A record €500m was spent on film and television production in Ireland last year, an increase of 40% on previous record total set in 2019, according to figures from Screen Ireland.
International productions such as Disney's Disenchanted, which filmed on location in Dublin and Wicklow, local productions such as the series adaptation of Graham Norton's Holding for ITV, and a continued increase in Irish animation productions sparked the record spend.
Screen Ireland credited Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting international productions, its own development funding opportunities and schemes for local producers and creative talent, and government support for driving investment in the sector, which supports around 12,000 jobs.
"This record-breaking level of film and TV production in Ireland demonstrates the dedication and resilience of all those working across the sector," Désirée Finnegan, chief executive of Screen Ireland, said.
"Despite immense challenges, the producers, directors, writers, cast and crew continued creating world-class stories to entertain audiences at home and abroad.
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"Throughout 2021 Screen Ireland supported Ireland’s vital national cinema, increased investment in high-end TV drama, embraced innovation in the animation sector and continued excellence in documentary production."
Spending across feature film, documentary, animation and television drama in the Irish economy rose €142.9m from 2019 to 2021, with productions in Limerick, Mayo, Cork, Leitrim, Donegal, Wicklow Galway, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Clare, Dublin and Wicklow.
Local Irish film activity rose 52% between 2019 and 2021 while spending in local TV drama rose 40% from 2020 and 145% from 2015 when Screen Ireland introduced development funding for television.
Animation production rose a further 27% last year following a decade of rapid growth in the sector while international production activity was up 45%, with a 98% Irish crew hired and over 1,000 jobs created for the production of Amy Adams-starring Disenchanted.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said the government's Audio Visual Action Plan "has supported Ireland’s screen industries to become a global centre of excellence for the film and TV industry and in particular to grow Irish TV Drama.
"Looking at the creative output generated in 2021, it is clear that, in line with the Audiovisual Action Plan, Ireland is on track to continue to grow, creating local jobs and a welcome spend in the Irish economy," she added.
"Local film, television and animation ensures that Irish stories and Irish creativity are enjoyed worldwide, whilst international productions bring images of Irish locations around the globe.”
The announcement comes after Screen Ireland and RTÉ revealed the eight submissions to be selected for the beefed-up Storyland competition last week.
Photo: Work on the set of Disenchanted in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow last May. (Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie) & Getty
