Filming in Ireland Welcome —

Ireland has a long-standing, diverse and exceptionally rich culture of bringing stories to the screen. It is home to world-class and award- winning filmmakers with a wealth of experience and an impeccable international reputation. Thanks to our excellent crew base and technical infrastructure, combined with our breathtaking scenery and competitive tax credit, Ireland has emerged as a global hub for screen content production.

Screen Ireland is the national development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry, supporting and developing talent, creativity and enterprise. It provides development, production and distribution funding for writers, directors and producers, as well as promoting Ireland as an international film location through the Inward Production Unit. The agency also provides skills development and training courses to the Irish screen industries through Screen Training Ireland.

The Inward Production Unit promotes Ireland as a dynamic and world-class location for national and international production. We offer on-the- ground logistical support and provide information on filming in Ireland. With our industry knowledge and expertise, we are the first point of call for international productions looking to realise their vision from script to screen in Ireland.

Céad Míle Fáilte A Hundred Thousand Welcomes ‘My experience of working in Ireland continues Contents to be absolutely positive in every way. What a crew! Dedicated, highly skilled and equally — highly motivated, creative, good-humoured and fun to be around. I have been fortunate in working with Irish HODs at Ashford Studios who are brilliant in their own right, and help perform the alchemical art of translating words on a page to moving images on a screen.’ Expertise 04 Culture of Filmmaking 06 Michael Hirst, Creator of Vikings Co-Production 08 Animation 10 VFX 12 Post-Production 14

Funding 16 Ireland’s 32% Tax Credit 18 Funding Sources 20

Locations 22 Renvyle Beach, Connemara, Galway 26 Ross Castle, Kerry 28 Dublin City 30 Cloughoughter Castle and Lakes, Cavan 32 Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin 34 Powerscourt House and Gardens, Wicklow 36 Glenveagh National Park, Donegal 38

Infrastructure 40 Film Studios 42 Support Networks & Guilds 44 Studio Map 46

Vikings Series 1 – 6 filmed in Ashford Studios, Co. Wicklow

02 03 Expertise Culture of Filmmaking — ‘...in Ireland the local crew worked miracles building sets cantilevered out over 700 foot cliffs. Professionally I don’t know if I’ll ever have an experience that will quite live up to it again.’ Over the years, Irish creative Ryan’s Daughter, Mel Gibson’s Ireland as their preferred filmmaking talent has Braveheart and Steven filming location. Rian Johnson been recognised on the Spielberg’s Saving Private Star Wars, The Last Jedi international stage; recently Ryan, major Hollywood Ireland has also achieved coming to fruition when blockbusters have chosen considerable success in the John Crowley’s Brooklyn and Ireland as a film location. animation sector in recent Lenny Abrahamson’s Room These films have helped to years, with Irish animation received a combined total cement the country as the studios embracing new of seven Academy Award® highly sought-after filming formats for storytelling and nominations in 2016. location that exists today. working with some of the biggest names in global Crowley and Abrahamson J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The broadcasting, from Disney follow in the footsteps of Force Awakens and Rian and Nickelodeon to Cartoon internationally acclaimed Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Network and the BBC, directors such as Jim Jedi famously chose Ireland’s all the while garnering a Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Wild Atlantic Way to form part plethora of major awards and John Boorman and are joined of the setting for the seventh nominations. by talent such as Paddy and eighth instalments of Breathnach, Dearbhla Walsh, the iconic movie franchise. The increased level of John Butler, Neasa Hardiman, Reed Morano’s spy thriller production has not only and Emer Reynolds to name The Rhythm Section recently developed and expanded the just a few. made use of Ireland’s versatile crew base but has also created cityscapes, while the country the infrastructure to support Other notable Irish filmmaking also provided a dramatic the industry; establishing a talent includes writer period backdrop for Floria world renowned and highly Mark O’Halloran (Viva), Sigismondi’s gothic horror, skilled talent base both in front cinematographer Seamus The Turning. of and behind the camera. McGravey (Nocturnal Animals), as well as award- Ireland has been at the winning acting talent including forefront of the explosion in Saoirse Ronan (Brookyn), Barry TV drama production over the Keoghan (Black 47), Ruth last ten years, with series such Negga (Loving) and Domhnall as MGM’s Vikings, AMC’s Into Gleeson (The Little Stranger). the Badlands and from the mind of George R.R. Martin, As far back as John Ford’s the SYFY/Netflix space thriller, The Quiet Man, David Lean’s Nightflyers, all choosing Daisy Ridley and Rian Johnson on location for Star Wars, The Last Jedi

06 07 Co-Production —

Ireland’s competitive tax incentive, experienced talent base, and distinctive yet adaptable landscapes have all contributed to making the country a unique and valuable co-production partner.

