Give me Direction II

After the success of last year's event, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board announced yesterday the return of the screenwriting event Give Me Direction, which will be run in association with the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

This year the focus of the conference will be on interrogating the topic of comedy in filmmaking. The two day event will be held on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th June in Dublin.

Further details of the event and the release date for tickets will be announced shortly.

Irish Pavilion in Cannes

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced that registration for membership of the Irish Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival 2010 is now open.

This year, the Irish Pavilion will retain its central position at the heart of the international village and will continue to offer vital business services to its members for the duration of the festival.

Registration is open only to Irish companies or individuals working in the Irish film industry.

Details on how to register are on the web site.

The deadline for application is Friday 9th April 2010 and membership of the Irish Pavilion is not Market or Festival Accreditation.

The Irish Pavilion is a Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board initiative.

Please note that there was an incorrect fax number listed on the official application form. All forms should be faxed to 091 561 405 (If have faxed your form to 01 6773394 you will need resend your application). The application form has now been amended and includes the correct fax number of 091 561 405.

Shorts Shorts Deadline

Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board has announced a call for submissions for the next round of the Short Shorts scheme. The new deadline for the scheme is Friday May 7th.

The Short Shorts scheme has funding for up to seven, 3-5 minute films and aims to encourage the making of very short films that are innovative, provocative or in some way risky and rule-breaking. A unique feature of the scheme is that the films must now conform to a particular genre or theme chosen for each year. In 2008, Short Shorts had to be musicals; in 2009, they had to be films with no dialogue.

This year's Short Shorts, whether live action or animated, must adhere to and explore a theme, which is: Ireland, I Love You or Grá mo chroí í Eire.

Short Shorts generally have better access than longer shorts to commercial distribution. Equally, if this year's crop is especially rich, the common theme may allow BSÉ/IFB to package the films together for screening in a wider choice of situations so that their international exposure is enhanced. The portmanteau films Paris, je t'aime and New York, I Love You have proved to be festival favourites.

We hope the collection of films made under this year's Short Shorts scheme will run the gamut of love in contemporary Ireland - and love for Ireland. Love declared, love unrequited, love lost, love reawakened, love misunderstood, love tormented, love ecstatic. Love of someone, or something, or somewhere.

Films may be made in Irish or English with Irish applications being actively encouraged.

Information on the application process is on the web site.

FRAMEWORKS 2010

FRAMEWORKS is an established scheme for the making of animated short films which BSÉ/IFB considers to be so successful in stimulating ground-breaking new work from Irish animators that it intends to continue the scheme in its present form.

Projects selected for funding will combine creative exploration with an ability to appeal to a broad audience.

The scheme is co-funded by BSÉ/IFB, the Arts Council and RTÉ and the new deadline for applications is April 23rd 2010.

Parameters of the Scheme

• Number of films: up to 6 per year
• Duration: maximum 6 minutes
• Budget per film: maximum €50,000
Format:
• Origination using any technique or format
• Delivery on digi-beta and HD Cam
• Further funding to cover costs of 35mm prints may be provided where a film obtains a bona fide theatrical release in Ireland or is invited to a major international film festival, subject to BSÉ/IFB regulations in force at the time

Information on the scheme's guidelines and how to apply are available on the Irish Film Board's web site.

IFB at Berlin

The Irish Film Board will have a stand (number 05) this year, with Film Holland, at the forthcoming European Film Market (Feb 11- 21) at Berlinale.

Simon Perry, Chief Executive, Alan Maher, Production Executive, and Louise Ryan, Marketing Executive of the IFB will be staffing the stand during the Market and will welcome appointments made in advance.

Their contact details are on the web site.

IFB's Media Hub

The Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board has launched Media Hub, a micro-site that showcases some of its short films, offers trailers and podcasts, as well as providing information on events and news items.

IFB Galway Information Session

The Galway Film Centre is hosting an information session at 2pm, on Thursday November 19th, at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway City, to take a look at Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board's development and production funding schemes.

