CinÉireann / April 2018 7
Alan Duggan has been announced as the new Manager of Galway Film Centre.
Alan is an Annaghdown, Co. Galway native and a veteran of the mobile games industry. He is the CEO of Tribal City Interactive which is part of the new games hub based in the Cluain Mhuire campus of GMIT. He holds a Degree in Engineering from the University of Limerick and also studied at Boston University and MIT.
"We are delighted to welcome Alan as the new Manager of Galway Film Centre. On behalf of the board of the centre we look forward to working with him on the continued development of both Galway Film Centre and the Galway UNESCO City of Film designation.'
Celine Curtin, Chairperson of Galway Film Centre
Founded in 1989, Galway Film Centre is a non-profit, members based organisation dedicated to the development of film as an artistic medium in the West of Ireland. To this end, they support filmmakers, community and youth groups through education and training, equipment provision and information.
In 2014 Galway was awarded the prestigious title of UNESCO City of Film as a result of a bid led by Galway Film Centre in partnership with both local authorities and over 50 local companies involved in the audiovisual sector. Since gaining the designation Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board, Údarás na Gaeltacht and TG4 have all been involved in setting up a governance structure whereby the UNESCO City of Film offices are now housed within Galway Film Centre. This initiative is also supported by Pálás Cinema, Galway Film Fleadh, Telegael, Eo Telifís and all of the main production companies and filmmakers based in Galway city and county.
The GFC is located in Galway city, just a short walk from the Eye Cinema, in the Cluain Mhuire Campus of GMIT.
Minister Josepha Madigan TD announced plans to invest €1.2 billion in Irish culture, heritage and language infrastructure as part of Project Ireland 2040. Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 is a ten year plan setting out the Government’s commitment for capital investment of almost €1.2 billion in Ireland’s culture, language and heritage.
A Cultural and Creativity investment programme comprising €265 million will be closely aligned with the cultural infrastructure, creative communities and creative industries pillars of the Creative Ireland Programme.
€200 million of this will be invested in Ireland's vibrant media production and audio visual industries which will have a positive impact right across the country.
Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) welcomed the publication of Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027, announced as part of Project Ireland 2040. IFB Chair, Dr Annie Doona took the opportunity to thank the host, Minister Josepha Madigan T.D., and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar T.D. for unveiling an unprecedented governmental commitment to culture and creativity, including funding to invest in media production and the audio-visual industry over a ten-year period.
As part of the publication the IFB welcomed the announcement of an investment of €200 million over a ten-year period in Ireland’s film and screen content sector, including the commitment of funding to the sector through the IFB. This will allow the agency to fulfil its remit and help to position this vital part of the creative industries as a strategically important contributor to the cultural and economic life of the country.
The IFB also welcomed the announcement of the implementation of the change of name of the Board, with effect from 18 June 2018, to Screen Ireland to reflect and encompass the widening remit of the agency across film, animation, TV drama and other screen content. This will bolster the Board’s commitment and responsibilities in supporting the continuing success of Irish creative talent on screen as well as strengthening the agency’s abilities to capitalise on the growth opportunities currently experienced in film and screen content storytelling.
Central to the role of the IFB is the support and empowerment of Irish creative filmmaking talent. This talent — which includes established and emerging writers, directors, producers, editors, post-production supervisors, set and costume designers and directors of photography to name but a few — is the lifeblood of a thriving audio-visual sector, which presently supports over seventeen thousand full-time jobs; all making significant and salient contributions to the cultural and economic fabric of Irish life. The IFB has always prided itself on providing a platform for our uniquely Irish stories on screen to come to the fore at both a domestic and international level. This announcement of additional capital funding will allow the agency to facilitate the creation and realisation of many more original and diverse stories on screen.
It will also allow the sector to build on its reputation as an attractive territory for international production, comprising world-class locations and infrastructure, a skilled workforce and a competitive tax credit, and will focus primarily on film production, high-end TV drama and animation.
The €200m investment in the audio visual Industry relates to capital investment through the Irish Film Board. This will bring Film Board capital investment to an average of €20m per annum over the period of the plan which is the level sought by the Film Board. The actual annual yearly allocations will be determined through the normal budgetary process.
Investment priorities will be a matter for the Film Board in the first instance but it should be noted that Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage specifically refers to investment in training for film workers and crews.
The Department also proposes to publish shortly a plan for the audio visual industry based on an economic analysis commissioned by the Department in relation to the industry. It should be noted, as set out in the plan, that all proposals for capital expenditure measures will be subject to evaluation and appraisal in accordance with the provisions of the Capital Spending Code.
The Irish Film Board called the promise "a confirmation of a significant increase in relation to our capital funding (€14.2m in 2018) over a ten year period 2018 to 2027. It may not initially be €20m a year and to the extent not, will be more than €20m as the years go on so that the total is €200m over the ten years."