Ireland’s film industry is globally connected with bilateral co-production treaties in place for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Luxembourg as well as being a party to the European Convention on Cinematic Co-Production. Ireland’s producers have a huge amount of co- producing opportunities available. Full details on the treaties and the European convention can be found on the Screen Ireland website.

Ireland’s successful co-producing expertise can be seen in the recent projects such as; Haifaa Al-Monsour’s Mary Shelley (Ireland, UK and Luxembourg), Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster (Ireland, France, Netherlands, Greece and UK) and Nora Twomey’s Academy Award® nominated The Breadwinner (Ireland, Canada and Luxembourg). Canadian Irish co-productions which have received notable acclaim include such projects as Room, Brooklyn, Maudie and Vikings.

Ireland is home to many excellent and established production companies, experienced in producing top quality film, television and animation. Working with an Irish producer opens up a world of opportunities on a global level as well as national funding in Ireland and Europe. The Irish production company can advise you about other sources of finance in Ireland including Screen Ireland funding, broadcaster funding and other forms of support. Irish production companies can also offer production services to incoming projects.

For information on working with an Irish producer, contact Screen Producers Ireland. www.screenproducersireland.ie Little Women shot on location at Powerscourt Waterfall, Wicklow

08 09 Animation —

The Irish animation industry has long been a creative cornerstone of Ireland’s vibrant film industry, and has witnessed substantial growth in the last decade. It is an integral and important component of Ireland’s digital and creative economy, employing in excess of 2,000 creators.

Irish animation studios are working with some of the biggest names in global broadcasting — including Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and the BBC — making animated series that are shown to millions of children all over the world every week. Award-winning features and shorts, animated programming for adults, apps and games are being made in Ireland by dynamic, technically advanced and entirely indigenous 2D, 3D, Stop Motion and VR studios whose work include the award winning VR experience Aurora (Pink Kong) and the stop motion feature film Morten (Telegael). Animation Ireland is the voice of the Irish animation sector whose core objective is to establish Ireland as a creative centre for content and technology by focusing on growth, developing an innovation culture and creating competitive advantage for members.

Recent successes include Academy Award®- nominated The Breadwinner (Cartoon Saloon), BAFTA-nominated Go Jetters (Boulder), box office sensationTwo by Two (Moetion Films) as well as Emmy-nominated Doc McStuffins (Brown Bag) and Bafta- winning Roy (JAM Media). Forthcoming from the three-time Academy Award®-nominated Cartoon Saloon is Wolfwalkers. www.animationireland.com Wolfwalkers

10 11 VFX —

Ireland has a significant VFX industry whose award- winning work can be seen in international features, SVOD and TV series including Lost In Space (Netflix/ Legendary Television), The Siege of Jadotville (Parallel Films/Netflix),Imaginary Mary (Sony pilot), Ghosthunters: On Icy Trails (Warner Bros), The Ash Lad (Maipo/Subotica), Game of Thrones (HBO), Outlander 3 (Left Bank Pictures), Black Sails (Starz) and Ripper Street (Element/Amazon Prime/BBC).

With the ongoing support of the Section 481 tax incentive, Irish VFX companies continue to produce award-winning VFX for the international marketplace. The Visual Effects Association of Ireland (VFXAI), established by Ireland’s leading VFX vendors, ensures robust inter-company pipelines and fluid infrastructures to facilitate rapid industry scalability for both large sole-vendor projects and multi-vendor work.

VFX can be a part of Irish spend for productions shooting in Ireland or stand-alone Irish spend for productions shooting in another tax jurisdiction. Irish VFX companies offer a full suite of VFX services encompassing on-set supervision, character animation, complex effects and environments, along with photorealistic lighting and compositing. Ireland’s stability within Europe’s Single Market gives us a competitive advantage in the international marketplace and allows unrestricted access to highly skilled talent.

Underpinning all efforts is the sheer quality of VFX being produced by Irish companies. The recognition of that quality at international award ceremonies including the VES Awards, Emmys and BAFTAs indicates the superb creative talent, production, scale and expertise available in Ireland.

Visit www.vfxai.com for more information and show reels. Game of Thrones, Season 7, Screen Scene VFX

12 13 Post-Production —

Post-production talent and infrastructure in Ireland is being recognised at home and on the global stage with numerous awards and nominations.