Andrew Meehan, Development Executive and Sarah Dillon, Production & Development Co-ordinator, will outline the principles and criteria for each scheme, the application process as well as answer any questions in relation to the schemes.

To reserve a place contact Mary at education@galwayfilmcentre.ie or 091-770748, as places are limited.

Irish Film Board Saved

The Irish Times reported on Saturday that Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have agreed to a revised programme for government that includes the retention of the Irish Film Board.

Speaking on behalf of the National Campaign for the Arts, Tania Banotti welcomed the decision:

"The Film Board is a specialised agency which has built up a unique expertise in the area of film finance and it would have been a terrible shame if it had been axed. We warmly welcome the government's decision."

Cullen Defends the Arts

Martin Cullen, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, appeared on the RTÉ Radio 1 show, Arts Tonight, on September 28.

He discussed with Vincent Woods future strategies for the Arts in Ireland, and stressed that he does not intend cutting the Artist's Tax Exemption, getting rid of Culture Ireland, or the Irish Film Board.

He promised to publish a recent DKM consultant report that indicates that the added value from the Arts was over €11.8 billion in 2008. He pointed out that Cultural Tourism is expected to grow by about 15% in the coming years, and added:

Why at a time when we have hard facts in front of us would we be undermining where we are world leaders? And we're not world leaders in many areas. But clearly in the whole area of artistic endeavour, in the general area of culture and arts, we are world leaders, and that's something that has to be minded and guarded.

Why the Arts are Important

Here are the central tenets of the The National Campaign for the Arts:

Why the arts are central to economic and social recovery:

1.The arts and our reputational capital

Every day without fail, on the world’s cinema screens, bookshelves, theatres and concert stages, Irish artists are our perpetual trade mission, defending and redeeming our global reputation at a time when it is under the most rigorous scrutiny, and offering the most spirited riposte to the perception of a nation in duress. We are economically bloodied, we are culturally unbowed.

"Most Americans encounter Ireland today through culture: whether that is Irish dance and music, Irish film, Irish writing or an Irish play on Broadway. We have to be prepared to invest in our cultural infrastructure here, as we do in Ireland. As a first step, I am asking Culture Ireland with the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to prepare a series of high profile cultural events in this country in 2011 to take advantage of recovery". Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Spring 2009, speaking in New York.

"The Government firmly believes that our cultural and artistic reputation is one of our most potent calling cards internationally and it is imperative that we continue to fund and support activity in this sector in the coming years."- Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism at Edinburgh Festival, Aug 09

• According to the statistics compiled from box office host venues presenting Irish work overseas verify that over 500,000 people worldwide attended a theatre and/or dance performance by an Irish company in 2008.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR IRISH ARTISTS

• 1 Tony Award 2008, five nominations
• 2 Academy Awards 2008, five nominations
• 2 Golden Globes 2009, three nominations
• Man Booker Prize winners 2005 and 2007, shortlisted 2004, 2008, longlisted 2009
• 7 Edinburgh Fringe Firsts for Irish theatre and dance shows over three years (2005-2008)

2. The arts and the smart economy

Since long before the term existed, the arts have been our greatest creative industry, and today the arts brilliantly foster those attributes so important to the smart economy that is vital to our future collective wellbeing. Lateral thinking, big ideas, resourcefulness and invention, problem solving, vision and originality find full expression in the output of Irish artists, and their work percolates every walk of Irish life. Our artistic community is a nerve that flexes the creative economy muscle.

"Ireland is hugely successful in the arts. Innovation is about creativity and skills, just like art is. Princeton has decided on a drastic expansion of its arts departments. You will not be able to get a degree in electrical engineering from Princeton without having followed a class in drama. The reasoning is that anyone can acquire skills, but the competitive edge is in creativity. Ireland beats Princeton hands down in the arts.

– Dr. Richard Tol, Research Professor, ESRI

3.The arts and cultural tourism

There is a reason that visitors are still compelled to travel here in their thousands, dispersing billions in our local economies in the process. Cultural tourism is a genuine growth industry in Ireland, and just as with our landscape and heritage, the arts have a starring role in how we give our visitors a unique cultural experience, from our mighty international festivals of the performing arts to our vivid traditional music by a convivial fireside hearth. Long before they arrive, it’s our writers, filmmakers and touring performers who whet their appetite to come.

"Ireland enjoys a rich cultural heritage that is central to whom we are. This is a clear attraction for those who wish to visit Ireland and is appreciated by those who spend time here.”

- Tourism Ireland, A New Strategy for Cultural Tourism in Ireland

• Cultural Tourism is worth over €2 billion to the economy – this includes both domestic and overseas tourism. Source: Failte Ireland Survey of Overseas Travellers/CSO Travel and Tourism

4. The arts and employment

Culture and the creative sector generate 170,000 jobs, a significant ratio of them in the arts, among them practitioners, technicians, producers, curators, publishers and the other highly skilled disciplines that work together to create art from Ireland. We are an indigenous industry, active in every county, we are wholly Irish owned and we are exporters. Our earnings are not repatriated, and we are spending locally.

5. The arts and the national psyche

Our artists steer a course for shore when the waters around us become uncertain. They are a celebration of our shared gift for self expression, our capacity for resilience and reinvention, and a mechanism for us to heal and resonate, understand and reconnect. The artist’s voice is woven into our discourse, reconciling the past, imagining a future, and as important now as at any of the precipitous moments when our forefathers called upon its counsel. The citizenship of the artist is always active.

"We need to listen to everyone who has something to contribute; yes the business sector and the financial experts, but also the social entrepreneurs and innovators, the teachers who educate our children, social workers and activists …. We should also listen to our creative artists." – Former President Mary Robinson at Beál na mBláth, August 2009.

The National Campaign for the Arts wants:

• Retention of Culture Ireland, the agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide
• Retention of The Irish Film Board, development agency of the Irish film industry
• Maintenance of existing levels of funding to the Arts Council
• Retention of the artists income tax exemption scheme
• Commitment to retain the arts portfolio at cabinet as part of a senior ministerial portfolio

Cullen Wants Irish Film Board

The Irish Times reported on Friday that Minister for the Arts, Martin Cullen, has come out in support of retaining the Irish Film Board as an independent body.

Mr Cullen agreed with Labour arts spokeswoman Mary Upton that a merger would mean the film board "will be gobbled up and become a non-entity. It will have no defined or separate role, which is very important for the film industry". She added that it earned net profit of €303 million last year, even allowing for tax breaks.

The Minister said there was a "strong rationale for the retention of the Irish Film Board because it is delivering jobs and is a positive international marketing message for this country".

Some 6,000 people are employed in the industry and "this success guides me in stating that the board should be retained as it is and with current functions. It is achieving the goals we set out for it."

Fine Gael arts spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell agreed that a merger with the Enterprise Board would be "inappropriate" but made noises about the need for the board's office in both Galway and Dublin, and a need for it to become more competitive.

"Is there a way to ensure that the board will become super-efficient in order that the entire industry might be more competitive when the good times return?"

She warned that the board should not be supporting "uncompetitive practices". Ireland appeared to be "extremely uncompetitive" in trade pay rates and "it costs more to make films here than it does in any other country".

Ah yes, those mythical good times that everyone foresees ahead of us. How about dealing with the difficult present time, which is going to be made more difficult with the slew of budget cuts facing us? Plus, apparently, those of us working in film have uncompetitive pay rates - compared to whom? Perhaps those residing in countries with lower wages and cost of living?

So, I guess they'll be asking for wage cuts next. A concept that will be met with grim amusement from Irish screenwriters, who are woefully underpaid already. Perhaps we should compare our pay rates with those in the UK or the USA? I think we'll discover then what market runs the cheapest bargain when it comes to screenwriting.

Arts Campaign Launched

The National Campaign for the Arts was officially launched yesterday, and was supported by many famous artists, such as singer Mary Black, actress Sara Bolger, comedian Risteard Cooper, singer/songwriter Damian Dempsey, singer Lisa Hannigan, actress and novelist Amy Huberman, writer and director Neil Jordan, and composer Bill Whelan.

During a week in which the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival is kicking off its fifty-first year and an expected half million people around the country will enjoy Culture Night, the Campaign aims to put the importance of the arts centre stage. It calls for the retention of Culture Ireland, the agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide and the Irish Film Board, both of which face closure following the recent recommendations of the McCarthy Report. It also calls for the maintenance of existing levels of arts funding for the Arts Council as well as full representation at senior cabinet level.

The National Campaign for the Arts was established as the first ever umbrella organisation for the diverse arts' sectors in Ireland and provides a voice for the country’s artists and arts organisations. It petitions to ensure that the arts are on local and national government agendas and welcomes an open debate on the arts as a vital part of contemporary Irish life. Its membership has a national reach that includes major festivals, venues, producers and representative organisations in visual arts, theatre, film, dance, music, literature, architecture and collaborative arts.

Darklight X Announced

Darklight X: New World Order (October 8 - 11), Ireland's celebration of art, film and technology, is a three-day event involving performances, screenings, workshops, seminars, symposiums, visual art happenings and much more. This year the festival is taking over Dublin's Smithfield district, where the Lighthouse Cinema and other venues will host a feast of events.

Highlights include:

• A public interview and workshop with legendary music video director Mark Romanek. Mark directed the classic video for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, and has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson and Madonna to Nine Inch Nails and Jay-Z.
• The Irish premier of a major new video instillation, Three Potential Endings, from two-time Turner Prize nominee Willie Doherty, on Smithfield Plaza.
• A celebration of Oscar-nominated Irish animation company Brown Bag.
• Collaborations with cutting-edge Irish companies thisisnotashop, Synth Eastwood, Nartystation and Performance Corporation.
• A discussion with Anna Troberg, the Vice-Chairwoman of Sweden's Pirate Party the political outfit dedicated to radical copyright reform who recently won two seats in the European elections.
• Ten Irish filmmakers conspire to produce a brand new feature film in seven days! It's our latest DIY movie spectacular, Hotel Darklight!
• The World Premiere of Vincent Moon's stunning Irish-lensed concert movie R.E.M. Live At The Olympia.
• The debut of Virtual Cinema 2.0, the Irish Film Board's latest round of cutting-edge on-line short films.
• A screening of Brendan Muldowney's Savage, the most controversial Irish film of 2009.
• A weekend long Performance Lab with acclaimed artist Amanda Coogan.
• The EA Hub Gaming Station, a spectacular outdoor gaming extravaganza.
• O Canada! Screenings celebrating 70 years of the Canadian Film Board.
• Plus: The Straylight visual art trail and unexpected happenings aplenty...

Booking information will be available on the web site from Friday, September 11 2009.

Irish Films Worldwide

According to Variety Conor McPherson's film The Eclipse will open the Los Angeles Irish Film Festival on September 23 at the Linwood Dunn Theater.

After the screening there will be a reception hosted by the Irish Film Board, with a performance by musical trio the Henry Girls.

This news follows the announcement last week that six Irish films were selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (September 10-19):

• Ondine, written and directed by Neil Jordan
• Perrier's Bounty, written by Mark O'Rowe, directed by Ian Fitzgibbon, and starring Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson
• Triage, written and directed by Danis Tanovic, and starring Colin Farrell
• Colony, the feature documentary directed by Ross McDonnell and Carter Gunn
• Cracks written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip, directed by Jordan Scott, and starring Eva Green
• Eamon, written and directed by Margaret Corkery

IFB Stands Up

Bord Scanánn na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board (BSÉ/IFB) has made a statement about the recommendations in the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (An Bord Snip Nua).

To be clear, the Report recommends the abolition of the Irish Film Board, the winding-up of its investment funds and the transfer of its enterprise functions to Enterprise Ireland.

Government funding, provided directly to the sector through BSÉ/IFB (€18.8m in 2009), is a key component of the entire audiovisual content industry. A recent survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers valued Ireland's audiovisual content industry at over half a billion euro per annum and found that it now offers permanent employment to over 6,000 individuals. The industry in turn supports an ecology that generates many other indirect employment benefits arising out of production activities around the country.

The immediate loss of employment that withdrawal of BSÉ/IFB funding will cause is likely to cost the State in excess of the sought after savings. Further, the strategic importance of Ireland's content industries to the creation of a Smart Economy – as described in the Government's recent policy paper "Building Ireland's Smart Economy" – is also at risk of being undermined.

The funding provided through BSÉ/IFB attracts additional finance that today supports an increasing level of private sector employment. The growth potential of the audiovisual content industry, as an essential component of the Smart Economy strategy, represents one of the best prospects of employment for young people seeking jobs in the future. For these reasons we believe it is important, in the context of the immediate crisis in the public finances, to ask Government to consider carefully the economic impact and employment consequences of this particular recommendation.

To be taken into consideration also are the consequences for Ireland if it were to become the only developed country in the world producing no films for the cinema, and thereby losing the most powerful tool available for establishing and sustaining its cultural identity abroad. It is well understood by all countries that the projection of an image of a country, its people and its way of life onto the screens of the world pays direct dividends in terms of inward investment, trade in goods and services, and tourism. Almost one in two US tourists to Ireland now state that their decision to come was triggered by seeing Ireland in the movies.

If the case for maintaining an Irish audiovisual content industry stands up, then we can demonstrate that BSÉ/IFB, through the accumulated knowledge and expertise of its staff, and their core competence in managing the business of creativity, is fit for today's purpose. The effectiveness of the agency's policies and the efficiency of its operation, at a cost of 10% of its total annual funding, compare favourably when benchmarked against similar agencies in other European and English-speaking countries, as well as against other Irish State Agencies.

Frameworks 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and RTÉ have announced the successful FRAMEWORKS projects for this year.

FRAMEWORKS is aimed exclusively at the production of animated short films up to six minutes in duration. It is currently in its 14th year having been established in 1995 with the intention of developing new talent and skills in the area of animation. It has been very successful to date in supporting the production of exciting and creative work.

"23 Degrees 5 Minutes" to be written and directed by Darragh O'Connell and produced by Colm Tyrell of Brown Bag Films.

"The Meaning of Eggsistence" to be written and directed by Bruce Ryder and produced by Stephen Rennicks and Lenny Abrahamson of Element Films.

"The Boy Who Lived in a Bubble" to be written and directed by Kealan O'Rourke and produced by Brian Willis of Igloo Productions.

"Red Lead" to be written and directed by Tony O'Donoghue and produced by Cathal Black of Mayfly Films Ltd.

"Paperman" to be written by Richard Kelly and Sean Ryan, directed by Richard Kelly and produced by Jessica Kelly of Prickly Pear Productions.

Perry Puzzled by Proposed Cuts

The CEO of the Irish Film Board, Simon Perry, has spoken to The Hollywood Reporter about the recent proposal to scrap the board and merge it with Enterprise Ireland.

"Does the Irish government really want Ireland to be the only country in the developed world making no films at all?" he asked. "It's hard to imagine."

Perry said there has been exponential growth in the Irish media sector during the past 20 years, with employment rising from a few hundred to more than 6,000.

"Closure of the Irish Film Board would mean that the production of Irish films will stop completely, with the loss not just of the 17 public-sector jobs within the agency but of potentially thousands of private-sector jobs associated with Irish filmmaking," Perry said.

The board chief noted a recent survey that found nearly 50% of tourists decide to visit the country after seeing Ireland depicted in films. ...

"At a time when the Irish government is deeply concerned by the daily toll of job losses in the private sector, we are very puzzled by the recommendation," he said. "We suspect that the authors of the report may not be aware of the recent growth in Ireland's audiovisual sector."

