16/12/2003

The Irish Film Board (IFB) has launched its ‘Production Review 2003’, in the presence of John O’Donogue, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism. The latter was warmly applauded by the industry because of his support for the retention of the popular Irish tax scheme Section 481, now extended until 2008.

Apart from being an important review of the year’s production activity in Ireland, the IFB Production Review (available on the IFB website in the publication page) previews the new feature films, documentaries, TV series, animated films and shorts supported by the IFB.

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The report’s presentation was also the occasion to look back at 2003, a landmark year for the Irish film industry and for the IFB: the Board celebrated its 10th anniversary and had a 9% budget increase from the Government; Intermission became the highest ever grossing film for the IFB and the sixth biggest film of the year in Ireland; the Hollywood film, King Arthur was the largest production ever shot in Ireland with a budget of over €100m; and other Irish films were released locally with critical and/or box office success, such as Veronica Guerin, Song For a Raggy Boy, Spin the Bottle and The Mystics. And of course, the retention of Section 481 announced in the government’s Budget early this month means that the industry will be able to maintain its confidence and continue to attract inward investments with Ireland as a location.