The organisation didn't just fund shorts, it was instrumental in helping some features get made also. The most recent of these was 2017's smash-hit Cardboard Gangsters.
"It's very sad to see Filmbase closing. They've been a huge support to me over the years as an emerging Irish Film maker. From Filmbase I was able to rent affordable equipment to shoot short films and I have availed of their many resources from casting rooms to script writing groups. They recently supported my latest feature film Cardboard Gangsters and we could not have made the film without them. Filmbase was a great avenue for emerging film makers to bring projects from script to screen but it was also a bridge between starting out in the industry and working as a professional. Where can the emerging Irish film community receive this support without organisations such as Filmbase. I hope the Irish government can intervene here to #savefilmbase"
Mark O'Connor - Writer/Director
The organisation was important in the early careers of two feature Irish Oscar nominees.
"A couple of years ago, when my kids were small I felt I lost some filmmaking confidence. I did an evening course in Filmbase and it helped me get my mojo back."
Nora Twomey, Director - The Breadwinnner
"It’s very sad news that that Filmbase is to close. I remember being at what must have been some of the earliest meetings, over three decades ago, and hearing the people who founded the organisation talking about what they wanted to achieve. Back then, at the end of the ’80s in the dark days before the Film Board was reinstated it was really the only place which offered help and support to people who wanted to make films."
"In the years since, and with limited resources, Filmbase has largely lived up to its aims, supporting filmmakers, funding shorts and providing practical film education. I certainly borrowed equipment and used spaces there in the early phases of my career. I’m genuinely very sorry to see it go."
Lenny Abrahamson - Director - Room (speaking to the Irish Times)
Both producer Kathryn Kennedy and the late director Simon Fitzmaurice were involved in Filmbase-supported shorts in their early career, with Kennedy producer on Poxy and After, and Fitzmaurice writing and directing The Sound of People. The pair would later go on to make the award-winning My Name is Emily.
"It would be hard to find any Irish film-making talent who hadn't at some point availed of the support of Filmbase. From training courses, to short film funding, equipment rental, office space and to the high standard of filmmakers emerging from their Masters in Film course, Filmbase is a vital resource to up and coming talent in the Irish Film industry, the loss of which will leave a devastating gap in resources and facilities to those trying to launch their careers."
Kathryn Kennedy - Producer
Horror directors Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) and David Freyne (The Cured) both have strong early career memories of working with Filmbase.
"Whatever the circumstances that have led to Filmbase having to close, I hope a solution can be found to allow it to re-emerge in some way, shape or form. Every ladder needs a first rung, and Filmbase has given a leg up to so many filmmakers. It's presence will be sorely missed for those embarking on their careers, or honing their skills. From a personal point of view, Filmbase gave me my first taste of production funding for a short film. This opportunity opened even more doors to me. There's a lot more burgeoning filmmakers out there that need the type of support Filmbase offer. Let's hope they can return stronger."
Lee Cronin - Writer/Director
"At a point when RTÉ and the Irish Film Board can feel like impenetrable fortresses, Filmbase has been a vital stepping stone for young filmmakers. My earliest memories of filmmaking revolve around the centre. From running around with cases of their equipment, meeting my peers on their courses and eventually getting my first funded short film through their scheme. It's closure is an incredibly sad day for Irish Film. Local film and arts centres are the backbone to any artistic community. We have to support them."
David Freyne -Writer/Director
22 CinÉireann / March 2018