The Irish film industry is predicted to have its most lucrative year yet in 2003 with the value of productions shot in the State expected to surpass previous records, writes Edward Power.
The aggregate budget of movies and television filmed here in the six months to June is 210 million, compared with 2001's full-year high of 259 million. Barring an unexpected collapse in activity, 2003's total will surpass that of 2001, according to Mr Tommy McCabe, director of the Audiovisual Federation, which compiled the data.
High-profile productions under way this year include King Arthur and The Laws of Attraction, starring Irish actor Pierce Brosnan.
But such a performance may yet be looked back upon as a lost golden period if the Government presses ahead with plans to drop the section 481 tax exemption for film-makers, Mr McCabe added.
Big budget films would desert the State in favour of countries with guaranteed tax breaks for the foreseeable future, he said.
The federation, a division of employers' group IBEC, is the latest to urge the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, to grant a reprieve to section 481, which is due to lapse at the end of 2004.
Filmmakers Ireland last month warned the domestic movie sector risked decimation unless section 481 remains in place.
Movie and TV output last year was robust at €223 million, from 259 million in 2001. Feature films and major television drama contributed 199 million, with independent television and animation accounting for 45.9 million and 13.5 million. Significant projects in 2002 included Joel Schumacher's Veronica Guerin biopic and Jim Sheridan's In America. At a seminar hosted by the federation yesterday, Minister of State, Mr Michael Ahern, was reluctant to address the clamour for fresh tax breaks.
