Ireland’s film and television production sector is booming. That growth is fueled in part by the state’s generous tax incentives and a quickly-growing local talent base. Industry leaders such as Ruth Treacy, co-founder of Tailored Films, are leading this growth. She’s producing some high profile fare too, like Irish thriller Bring Them Down, starring Barry Keoghan, and the eventual 2024 Trump biopic The Apprentice, which just got an Oscar nod.
The Irish government has a very generous 32% tax credit to produce film, television and animation. This rate is among the highest in the world. This support has been an important factor in making Ireland one of the world’s leading production destinations. Both domestic and foreign filmmakers have been flocking to the opportunities. According to Dearbhla Walsh, a prominent director with a career that began in the late 1980s, “I think Ireland is having a moment.” She stars in the award-winning Apple TV+ hit series “Bad Sisters,” a prime example of how stories from Ireland connect with the world.
Beyond the familiar faces, there are more and more production companies getting their start. Alan Moloney is co-founder, with Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, of Dublin-based Big Things Films, established in 2022. More than anything, he’s confident — optimistic, even — about the resilience of the industry. “We came through Covid intact. We came through the [Hollywood writers’] strike last year intact. We’ll come through this intact,” he stated. Big Things Films has been making waves ever since with award-winning projects like Small Things Like These. Insiders say fans will be blown away by their upcoming Netflix movie, “Steve.”
The advent of Irish-language productions is yet another historic first. First, films such as “The Quiet Girl” (An Cailín Ciúin) have been extraordinarily successful. Now as the first Irish-language film ever nominated for an Oscar, it’s fueled new opportunities for filmmaking and storytelling. Ciarán Charles Ó Conghaile, co-founder of Fíbín Films, emphasized the essence of storytelling in Irish cinema, stating, “There’s a richness to the Irish language. I think it’s not about the language; it’s the storytelling.”
Ireland’s spectacular scenery has made it a favorite of filmmakers from across the globe. Shows such as AMC’s “Into the Badlands” have been shining a spotlight on America’s beautiful countryside, making the state an even more enticing filming location. As international visibility increased, such as with the Academy Award nominations in 2023 for both “The Banshees of Inisherin” and “The Quiet Girl,” their success begets further success.
The film industry is not without its challenges. Treacy remains optimistic about overcoming potential hurdles, including former President Trump’s threat to impose a 100% import tariff on film productions. She remarked, “There’s a big chance [the tariff threat] won’t end up coming to pass,” adding that while some speculated it could be backlash against “The Apprentice,” she believes it may not have significantly influenced Trump’s thought process.
As this fast-growing and exciting industry matures, Irish creatives are becoming more confident in their ability to tell stories from their home island. Walsh noted the growing self-assurance among Irish filmmakers: “Irish people have a greater confidence. The stories they can produce from home and sell stories at international level, especially stories about Ireland. She says this new confidence is important, as Ireland looks to establish itself as a leading European filmmaking hub.
Désirée Finnegan, of Screen Ireland, echoes this sentiment, stating, “Our ambition for Ireland is that it’s a home for screen storytelling at the highest levels.” The future of Irish cinema is full of promise! It lays claim to an increasingly brilliant set of newcomers-to-the-scene, like Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal.