Written by new-contact on Oct 16, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

Ireland expands filming incentives to cover non-EU talent salaries

Ireland has expanded its generous filming incentive package to cover salaries from talent originating outside the European Union (EU), which will include US star salaries. The move will help the country compete with the UK and could help attract more productions like Vikings.

Eligible productions filming in Ireland can get incentive support through the Section 481 programme, which is in place until 2020. The incentive figure is currently 28% of expenditure for both film and TV, but this will rise to 32% in 2015.

Opening up the incentive programme to talent outside the EU will appeal to US star talent, who are routinely paid in the millions of dollars. Filmmaker JJ Abrams has expressed an interest in filming Ireland through his Bad Robot production company. Given that Abrams is producing the next Mission: Impossible film, the new measure could help secure more big-budget features, as well as high-end TV productions.

“Building on the current success of the film, television and animation industry, this new measure will assist Irish producers in attracting foreign direct investment in the form of international feature films and television shows which will assist in creating new Irish jobs within the sector,” commented James Hickey, Chief Executive of the Irish Film Board.

This new measure will assist Irish producers in attracting foreign direct investment in the form of international feature films and television shows.

James Hickey, Irish Film Board

Ireland has a thriving production industry, with high-profile TV productions including the BBC’s Ripper Street in Dublin, and Vikings based at Ashford Film Studios in County Wicklow. The country faces stiff competition from the UK, but is refining its global appeal with strong incentive figures and the promise of long-term, multi-year support.