Cork Screen Commission Announced
At the announcement of the setting up of Cork Screen Commission: Martin Riordan (Cork County Manager), Cllr. Jim Daly (Mayor of the County of Cork), Chris Hurley (Cork Film Centre), Cllr. Michael O'Connell (Lord Mayor of Cork), and Tim Lucey (Cork City Manager).
PRESS RELEASE:
BOOST FOR IRISH FILM INDUSTRY AS CORK SCREEN COMMISSION IS ANNOUNCED
Monday, February 21st, 2011. The Irish Film and TV industry
received a welcome boost today as Cork City and County Councils announced plans
to establish the Cork Screen Commission.
Representing an immediate
investment of €100,000 in the region's indigenous film industry, the Commission
will be the primary point of contact for companies working or intending to work
on location in Cork. The Cork Screen Commission will be managed by Cork Film
Centre, on behalf of the City and County Councils. The new Cork Screen
Commission will have its headquarters at the old Gunpowder Mills Centre in
Ballincollig, Cork.
The Irish film and television
sector has been identified as a key economic contributor by the Government
Smart Economy Report. In 2010, the Irish film and television sector had a
record year in terms of production, generating €225 million for the Irish
economy, creating jobs and spend on local goods and services.
The newly formed Cork Screen
Commission's key roles are:
· To actively market the
Cork region as a prime location for film and TV production.
· To support the region's
indigenous film and TV industry which consists of a highly talented group of
professionals.
· To provide a
comprehensive production support service for those involved in the industry.
Cllr. Jim Daly, Mayor of the
County of Cork, said: "The film sector in Ireland employs over 6,000
individuals, with more than 560 small and medium enterprises operating in the
film and television business. Our key aim is to develop a co-ordinated approach
to maximising the cultural and economic benefits associated with this business.
The economic spin-offs from even modest productions locating here are enormous.
Today's announcement reflects a firm commitment by both local authorities to promote
Cork as a key location for making TV programmes and films."
Cllr. Michael O'Connell, Lord
Mayor of Cork, said: "Cork is one of Ireland's prime filming locations. Easily
accessible by land, sea and air, the city itself offers a wealth of film friendly
locations. A short drive brings you to beautiful coastal towns like Cobh and
Kinsale, while further afield the dramatic landscapes of West Cork provide
among the fines scenic locations to be found anywhere in Europe. We already
have many talented film and TV professionals based here in Cork and are anxious
to promote and develop our indigenous film and TV production industry".
Chris Hurley, Manager, Cork Film Centre, said: "The
setting up of Cork Screen Commission demonstrates a sense of co-operation, vision
and commitment on the part of the City and County Councils to the further
development of the film and television industries.
"Cork Film Centre works with filmmakers from
entry-level to industry professionals, and we see this exciting initiative as a
natural extension of the services we provide. The Screen Commission has the
potential to significantly increase the level of indigenous filmmaking in the
region, as well as attracting outside productions, leading to the development
of skills, increased employment, and economic benefit to the greater Cork
area", Mr. Hurley concluded.
Mags O'Sullivan, Deputy Film
Commissioner, The Irish Film Board, said: "We warmly welcome the establishment of Cork Screen Commission. Cork has
a strong tradition of filmmaking and in recent years has played host to many
award winning Irish and international film and television productions. By
setting up an office dedicated to assisting both local and overseas filmmakers,
the City and County councils have shown a strong commitment to filmmaking, and
an acknowledgement of the positive creative, economic and tourist impacts that
filmmaking can have on a region".
Cork has played host to film
crews for decades. John Huston famously brought his 1956 production of ‘Moby
Dick' to Cork's coast. Various parts of the county have enjoyed temporary film status
ever since John Robert's ‘War of the Buttons' was filmed here in 1993.
‘The Wind That Shakes The
Barley' was filmed in Bandon, Mallow and Buttevant and won the Cannes Film Festival's
prestigious top prize - the Palme D'Or -
in 2006. Other high profile productions filmed locally include: Neil
Jordan's ‘Ondine', shot on location in Castletownbere; Paddy Breathnach's, ‘I
Went Down'; Aisling Walsh's IFTA winner ‘Song for a Raggy Boy'; and two years
ago Conor McPherson's award winning atmospheric feature ‘The Eclipse' was also
filmed in Cork. Kirsten Sheridan's
‘Disco Pigs' brought the incredible talents of young writer Enda Walsh to an
international audience and launched the film career of Cork's own Cillian
Murphy.
The new Cork Screen Commission
will network within the industry and deliver a focused marketing programme
aimed at maximising levels of film and TV production in the region. The
Commission will also link to and be part of other marketing developments
initiated locally through the two local authorities, Fáilte Ireland and the
local enterprise agencies. It will also link with National promotional
campaigns developed through the Irish Film Board, Tourism Ireland and the Department
of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact: Tina Quinn, H+A
Marketing + PR. Tel: 087 9881890.
Published on: 21 February, 2011
