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How Ireland’s Film Sector Went From a ‘Cottage Industry’ to a Global Force (and Awards Season Darling)


Thanks to 30 years of investment, Irish film and TV isn't just booming, but has become an awards season darling.

But he, like most producers, points to state agency Screen Ireland — which was reinstated as the Irish Film Board in 1993 (the day after Neil Jordan won the best screenplay Oscar for “The Crying Game”) before being renamed to encompass TV in 2018 — for its “sustained investment” over the last three decades. “I think we always had this idea that if we had those big productions coming into Ireland and showing that we had world class crew and great studio infrastructure, there was no reason why we shouldn’t also be producing films by Irish talent at the highest level,” says Kelleher, who says there are similarities to how Peter Jackson brought “The Lord of the Rings” to New Zealand. That year, Scott was up against Cillian Murphy for “28 Days Later” and Colin Farrell for “Intermission.” In 2004, Abrahamson — now known for “Room” and launching the career of Mescal thanks to “Normal People” — won best director for his debut feature “Adam & Paul,” his first collaboration with the recently-launched Element Pictures.

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