Screen Ireland
Ireland's national film agency, the primary public funder of Irish film, television, and animation. Behind Room, Normal People, The Banshees of Inisherin, and the full range of contemporary Irish screen production.
Overview
Screen Ireland (formerly the Irish Film Board) is the national development agency for the Irish film, television drama, and animation industry. Established by the Irish government, the agency provides funding for development, production, and distribution of Irish-language and English-language screen content produced by Irish filmmakers and companies. Screen Ireland also promotes Ireland internationally as a filming location, manages Ireland's Section 481 tax incentive, and operates talent development programs.
The agency funds approximately 30 to 40 features per year alongside television drama, documentary, animation, and short film. Screen Ireland's investments have supported an Irish film industry that consistently punches above its weight internationally, producing films and television that compete at the top of the global market.
How the Fund Works
Screen Ireland provides several funding mechanisms:
- Development funding -- script and project development awards for Irish producers and writers
- Production funding -- co-investment in qualifying Irish productions, typically contributing 10% to 25% of budget
- Section 481 tax incentive -- Ireland's production tax credit, currently offering a 32% tax credit on qualifying Irish expenditure for both domestic and international productions
- Distribution support -- awards supporting theatrical release and international sales for Irish films
- International co-production -- support for Irish participation in international co-productions
History
The Irish Film Board was established in 1981 as a state agency to support indigenous Irish filmmaking. Early support helped launch the careers of Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan, and other filmmakers who would go on to international success. My Left Foot (1989) and The Crying Game (1992), both supported by the Board and internationally distributed by Miramax, demonstrated that Irish cinema could achieve global commercial and critical success.
The agency was temporarily dissolved in 1987 due to budget cuts but was re-established in 1993. Renamed Screen Ireland in 2018 to reflect its expanded remit across all screen sectors, the agency has been instrumental in developing the modern Irish screen industry.
Recent Screen Ireland-supported productions include Room (2015), Brooklyn (2015), The Lobster (2015), Calm with Horses (2019), Wolfwalkers (2020), The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), An Cailín Ciuin/The Quiet Girl (2022), All Quiet on the Western Front (2022, international co-production), and the television series Normal People (2020) and Bad Sisters (2022).
The Section 481 Tax Credit
Ireland's Section 481 film tax credit is one of the most generous production incentives in Europe. The 32% credit applies to qualifying Irish expenditure on film, television, and animation productions. Combined with Screen Ireland production funding, Irish co-production partners, and European co-production frameworks, Section 481 makes Ireland an attractive production destination for both Irish producers and international productions.
The credit has attracted major international productions including Braveheart (1995), Reign of Fire (2002), King Arthur (2004), PS I Love You (2007), and television series including Vikings (2013-2020) and Into the Badlands (2015-2019).
What Filmmakers Should Know
Screen Ireland accepts applications from Irish producers and from international producers in co-production with Irish partners. The development funding program is open to applications year-round through an online portal. Production funding applications require an Irish producer with a track record and a developed script.
For international filmmakers seeking Irish co-production partners, Screen Ireland provides information on registered Irish production companies and a network of industry contacts. The combination of Section 481 and production funding can contribute substantially to a film's budget.
See Also
For understanding how European public film financing works, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model production costs and incentives, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