With decades of experience, Irish post-production houses continue to produce work to the highest quality and standards delivering to all international studios, distributors, broadcasters and SVODS.

Recent projects include Brooklyn (Parallel Films/ BBC Films/Wildgaze Films), Terminal (Lucky Chap) The Ash Lad (Mapio Films/Subotica Films), The Favourite (Element Pictures/Fox Searchlight), Dark Lies The Island (Grand Pictures) and Highway (Ripple World).

Ireland offers a full suite of post services from dailies to deliverables, including dailies processing, picture editing, colour grading, finishing & delivering at HD/2K/4K/5K. In sound, Ireland boasts state-of-the- art design rooms, mixing rooms, foley and dolby- approved theatrical mixing stages.

Post-production companies in Ireland can offer direct access to the Section 481 tax credit and can deliver a cash benefit worth up to 32% of your expenditure on Irish post-production, CGI and VFX, with or without physical production taking place in Ireland.

Previous productions that have accessed the Irish tax credit without shooting in Ireland include Academy Award®-nominated filmRoom and critically acclaimed filmsMaudie , The Favourite, The Little Stranger, The Ash Lad, and Tomato Red. Recent television series include Game of Thrones and The Siege of Jadotville. Terminal

14 15 Funding compliance report to Revenue, Is there a minimum Ireland’s 32% Tax Credit payment of 100% of the tax spend level? credit may be paid by Revenue. — Projects are excluded — Infrastructure Option B – Two Instalments: from the incentive if their First instalment being 90% of ‘eligible expenditure’ is the tax credit due, upon: less than €125,000, or the total cost of production studio troy 1. Financial Closing, is less than €250,000. What is ‘Section 481’? including proof that 68% of eligible expenditure When are applications made ‘Section 481’ is a tax credit, incentivising film is lodged to the project’s to Ireland’s Revenue? ardmore production account; — and TV, animation and creative documentary 2. Screen Ireland approval An application for a certificate (Screen Ireland funded entitling the applicant to the production made in Ireland, administered by projects only); Or tax credit can be submitted at new studio 3. Broadcasting Authority of any time up to, but prior to, Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners (Revenue). Ireland (BAI) approval (BAI the completion of the project. funded projects only); Or ariel shot of vikings 4. Where Revenue Irish Revenue Commissioners are provided with a — What is the ‘Section(ardmore) 481’ What types of projects return with Revenue guarantee, bond or similar Ireland’s film and television benefit worth? qualify? — Not be connected banking instrument which tax credit is administered by — — to a broadcaster secures the 90% payment Revenue. For contact details The rate of tax credit is worth The incentive applies to — Hold 100% shareholding of the tax credit, and and further information up to 32% of eligiblespot Irish lights feature / mirrors film, television drama in a ‘Qualifying Company’, visit www.revenue.ie expenditure. (singles or series), animation which must be Irish Second and final instalment (excluding computer games) resident and exist as a being 10% balance on delivery Eligible expendituretroy criteria (is it aand studio) creative documentary. Special Purpose Vehicle of the project and submission of — (SPV) to make one film compliance report to Revenue. The payable tax credit is based Projects must pass the Section on the cost of all cast and 481 Cultural Test. For further Is there a cap on the How is payment made by crew workingLittle in Ireland, and sketches information of about oor the Cultural incentive? Revenue? all goods and services sourced Test visit www.screenireland.ie — — in Ireland. Thisplans includes post (studio) There is no annual cap or Payment of the relief may be production and/or VFX. Who is eligible to apply? limit on the funding of the claimed against the producer — programme. The tax credit company’s corporation tax (CT) The application to has a ‘per project’ cap of up liabilities. In the event the relief Revenue is made by the to 32% of the lower of: due is greater than any tax ‘Producer Company’. due by the producer company, 1. All eligible expenditure then a payment of the excess The ‘Producer Company’ must: 2. 80% of the total cost of will be made by Revenue. — Be Irish resident or trading production through a branch or agency 3. €70 million — Make film and television for cinema exhibition or When is the rebate paid? broadcast or online — — Be trading for at least Option A – Single Instalment: 12 months and have On delivery of the project and filed a corporation tax submission of a satisfactory 18 19 Funding Sources —

