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Irish Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Tax incentives lead to boom in Irish film and TV industry
IRELAND'S film and television industry has undergone a major transformation thanks to some of the most generous tax incentives in the world. Once considered a challenging environment for filmmakers, the country now hosts a thriving sector that contributes over €1 billion to the national economy each year and supports around 10,000 full-time jobs, according to Screen Ireland. Key to this success is the country's Section 481 tax incentive, which offers a 32% tax credit on eligible production costs. This generous rate has attracted major international productions to Irish shores, making it more cost-effective to shoot in Ireland than in traditional areas like Los Angeles. Actor Rob Lowe, whose American quiz show The Floor is filmed in Bray, County Wicklow, recently said, "It's cheaper to bring 100 people to Ireland' than to shoot in California. In May 2025, the Irish government introduced an even more attractive option for smaller-scale local productions: a 40% tax credit for Irish feature films with budgets under €20 million. To qualify, projects must include Irish or EEA nationals in key creative roles such as director or screenwriter and be screened in Irish cinemas for at least five days. The enhanced incentive was approved by the European Union and came into effect in July 2025. This tax policy shift brings Ireland in line with Britain's new Independent Film Tax Credit and aims to strengthen indigenous filmmaking, which has already produced internationally acclaimed works like The Quiet Girl ( An Cailín Ciúin ) and The Banshees of Inisherin, both Oscar-nominated. Irish-language content in particular is thriving, with recent hits like Kneecap and the upcoming Fréwaka , the first-ever Irish-language horror film, showing an appetite for culturally specific storytelling. A €1 million development fund, Maointe, has also been launched to support Irish-language projects across film, TV, and animation. For director Dearbhla Walsh, who helmed the Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters, the return to Ireland has been personally and professionally rewarding. 'It was incredibly exciting for me to come home and tell a story that I really felt I understood,' she said. Bad Sisters, which earned actress Sharon Horgan an Emmy nomination, is just one of several recent Irish productions to gain global recognition alongside Normal People, Bodkin, and The Apprentice. Industry veterans like Alan Moloney, co-founder of Big Things Films with Cillian Murphy, credit Screen Ireland's strategic focus on developing local talent and attracting international productions as the cornerstone of the industry's success. Big Things Films has already delivered award-winning projects such as Small Things Like These and is producing the upcoming Netflix film Steve . Moloney is also leading the development of what will become Ireland's largest film and TV studio in Dublin. Despite external pressures such as the Hollywood writers' strike and recent threats of US trade tariffs on foreign-made films, Irish filmmakers remain confident in the industry's resilience. 'We came through Covid intact. We came through the strike intact. We'll come through this intact,' said Moloney. There has also been a noticeable shift in the type of content being produced. Ruth Treacy, producer at Tailored Films, notes that Irish cinema has evolved beyond traditional rural or domestic dramas. 'The level of ambition changed,' she said. 'It's not necessarily about looking inwards at ourselves, but more about looking outward at the world.' The animation sector is booming as well, employing over 2,500 people full-time and gaining increasing international traction. For many in the industry, Ireland's deep creative tradition continues to be a key asset. 'I don't want to go too far down the cliché of saints and scholars, but I do think that Ireland is a creative nation,' said producer Rebecca O'Flanagan of Treasure Entertainment. For Ciarán Charles Ó Conghaile, co-founder of Galway-based Fíbín Films, the industry is just beginning to realise its potential. 'There's a richness to the Irish language. But I think it's not about the language; it's the storytelling,' he said. 'I'm just excited about the stories that have yet to be told.' See More: Alan Moloney, Film, Film Industry, TV Industry, Tax
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
RTÉ announce new 'comedic crime drama' from Love/Hate creator
Tall Tales & Murder is set to premiere next year RTÉ have announced a brand new 'comedic crime drama' from the creator of Love/Hate Stuart Carolan. Tall Tales & Murder is a 12-episode series made in collaboration with BBC Northern Ireland and Screen Ireland. The show will have two six-part series. Filming for the new show began in Dublin this week, ahead of its premiere in 2026. News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 Ella Lily Hyland, Aidan Gillen, Phillipa Dinne and Packy Lee are all set to start in the show, based on the Dublin Trilogy book series written by Caimh McDonnell. 'I've been a fan of the brilliant Chris Addison since The Thick of It - it's been incredible fun working with him to bring this insane story to life,' Stuart Carolan, Writer and Executive Producer, said of his co-creator. Addison, who will direct and executive produce the show, said he was 'giddy with delight' to team up with Carolan. 'We've taken Caimh's wonderful novel as a jumping off point and ended up with what I like to think of as a dark and delicious screwball drama.' David Crean, Head of Drama, RTÉ added: 'It's so exciting to be in production with this amazing Irish drama from Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison after a great development process. 'The scripts are fantastic, as is the cast. RTÉ is excited to be collaborating with such brilliant broadcast partners to bring this great series to audiences on a national and international stage. 'Tall Tales & Murder is part of an unprecedented slate of original Irish drama in production from RTÉ, which will deliver over 142 hours of original drama this year.'
