major location and production centre for both film and TV, and I look forward to working with our film commissioner, Niall Mahoney, in fully promoting the city and county.”

He said it will take time for the partnership, which has only met once so far, to get into its stride and develop its strategic masterplan.

But he said there are “easy wins” for the region in the short term if the key players concentrate on what the region is good at.

“The commission has done great work in recent years getting the word out around Europe that Cork offers an excellent opportunity as a location for international film and TV productions. The next phase will be to ramp up Cork’s presence as hub for international productions,” he said.

One of the key aims of the partnership will be to tap in to the potential provided by digital production and broadcasting.

The Cork Screen Commission was established in 2011 by Cork County and City Councils and the Cork Film Centre to develop and promote film and TV activity in the city and county.

Its annual report detailed 60 productions which took place in the region in the previous year, from TV documentary series to infomercials.

* www.corkscreencommission.com