Cullen Visits 'Leap Year' Set At Dublin Castle

150 Million Euro Worth Of Film Projects In The Pipeline Thanks To Changes In Section 481

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen T.D., recently visited the set at Dublin Castle of a new US feature film called 'Leap Year.'

Filmed on location in Ireland as a direct result of recent changes to the Section 481 tax relief for film and television, 'Leap Year' stars Oscar and Golden Globe nominee

Amy Adams, ('Doubt' and 'Enchanted') and Matthew Goode, ('Watchmen').

With a 5-month shoot in Ireland and an Irish budget of almost €13 million, which will be invested directly in Irish expertise and services, the production has created 150 jobs and will hire 1,500 extras throughout the course of the shoot.

Film locations include Dublin, Galway (Connemara and the Aran Islands) and Wicklow.

'Leap Year' is being produced by Spyglass Entertainment and is co-produced by Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn of World 2000, based at Ardmore Studios. Speaking about the recent changes to Section 481 relief, which has enabled the filming of 'Leap Year' in Ireland, Minister Cullen said: "The film industry is the cornerstone of a smart and creative digital economy and with the improvements to Section 481, the Government acknowledge its importance at this time.

"I was pleased to be able to get the agreement of the Minister for Finance to amend Section 481 to increase the individual investor cap for those wishing to invest funding in film in Ireland from the previous limit of €31,750 to €50,000 and to also increase the investor relief from 80% to 100%.

"These changes will bring Ireland back into line with many of its major competitors and will put it ahead of quite a number, including the UK. Film, especially with stars of this calibre, provides a global window to Ireland."

Minister Cullen also said: "There is an inward investment pipeline for Ireland of well in excess of €150 million in film and TV projects under negotiation at the moment and I believe that the recent adjustments to the tax investment regime will be the catalyst in securing these opportunities for Ireland."

Describing the attraction of Ireland for film-makers, Minister Cullen explained that: "Attracting international features enables the Irish film industry to maintain jobs and build on the excellent international reputation that Irish crews have.

"The benefits of high levels of film and television production in Ireland include increased international investment in the economy, increased employment in this sector, positive spin-off effects for promoting Ireland as a tourist location and the improvement of Ireland as an industrial location for all aspects of creative endeavours.

"The Irish audiovisual industry is valued at over €557 million, employs almost 7,000 individuals and represents 0.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)."

Additionally, Minister Cullen welcomed the news that shooting of a fourth season of 'The Tudors' will take place in Ireland.

Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII, this Emmy and IFTA award-winning series has filmed on location in Ireland for the last 3 years in Ardmore Studios and at film locations in Dublin and Wicklow.

The new series will go into production for 5 months over the summer with an Irish budget of €20 million.

Over 200 Irish cast and crew, as well as 4,500 film extras, will be hired to produce the series for the Showtime Network.

Minister Cullen concluded: "Section 481 improvements as well as extended storylines means that this season will consist of ten episodes instead of the normal eight, contributing a further boost to the Irish film and television sector in 2009." 'The Tudors' is also co-produced by Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn. It is an official Irish/Canadian co-production.