RTÉ News
27-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
'Scéal' tax credit scheme announced for Irish movies with budget of €20m
Irish movies with a budget of up to €20 million have been given an uplift today with the announcement of the 'Scéal' tax credit scheme by Minister for Arts and Culture, Patrick O'Donovan. This new enhanced tax credit specifically targeting mid-to-lower budget films, provides an additional 8% uplift tax relief to Ireland's existing 32% tax incentive for film and television, Section 481. Speaking at the launch, Minister O'Donovan said that this is a positive change to Section 481 which will "benefit the Irish film industry, Irish film workers in senior creative roles and Irish cinemas". The 'Scéal' strand of Section 481 provides an additional tax relief to production companies producing small to medium sized feature films or animated feature films. Additionally, the uplift of 8% will be available to feature films with a budget of less than €20 million where at least one of the key creative roles of film director, screenwriter, or composer, amongst other key creative roles, is a national of, or ordinarily resident, in Ireland or the EEA. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said at the launch that "Scéal Uplift is a fantastic addition to our already globally recognised Section 481 film tax credit." The uplift will be of "great benefit to our smaller indigenous productions, the type that portray Irish stories on screen and project them all over the world," he added. The feature film must be intended for exhibition at a commercial cinema in Ireland for at least five days. At the launch, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland also announced details of a new Irish-language slate development fund, 'Smaointe', that will support Irish production companies as they develop a slate of creative projects in the Irish language. 'Smaointe' will support Irish-language narrative projects across film, television and animation, and companies specialising in Irish-language production. Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Screen Ireland, also welcomed the roll out of the 'Scéal' and 'Smaointe' schemes, saying that they would "create a new opportunity for Irish filmmakers and screen artists." Members of the Irish film sector have been campaigning for an extension of the 481 tax credit scheme. In Screen Ireland's most recent analysis of the Irish film production industry covering 2021-2023, published in January, the report found that the audio visual sector is worth €1 billion to Ireland. The report noted that the Section 481 tax credit was "hugely significant for the industry as two thirds of production spend was supported by this tax relief."