Screen Ireland Wrap Fund — — Ireland’s national screen agency The Western Regional supports Irish filmmaking from Development Audiovisual Fund script to screen. (WRAP) is a funding scheme — dedicated to production Black 47 www.screenireland.ie activity in film, television drama, animation and gaming within the counties Clare, Broadcasting Authority Donegal, Galway, Mayo, of Ireland Roscommon and Sligo. — — Allocates public funding www.wrapfund.ie through the Sound and Vision Fund. — Eurimages www.bai.ie — Euirmages supports feature films, documentaries and Irish Broadcasters animated films that are — intended for cinema release and Ireland’s public-service are co-productions between at broadcasters are RTÉ and least two member states. TG4. Virgin Media is Ireland’s — commercial station. Visit www.coe.int/eurimages their respective websites for current funding guidelines. — Creative Europe www.rte.ie — www.tg4.ie Creative Europe is a European www.virginmedia.ie Union programme to support the European audio-visual, cultural and creative sectors. As a member of the European Union, projects produced in Ireland and co-produced with Ireland qualify for funding. — www.creativeeuropeireland.eu The Little Stranger

20 21 Locations Locations —

‘It’s a great place to make movies. You’ve got wonderful talent. You’ve got great craftsmen and crew, a wonderful spirit and beautiful locations and facilities.’ Ireland is an island on the Ireland has seamlessly western edge of Europe, doubled as many international Barbara Broccoli sculpted by natural and locations such Scandinavian The Rhythm Section man-made forces, providing settlements in Vikings endless dramatic filming (Michael Hirst), period Britain opportunities. Ireland’s in Love & Friendship (Whit diverse locations offer every Stillman), gothic Victorian possibility from picturesque streets in Penny Dreadful rivers and waterfalls, historic (John Logan) and The Man castles, breathtaking lakes Who Invented Christmas and mountains, a dramatic (Bharat Nalluri) and New York coastline, all alongside Streets in Greta (Neil Jordan). period streets and modern Ireland’s rugged landscape has cityscapes. served as Scottish highlands in Braveheart (Mel Gibson) Ireland has not only featured and The Rhythm Section (Reed in film and TV drama, but Morano) and the Louisiana has been an iconic setting countryside in the BBC TV for many incredible locations adaptation of Little Women such as Ahch-To in Star (Vanessa Caswill). Wars VII & VIII (JJ Abrams, Rian Johnson), mystical We have a phenomenal caves in Harry Potter and landscape which offers the Half Blood Prince (David multiple possibilities for film Yates), haunted houses and and TV production which are eerie settings in The Turning available to browse through (Floria Sigismondi), post- our online database. apocalyptic lands in Into The Badlands (Alfred Gough, Miles Millar), outer-space settings in Nightflyers (Jeff Buhler, George RR Martin) and the dystopian future in The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos).

Vikings Series 1 – 6 shot at Ashford Studios, Co. Wicklow Luggala Estate, Lough Tay, Wicklow

24 25 Renvyle Beach, Connemara, Galway

26 27 Ross Castle, Kerry

28 29 Dublin City

30 31 Cloughoughter Castle and Lakes, Cavan

32 33 Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin

34 35 Powerscourt House and Gardens, Wicklow

36 37 Glenveagh National Park, Donegal

38 39 Infrastructure Film Studios Infrastructure — —

Ireland is home to several world-class film studios, boasting state-of-the-art Ireland’s extensive infrastructure supports all scales of production and post-production facilities and various support infrastructures. production at every stage of the filming process. From the latest in facility rental to VFX and posthouses — both As Ireland’s film industry continues to grow and evolve, new locations and on-location and through service providers throughout facilities become available. Contact us directly regarding the latest information the country — Ireland provides a dynamic and innovative and availability of studio space: [email protected] framework for all your filming requirements.

