The Stage

Cash boost for Northern Ireland’s TV and film industry

Published Wednesday 16 May 2007 at 16:10 by Michael Quinn

Northern Ireland’s television and film industry is to receive a £12.37 million funding boost to enable it to compete in the international marketplace.

The money, to be provided by Invest Northern Ireland and announced by newly elected economy minister Nigel Dodds, will go towards the implementation of the region’s Film and Television Commission’s three-year strategy - Building on Success.

Since 2003, Invest NI has provided funding of almost £11 million to NIFTC, which has helped attract 18 major television and film productions into Northern Ireland and generating, in the process, additional inward investment of £16 million.

The buoyant independent television sector, currently battling to secure local rights to the prestigious Sesame Street brand, is estimated to have an annual turnover of £20 million.

Welcoming the news, NIFTC chairman Colin Anderson said the investment would, “enable us to build upon past successes and seek new opportunities for the local film and television sector from within the UK and internationally”.

Besides a raft of Hollywood-financed productions currently filming in Northern Ireland, Belfast is also the setting for Bel’s Boys, the first ever children’s television drama to come out of the region.