The Irish government on Tuesday unveiled a series of tax incentives aimed at boosting the country’s homegrown film and TV talent. In its 2025 budget, Dublin announced a new 40 percent tax incentive for lower to mid-range budget films helmed by Irish creative talent.
This new measure represents an 8 percent increase to Ireland’s existing Section 481 film tax incentive and will apply to productions with a maximum total budget of €20 million ($22 million).
This targeted approach aims to boost the Irish film scene, which is having a bit of a moment, with buzzy features like Tim Mielants’ Small Things Like These featuring Cillian Murphy, this year’s Berlin Film Festival opener; and Gaelic rap comedy Kneecap, which won the Audience Award: NEXT at Sundance and is Ireland’s entry for the 2025 Oscars in the best international feature category. This year, Ireland had a record five films premiere in Cannes.
Ireland’s Minister for Finance Jack Chambers also revealed plans for a 20 percent tax incentive for unscripted production, pending EU approval.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of national film agency Screen Ireland, welcomed the initiatives, saying they would “support the continued development of Ireland as a cultural powerhouse and a creative production partner on an international scale.”
Screen Ireland has also put its money where its mouth is, boosting its budget to €34 million ($38 million) this year, a new record. to demonstrate its faith, with a 2024 budget of $42 million, another record.
Ireland is already enjoying a boom in visiting productions, thanks in part to Dublin’s decision to up the cap for its regular 32 percent rebate, allowing producers to claim back up to €125 million ($138 million) of their local spend per project, up from €70 million ($78 million).
Source: Hollywoodreporter
