Ireland’s film industry has received a major boost this week with the launch of the enhanced Section 481 tax credit for mid-to-lower budget films and a new Irish-language slate development fund, as announced by Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, and Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe.
At a launch event on Tuesday, Minister O’Donovan was joined by leading figures in Irish cinema, including Academy Award-nominated director Colm Bairéad (An Cailín Ciúin), actor Nora-Jane Noone (Bring Them Down), emerging screenwriter and actor Jade Jordan (Video Nasty), and cinematographer Eleanor Bowman (Lies We Tell, Testimony).
Scéal Uplift: A New Opportunity for Smaller Films
The new “Scéal” uplift provides an additional 8% tax relief to Ireland’s existing 32% film tax credit (Section 481), specifically for feature films with budgets under €20 million. To qualify, at least one key creative role (such as director, writer, composer, editor, cinematographer, or production designer) must be held by an Irish or EEA national or resident. This measure is designed to support smaller-scale Irish cinema, enabling filmmakers to bring uniquely Irish stories to the big screen.
IMRO Welcomes the Announcement
IMRO welcomes the initiative, recognising it as an important step for the wider creative community in Ireland. IMRO highlighted that the enhanced tax credit and new funding opportunities will not only benefit filmmakers, but also composers and musicians involved in the production of these films.
In a statement, IMRO Chief Executive, Victor Finn said:
“We are delighted to see the government’s continued commitment to nurturing Ireland’s vibrant creative industries. The enhanced tax credit uplift and the additional support for Irish-language projects will provide significant new opportunities for composers and music creators working across all productions that qualify for the tax credit, regardless of nationality within the EEA. We particularly welcome how this new support strengthens the role of composers and music in bringing stories to life on screen.”
These new initiatives represent a significant investment in the future of Irish cinema, supporting the voices and stories that shape the nation’s cultural identity.
Supporting Irish-Language Storytelling
Alongside the tax uplift, Screen Ireland has launched “Smaointe,” a slate development fund to support Irish-language projects in film, television and animation. This fund aims to enhance Irish-language storytelling and support production companies—many based outside the traditional production hubs—to develop new skills, capacity and business capabilities.
For further information about the Scéal uplift and Smaointe fund, visit the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s website.