Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board is hosting a two-day European TV Drama Co-pro Forum for 25 leading European broadcasters and producers. The event, entitled Big Picture, Small Screen, will enable Irish producers and broadcasters to explore TV drama co-production opportunities with their European counterparts.Included in the European delegation are the producers of the successful Danish drama The Bridge (SVT & Nimbus Films), Moone Boy (BSkyB) as well as The Swedish producers of Wallander and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo(Yellow Bird Ent.). Irish companies include World 2000 (Vikings, Tudors), Octagon (Vikings), Element Pictures (Quirke, Ripper Street) and Grand Pictures (Moone Boy).
Naoise Barry, Film Commissioner, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, said “The TV drama industry offers huge potential for driving new business opportunities in Ireland. The IFB hosted an incoming trade mission for UK TV drama producers in 2011 which directly created €40 million worth of new productions filming in Ireland in 2012 including Ripper Street, Vexed, Foyles War, Moone Boy, Loving Miss Hatto, and Ice Cream Girls.
“Continental Europe provides excellent co-production opportunities for Irish production companies and we are aiming to drive further inward investment to the Irish film and TV industry, as a result of this event this event.”
Irish producers have co-produced a wide variety of international TV series’ over the last number of years with great success including Ripper Street, The Tudors, Camelot, George Gently and Titanic Blood and Steel. Irish production companies are now also producing a number of large-scale TV projects which have been developed in Ireland and financed internationally including The Vikings developed by World 2000, Quirke co-developed by Tyrone production and Element Pictures and The Borgias developed by Octagon Films.
The European TV Drama Co-pro Forum is a cultural component of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The IFB is hosting the event in partnership with RTÉ and Enterprise Ireland. The event will facilitate 500 face-to-face meetings, in a speed-networking format. In addition, the event will include panel discussions about the making of Irish television drama, providing our European guests with insights on the financing and production landscape in Ireland.
Factors that ensure Ireland remains an excellent co-production partner include the competitive Irish tax incentive for film and television Section 481, Ireland’s experienced film, television and animation production companies, Irish multi-award winning cast and crew both in front of and behind the camera, the wide variety of easily accessible beautiful rural and urban locations and the availability of world class digital post production facilities in Ireland.
