New Screen Ireland Strategy ‘Building for a Creative Future 2024’ Launched Today

Today (06.10.2021) Screen Ireland published their new strategy document ‘Building for a Creative Future 2024’. As the national screen agency, Screen Ireland is a key enabler of the growth and sustainability of the Irish independent production sector across Film, TV Drama, Documentary and Animation.

Successful completion of the new strategic objectives will mean the independent production sector continues to produce high quality, award-winning original Irish content. 
 
These strategic objectives are coming at a time of considerable reform in the creative screen sector in Ireland as the Copyright Directive is introduced, online media services content levy is created, S481 is extended beyond 2024, and the Future of Media Commission recommendations are published.
 
The strategy includes series of new initiatives focused on developing screen industry that contributed €289 million to economy in first half of 2021 and directly supports 12,000 jobs.
 
Initiatives such as:

Plans to invest €3 million in the development of industry crew and talent in the coming months. To deliver on the skills and talent development ambitions embedded within the strategy, Screen Skills Ireland will adopt a more central role as the skills team within Screen Ireland by the end of 2021.

Three new regional Crew Hubs are planned for across the country working collectively to target a national approach to crew development.

Two new ‘Screen Ireland National Talent Academies for Film and TV Drama and Animation’ have also been established to build talent and skills regionally. 

A new scheme, Pathways, will enable new entrants from a range of diverse backgrounds to gain paid work experience opportunities on film and television productions.

A new platform called ‘Where to Watch’ which will help audiences all over the world to discover Irish productions;

A new Creative Futures Fund (CFF) to build additional development capabilities and to support high-quality creative projects; 

A new support fund for Irish distribution companies designed to help offset the challenges that have been created by Covid-19.

The Plan includes the following five key objectives: 

Develop a global reputation for innovative and creative storytelling across all genres and in all forms

Invest in the talent required for the future success of the industry through supporting skill and capacity development with diversity, equity, and inclusion at its core

Create opportunities for global audiences to be able to enjoy culturally rich Irish screen productions by working with strategic partners 

Champion the development of a sustainable industry though supporting Irish companies to enable them to be competitive globally

Ensure Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland is appropriately resourced, agile, and sustainable to effectively support the ambitious vision for the creative screen industry.

You can view the strategy here.