Arts Defended in Galway

The Irish Times reports that a strong defence of the importance of the Arts and Arts Organisations to the economic vitality of Ireland was made by chairwoman of the Arts Council, Pat Moylan, and the artistic director of Druid Theatre, Garry Hynes, at the Arts Festival in Galway city at the weekend. Garry Hynes said:

"From Temple Bar to this city's Latin Quarter to the attractions of Galway as an industrial centre - there's evidence that people are drawn by vibrant cultural life. Please let us go out and make this point." She added: "People like me don't speak up loud or long enough. The next years will be harder than we can remember."

Arts Council chairwoman Pat Moylan also spoke strongly against the suggestions of the McCarthy report. "The arts are part of this nation. Plus, we employ local people, we buy local produce.

"There are thousands working in the arts, not all paid very well, but we do pay our taxes. We are making our case and we need to have our own Minister at the cabinet table. The future of the department is being examined. As chair of the Arts Council, I'm saying this would be a retrograde step for the arts in Ireland."

Bleak Outlook for Arts in Ireland

IFTN reports on the Irish Government's proposals to save money in the coming year.

It plans to gut another €6.1 million from the budget of the Arts Council, transfer the Irish Film Board's functions to a new enterprise agency under the auspices of Enterprise Ireland, and discontinue the investment fund.

The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, Volume 2, states:

"The Group considers that continued funding of the Irish Film Board is not affordable at this time in the context of other more pressing spending priorities. Given the scale of tax expenditure (€418m since 1993 and €33m in 2008) via the tax incentive scheme for this sector, and given the level of international competition in this market space, there is no objective economic case for subventing the Irish Film Industry. The Group considers that film development is similar to enterprise development activities in other sectors (e.g. manufacturing, services, tourism etc). It concludes that the enterprise promotion and development activities of the Irish Film Board should be transferred to the new enterprise agency (see Detailed Paper No. 5) which incorporates a restructured Enterprise Ireland and the enterprise development functions of a range of other existing agencies. The Group also recommends discontinuation of the dedicated investment fund. Overall, these proposals should lead to a staff reduction of about 17 positions."

Other cost-cutting proposals include:

• "The merger of ComReg with the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (the result of merging the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the regulatory functions of the RTÉ Authority) because of the growing convergence between the communications and broadcasting industries."
• The report notes that the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will be funded by an industry levy which will save the Exchequer over €6m each year compared to the existing arrangement.
• Reforming the funding of TG4 by partially funding it directly from the TV Licence with reciprocal savings in the Exchequer subvention to TG4.
• The Group does not recommend an increase in the TV Licence.
• Merging the Digital Hub Agency with EI/IDA.
• Abolishing Culture Ireland generating a saving of €4.6m. This programme allocates grants for overseas activity to Irish artists or arts organizations as well as the funding and facilitating Irish participation at strategic international arts events.
• Transferring the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) into the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)
• Partially funding TG4 directly from TV Licence reducing the direct Exchequer subvention

Virtual Cinema 2009

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board has announced the new deadline of the short film scheme Virtual Cinema. Applications will be accepted until Friday 14th August

Virtual Cinema aims to encourage the exploration of fresh filmmaking ground with no creative holds barred. We are looking for creative ideas which will exploit interesting, new and traditional filmmaking techniques but can hold the attention of the YouTube audience.

The scheme is dedicated to the making of high-quality short films that are suited to the new forms of digital video consumption. Films made under the scheme can be live-action or can use any kind of animation technique and can be fiction or non-fiction. We are looking for new, imaginative, quirky and original ideas.

Films may be made in Irish or English with Irish language applications actively encouraged.

The first round of Virtual Cinema shorts, which premiered last summer can be viewed on a number of websites including the IFB website and YouTube with a number of the shorts receiving a huge number of hits due to viral marketing.

This round the IFB are funding up to 10 films with a duration of approximately 2 minutes and a maximum budget of €2,000.

More information and the application form can be obtained from the web site.