Ardmore Studios Ashford Studios Kite Studios Troy Studios Stiúideo Telegael Bray, Co. Wicklow Bray, Co. Wicklow Kilcoole, Castletroy, Spiddal, Co. Wicklow Co. Limerick Co. Galway Facilities A Stage Facilities 7 x sound stages 8,000 sq ft/743.22 sq m 3 sound stages Facilities Facilities Facilities Production facilities Includes underground water 500 acres backlot. 9,000 sq ft sound stage with 3 sound stages 2 sound stages Post-production facilities tank, camerapit, timber floor cyclorama and is 100% LED 70,000 sq ft total sound stages 14,000 sq ft total sound stages and cyclorama. building. 55 ft working height Support infrastructure Gasworks Stage 350,000 sq ft total facility space Support Infrastructure Includes production offices, B Stage 30,000 sq ft/2,787 sq m Support infrastructure Production offices, workshops, workshops, costume, hair 8,000 sq ft/743.22 sq m Includes wifi, kitchen area, Support infrastructure plus an eight-bedroom manor and makeup and props space, Includes wooden floor and Box Stage hair & makeup room, costume Includes workshop space, props house. dressing rooms, restaurant cyclorama. 14,500 sq ft/1,347 sq m room, production office and and costume space, production and backlot. ample parking. Celtic Grips offices, hair and makeup rooms, C Stage Christmas Tree Stage & Teach Solais are located on dressing rooms, parking, a Studio A 3,000 sq ft/278.70 sq m 12,500 sq ft/1,161 sq m the 3.5 acre site. large restaurant and a five-acre 6359 sq ft/591 sq m Film Factory Includes wooden floor and backlot. Bray, Co. Wicklow cyclorama. Additional Stage Studio B 6,500 sq ft/604 sq m 7402 sq ft/688 sq m Facilities D Stage Studio A 5,000 sq ft of workshop 15,000 sq ft/1,396.79 sq m 30,668 sq ft/2,850 sq m space, 11,000 sq ft of multi- Includes concrete floor and Contact Contact purpose office, workshop canvas cyclorama. [email protected] Studio B [email protected] and studio space. www.ashfordstudios.com 17,848 sq ft/1,652 sq m www.telegael.com E Stage 6,300 sq ft/585.28 sq m Studio C Spec Includes sheeted concrete floor 17,848 sq ft/1652 sq m 25,000 sq ft studio area. (chipboard) and cyclorama.

Contact Contact: [email protected] [email protected] www.troystudios.ie www.ardmore.ie

42 43 Support Networks & Guilds — Animation Ireland IFTN Production Manager/Line Tourism Ireland VFX Association Ireland Writers Guild of Ireland — — Producers Guild of Ireland — — — The trade association for The Irish Film and Television — Tourism Ireland is the Promotes Ireland as a VFX The representative body in Ireland’s leading animation Network provides news and a This guild represents all marketing body responsible centre of excellence. Ireland for writers for the stage, companies. directory service for the Irish production managers and line for marketing the island — screen, radio and digital media. — film industry. managers in Ireland. of Ireland overseas as a www.vfxai.com — www.animationireland.com — — holiday and business tourism www.script.ie www.iftn.ie [email protected] destination including the Women in Film and Television Enterprise Ireland promotion of film in Ireland. — — Irish Society of Screen Directors Guild of — A foundation promoting greater The government Cinematographers Ireland www.tourismireland.com representation of women on organisation responsible — — screen and behind the camera for the development and Organisation of Irish The representative body for — growth of Irish enterprises Directors of Photography in directors involved in the Irish www.wft.ie in world markets, working the island of Ireland, both and international audio-visual in partnership with Irish north and south. industry. enterprises to help them start, — — grow, innovate and win export www.iscine.com www.sdgi.ie sales in global markets. — Irish Guild of Set Screen Guilds of Ireland www.enterprise-ireland.com Decorators, The — — Screen Guilds of Ireland is a Green Film Making The Irish Guild of Set representative committee for — Decorators aims to protect the irish film and television workers Dedicated to assisting film interests of its members and across the various departments and television productions to to inspire, teach and preserve within the irish film and achieve higher standards of the legacy of set decoration in television industry. environmental sustainability. film and television worldwide. — — — [email protected] www.screengreening.com www.irishguildofsetdecorators.com Screen Producers Ireland IDA Locations Guild of Ireland — — — The representative Ireland’s inward promotion This guild represents organisation for production agency partners with location managers, assistant companies in Ireland operating established companies, both managers and assistants in the areas of broadcast, film large and small, working with operating in Ireland. and animation. them to achieve a smooth, fast — — and successful set-up of their www.locationsguildofireland.com www.screenproducersireland.com operations in Ireland. — www.idaireland.com Vita & Virginia

44 45 Studio Map —

Donegal Belfast

Studios Sligo Ardmore Studios Ashford Studios Kite Studios

Studio Telegael Westport Troy Studios

Distance from Dublin to...

Belfast – 168 km / 2 hours Galway Dublin Cork – 265 km / 3 hours Galway – 210 km / 2.5 hours Limerick – 205 km / 2.5 hours Wicklow – 45 km / 45 mins

Airports Belfast International Limerick Cork International Donegal National Tralee Wexford Waterford Dublin International Knock West Mayo Shannon International Clare Cork

Ports Belfast Cork Dublin Rosslare

46 47 14-16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, Ireland — Queensgate, 23 Dock Road, Galway, Ireland — +353 91 561 398 [email protected] www.screenireland.ie

Location photos courtesy of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

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