Coillteonfilm.ie showcases 25 filming locations available across the Coillte estate Coillte aims to become Ireland’s biggest provider of outdoor TV and Film locations. Recently: Mr Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has launched Coillte’s new TV & film location on-line portfolio CoillteOnFilm.ie. The website, developed by TV & Film marketing company O’Carroll Mulhern Services (OCMS) is dedicated to showcasing Coillte properties to the film, television and event industry. Coillte aims to become Ireland’s biggest provider of outdoor film locations by 2018.
Minister Deenihan Launches Coillte TV & Film Location On-line Portfolio
The website showcases a nationwide portfolio of twenty five Coillte properties that have been specifically selected as ideal filming locations providing key information to overseas film production companies in a quick and easy format, as well as highlighting the Irish landscape. This website will be added to in the coming months to include a more diverse range of potential filming locations.
Coillte, whose estate includes 10 forest parks and over 150 recreation sites, already captures revenue from the licensing of sites as filming locations, but it is expected that the online portfolio initiative will substantially increase those revenues.
Minister Deenihan said “Ireland has long been a popular location for TV& Film production, the natural beauty of the country providing a backdrop to some of the most popular TV shows.In 2012, there were 22 feature film projects produced in Ireland, 12 of which were Official International co-productions and the film and television industry is worth approximately €550m annually in Ireland supporting about 6,500 full time jobs in the audio visual production sector. Therefore it is important to remain competitive and innovative and by increasing the opportunities to showcase Ireland as a real space to film we can continue to make the film industry one of our most successful industries.”
Fáilte Ireland estimates that 20% of tourists visit Ireland as a direct result of seeing images of the country on screen and such ‘film induced tourism’ is estimated to be worth €350m per annum to the Irish economy.
Mark Foley, MD of Coillte’s Enterprise Division, said “The launch of CoillteOnFilm.ie will provide the overseas TV & Film industry with immediate access to the extraordinary breadth of the Irish landscape, and will help maximise the opportunities to bring TV & Film productions to Ireland. This is another example of how Coillte is constantly seeking new ways to capitalise on our expansive woodland resources, in this case through a partnership model with industry leaders. By creating a one stop shop for industry we can ensure that TV & Film producers can continue to bring shows of the calibre of Tudors, Vikings and Moone Boy to Ireland”
OCMS specialise in the creation of revenue streams through the promotion and leasing of site locations to the film, TV and event industry.
Conor Mulhern of O’Carroll Mulhern Services said: “The CoillteOnFilm.ie website goes hand in hand with our aim to make Coillte the number one provider of outdoor filming locations in Ireland. With such a vast and varied portfolio we needed a centralised and accessible way of showing exactly what’s on offer. The website allows location managers to virtually scout multiple properties before even leaving their desks, directors can browse for that special place with the right ‘look’ and ‘feel’ and international producers are provided with a visual preview of Ireland’s beautiful countryside. With over 6,000 properties across Ireland we can only hope to cover a small selection, but it is a project that we look forward to growing over time.”
The Irish Film Board who work and support with Irish companies to develop and exploit their resources and ensure that Irish culture and Irish stories are seen by audiences over the globe welcomed the launch of the website and said “Coillte’s foray into the film and event industry further highlights Ireland’s potential as an ideal location for film and TV production. By constantly encouraging inward investment into the country through the audio-visual production sector, greater employment opportunities are generated for Irish artistic talent both at home and abroad. The Irish Film Board is always looking for new opportunities and new ways to introduce the Irish landscape to overseas Film& TV production companies and we will work with OCMS to facilitate any production companies that do come here.”
