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06/06/2018
Sinn Féin Warn Of Dangers To 'Golden Goose' Of Film Industry
Sinn Féin have called for a "dramatic shortening" of the time taken to approve road closures for film production.
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, MLA, made the call after a roundtable meeting with Belfast City Council, PSNI, Screen NI, the Department of Infrastructure, and film-makers.
The South Belfast MLA said: "I met recently with location companies who say the three-month application process for road closures to facilitate movie crews is too long, too uncertain and too bureaucratic for an industry which depends on its film sector-friendliness to survive.
"If an application is refused after a three-month wait, that can jeopardise a multi-million pound film investment and put in peril jobs which are created by major film investment. In trying to make the process of film-making more streamlined and more reliable, the new legislation instead has created a headache for film producers and threatens to damage our hard-won reputation as a film-friendly city. Make no mistake: other regions and cities are queueing up to lure this lucrative but fickle industry from Belfast.
"The message from film producers to me is clear: we risk killing the golden goose of film-making which has generated so much positivity, economic benefit and opportunity for all. Anyone who doubts that should reflect on the fact that HBO only filmed the Dark Hedges on one half-day shoot. The amazing growth of the film industry mirrors the success of the peace process. However, if this industry is not appreciated and supported, it will go elsewhere.
"Today, my challenge to all the stakeholders is to reduce the time to process road closure applications from three months to three weeks."
(MH)
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, MLA, made the call after a roundtable meeting with Belfast City Council, PSNI, Screen NI, the Department of Infrastructure, and film-makers.
The South Belfast MLA said: "I met recently with location companies who say the three-month application process for road closures to facilitate movie crews is too long, too uncertain and too bureaucratic for an industry which depends on its film sector-friendliness to survive.
"If an application is refused after a three-month wait, that can jeopardise a multi-million pound film investment and put in peril jobs which are created by major film investment. In trying to make the process of film-making more streamlined and more reliable, the new legislation instead has created a headache for film producers and threatens to damage our hard-won reputation as a film-friendly city. Make no mistake: other regions and cities are queueing up to lure this lucrative but fickle industry from Belfast.
"The message from film producers to me is clear: we risk killing the golden goose of film-making which has generated so much positivity, economic benefit and opportunity for all. Anyone who doubts that should reflect on the fact that HBO only filmed the Dark Hedges on one half-day shoot. The amazing growth of the film industry mirrors the success of the peace process. However, if this industry is not appreciated and supported, it will go elsewhere.
"Today, my challenge to all the stakeholders is to reduce the time to process road closure applications from three months to three weeks."
(MH)
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Record 'double-take' of £1.17bn for UK film industry
Several top-drawer big-budget films including the latest Harry Potter, a Bridgit Jones follow-up and a remake of 'Alfie' helped the UK film production industry towards a record year. Figures produced by the UK Film Council have revealed that the UK film industry attracted £1.
Record 'double-take' of £1.17bn for UK film industry
Several top-drawer big-budget films including the latest Harry Potter, a Bridgit Jones follow-up and a remake of 'Alfie' helped the UK film production industry towards a record year. Figures produced by the UK Film Council have revealed that the UK film industry attracted £1.
03 February 2011
Cinemagic Teens For LA Film Festival
Two teenagers from Belfast are preparing for a trip of a lifetime to Los Angeles at the end of next month, where a short film that they produced, will be screened at a special reception. The visit to the US's filmmaking capital is part of Belfast-based Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival's second USA festival programme.
Cinemagic Teens For LA Film Festival
Two teenagers from Belfast are preparing for a trip of a lifetime to Los Angeles at the end of next month, where a short film that they produced, will be screened at a special reception. The visit to the US's filmmaking capital is part of Belfast-based Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival's second USA festival programme.
29 September 2011
Irish Film Industry Excels
The Audiovisual Federation, the IBEC group that represents the feature film, television and animation sectors, has launched its 2011 review of film and television production in Ireland. The report covers 261 productions completed in Ireland in 2010, with a total production value of €387.9 million: a significant increase of €144.
Irish Film Industry Excels
The Audiovisual Federation, the IBEC group that represents the feature film, television and animation sectors, has launched its 2011 review of film and television production in Ireland. The report covers 261 productions completed in Ireland in 2010, with a total production value of €387.9 million: a significant increase of €144.
19 June 2009
Irish Film Channel To Hit Small Screens
A piece of legislation that will replace all previous broadcasting regulations for services in the Irish Republic has passed all stages in the Republic's parliament, the Dáil.
Irish Film Channel To Hit Small Screens
A piece of legislation that will replace all previous broadcasting regulations for services in the Irish Republic has passed all stages in the Republic's parliament, the Dáil.
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