RTÉ News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Dublin studio Turnip + Duck lead Irish Animation Awards
Dublin Studio Turnip + Duck led the 2025 Irish Animation Awards with four wins for their series Maddie + Triggs. The animated series, which follows the adventures of a curious little girl and her doggy best friend, bagged the awards for Best Animated Preschool Series (up to 6 years old), Best Original Song, Best New IP and Best Innovation. Kilkenny's Cartoon Saloon took home three awards for Best Design and Art Direction, and Best Original Score for the Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 episode Screecher's Reach and Best Storyboarding for Silly Sundays. Galway's Moetion Films took home two Irish Animation Awards for The Magic Reindeer Saving Santa's Sleigh, including Best Feature Film or Special, while fellow Galway studio Triggerfish Animation also bagged two awards on the night for their animated TV series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. Roscommon's Studio Meala also bagged two awards for the hit TV series Doodle Girl, with one going to young Dublin actress Aisling Walsh who claimed the Best Voice Acting accolade. Dublin studio Kavaleer Productions was honoured with two gongs for their series Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese, winning Best Animated Kids Series (over 6 years old), and scooping the Kids Choice for Best Animated Kids Series (over 6 years old) as voted by the children of Hazelwood Integrated Primary and Nursery in Belfast. Dublin's Brown Bag Films came out tops in the Best Script for a Feature Film or Special category for Lu and the Bally Bunch, while also winning the Sustainability Champion 2025 Award. Best Animated Short Film - Ireland went to Retirement Plan directed by John Kelly, with a script co-written by Tara Lawall and John Kelly. The film is voiced by Domhnall Gleeson. Japanese animator Saki Muramoto took home Best International Animated Short Film fo r A Night at the Rest Area. Ronan McCabe, CEO of Animation Ireland, said: "It's been a challenging time for the industry since we last got together in 2023 and whilst we remain conscious of the difficulties facing our members, it is important that we celebrate and showcase the work and creativity of our professional Animation, VFX and Gaming communities. "We only get to do every two years so it's with gratitude that we come together, with our friends and colleagues from this island and beyond, to share and celebrate the best our industry has to offer. Well done to all the nominees and congratulations to the winners." Desiree Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the primary sponsor of the awards, added: "Screen Ireland is proud to support the 2025 Irish Animation Awards - an important opportunity to highlight the outstanding Irish animation sector and the range of creative vision and talent it represents. "Our congratulations and best wishes go to all of the nominees this year, whose stunning work continues to connect with audiences worldwide." The Irish Animation Awards are a biennial event, celebrating more than 2,500 animation professionals who make and create across the island of Ireland.
Irish Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
First look at The Walsh Sisters – a new series based on Marian Keyes' books
A FIRST look image has been released showing the stars of the much anticipated new series The Walsh Sisters. Part-based on the characters in Marian Keyes' books Rachel's Holiday and Anybody Out There, the six-part series follows the lives of sisters Anna, Rachel, Maggie, Claire and Helen as they navigate the peaks and troughs of their late 20s and 30s. Headlining the cast are Louisa Harland, of Derry Girls and Love/Hate fame, who stars as the troubled Anna Walsh and rising talent Caroline Menton, who takes on the role of one her sister Rachel, who is one of Marian's most loved characters. Danielle Galligan plays eldest sister Claire and Máiréad Tyers plays Helen. The Walsh Sisters is currently in production The final Walsh sister, Maggie, is played by screenwriter and actor Stefanie Preissner, who has previously starred in Solpadeine is My Boyfriend, Can't Cope, Won't Cope and How to Adult. 'It's impossible to overstate how thrilled I am with this production,' Keyes said this week. 'Stefanie Preissner's scripts alchemised the vibe of my novels into a new and compelling thing,' she added. Keyes admits she was blown away by the performances of the cast now playing the sisters first created through her books. 'Individually and collectively the five young women playing the sisters astonished me,' she said. 'Their warm, bickery engagement feels just like a family.' She added: 'The rest of the cast is equally tremendous, and Mammy and Daddy Walsh are beautiful together. The series is based on books by bestselling Irish author Marian Keyes 'These amazing people have captured the spirit of my books, and they're transformed into something new and exciting.' The author has been on set while the RTÉ series, being produced in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights, has been filming. 'Visiting the set was always a thrill,' she says. 'The director and crew had a definite vision, and their commitment and hard work was clear. 'There's a lot that's very funny and warm but some of the scenes are dark and deeply moving. 'This probably sounds like a strange thing to say but even if I wasn't involved in this, I'd be dying to see it. 'I'm so grateful to all the individuals who worked so hard to make this beautiful series and I'm very excited for the world to see the finished product.' Aidan Quinn stars as Jack 'Daddy' Walsh, alongside his screen wife Carrie Crowley, who stars as the Walsh sisters' eccentric Mammy. Jay Duffy, Samuel Anderson and Debi Mazar also star. The Walsh Sisters will launch on RTÉ followed by BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year. See More: Marian Keyes, RTE, The Walsh Sisters
