Last week it was announced that Filmbase, the dedicated centre to Irish film development, education, and equipment, is to close as it enter voluntary liquidation. This is a dark day for the Irish film industry as Filmbase has been instrumental in helping emerging Irish filmmaking talent grow. Many of those that have benefited from one or more of their services have gone on to national and international recognition, with the list of filmmakers involved in short film production alone reading like a who's who of Irish talent.
We have reached out to some of those people to get their thoughts on this devastating news.
The Irish Film Board and Filmbase have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial arrangement, with Filmbase serving as a bit of a proving ground for people who would go on to collaborate with the IFB on later projects.
"Since 1986, Filmbase has been a crucial cornerstone of Irish film and has played an important part in Ireland’s cultural landscape. Filmbase has always been a place of development and nurturing for Irish filmmaking talent, and has provided a launch-pad for the careers of many creatives now working in the sector. We are incredibly sad to learn of today’s news."
"I would like to sincerely thank Alan and the team at Filmbase for their unfaltering dedication to filmmaking over the years, and for leaving behind a rich legacy of creative empowerment and support for Irish film."
James Hickey - CEO Irish Film Board
Filmbase shared its offices on Curved Street in Temple Bar with a number of other key industry bodies, including the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland who's members were frequently involved in courses and projects there.
"Many of our globally acclaimed film and television directors received Filmbase support at the start of their careers and the support they gave to emerging talent will be missed."
Birch Hamilton - Screen Directors Guild of Ireland
Filmbase was originally established in 1986 by a bunch of filmmakers with Jane Gogan as the director. Other key members included Trish McAdam, Pat Murphy, Mark Kilroy, and Lelia Doolan.
"Filmbase was set up not only as a resource for emerging filmmakers but to recognise the need for filmmakers to be allowed to make films outside the industrial model, or art model for that matter, a kind of maverick approach. Yes many people associated with Filmbase have gone on to work in the film industry but that was never its only aim. The concept was also about a resource for a kind of freedom of expression that comes with lower budget. I believe this is all important to keep alive."
"On a very pragmatic base I would say to all those connected to Filmbase that it would be interesting to see this just as a business model failure. It is important to save the assets and funding for this very important aspect of Irish film culture and to invent a new model that will bring it forward in an even better way. This disaster needs to be turned around quickly as an opportunity to make something even better."
Trish McAdam - Director
An early recipient of short film funding was director Orla Walsh, who made her first two short films with the help of Filmbase.
"Devastated to hear of the closure of Film Base which played such a crucial role in my development as a filmmaker. Film Base was always an open place where a 20-year novice with daft dreams could walk in and meet established wise filmmakers who were so generous with their time. This support gave me the courage as a women to write and direct and Film Base funded my first two short films 'The Visit' (1992) about women in Northern Ireland and 'Bent out of Shape'(1995) about homophobia. In an atmosphere of censorship about the north, women, gay rights, racism and our historical past,Film Base took risks to support a huge body of challenging short films. Also when I was involved in the 90's it was a platform for campaigning, Film Base and its members fought for the right to tell Irish stories on film and was key to the establishment of the Irish Film Board. Film Base was a haven, a lifeline for struggling filmmakers full of debate, laughter, friendship and daft dreams and I'm sorry it won't be around for the next generation."
Orla Walsh - Director
CinÉireann / March 2018 21