15/06/2005

Interview with Richard Williams, Chief executive, Northern Ireland Film and TV Commission

Cineuropa: What are the key criteria for you to invest in a feature film?
Richard Williams: Like most people, we’re interested in the script, the finance plan, the track record of the team and the overall benefit to Northern Ireland. We’re very interested in projects that are genuinely set in Northern Ireland or have been written by someone based here but we are also keen to support films that can utilize our creative talent base and exploit our many location resources. Projects should come to us with the majority of their finance in place (65% or higher) and be able to shoot the majority of the film in Northern Ireland.

What are the advantages for non-Irish producers/directors to shoot in Northern Ireland?
Firstly the NIFTC’s financial incentives are open to producers from all over the world. Secondly as part of the United Kingdom all expenditure in Northern Ireland counts towards the UK’s Sale and Leaseback. In some cases it may also be possible to structure the film so that it can take advantage of two tax incentives. Using the Pan European Cinematographic Co-production Convention (ratified in August 2000), producers can arrange co-productions that take advantage of tax incentives in two or more European states. Productions need to spend a minimum of 20% of their budget in one European state and a maximum of 80% in another. Through this Convention producers are able to combine both United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland tax incentives for the financing of films intending to shoot all or partly in Northern Ireland. On a more practical note we have a diverse range of locations, an experienced crew and facilities base and English is the first language. The cost of living is lower than many other areas of the UK and Ireland and this keeps the production costs to a reasonable level.