Northern Ireland Screen has launched its new strategy, ‘The Full Picture’, which set out its vision for the next phase of growth across the screen industries.
NI Screen also announced that productions backed by Northern Ireland Screen have generated more than £477 million for the local economy in four years, beating a £442 million target by £35 million.
The four-year plan will build on the economic impact, skills development and international recognition delivered under its predecessor, ‘Stories, Skills and Sustainability’, which ran from 2022 to 2026.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “The screen sector is delivering real economic impact, generating more than £477 million for the local economy in just four years, supporting high-value employment, skills development, attracting international investment and strengthening our global competitiveness. Many of us will be familiar with the productions supported by Northern Ireland Screen. We can be rightly proud of the role we play on the global stage.
“This new strategy sets to build on that success and sets out a clear and ambitious pathway to grow the screen industries as a key driver of a more productive, sustainable and inclusive economy.
“I am particularly encouraged by the strategy’s focus on innovation, skills development and all-Ireland collaboration, as well as its commitment to ensuring that the benefits of growth are widely shared, including through support for language, culture and heritage.”
In the last four years, Northern Ireland Screen-supported productions including Derry Girls, How to Train Your Dragon, Lift, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, Blue Lights, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Northern Ireland Screen’s trainee placement model proved its most effective skills intervention, with structured recruitment, progress tracking and cross-sector placements helping 73% of trainees remain in employment after one year.
73% of Heads of Department and 88% of crew on major productions are now resident in Northern Ireland.
The Creative Industries New Entrants scheme created 102 new entrant jobs for people from groups underrepresented in the creative industries.
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said “Despite extremely challenging market conditions, we exceeded our target delivering more than £477 million for the local economy. The sector has also delivered a stream of hits across the last 4 years growing the international relevance of the sector while our skills activities mean we’re constantly replenishing the workforce,” he said.
“There is intended meaning in calling the new strategy ’The Full Picture’. We want to celebrate the range of Northern Ireland Screen’s activities – our work in schools, archive, short film, Irish Language & Ulster-Scots is as important to the overall ecosystem as the high-profile projects while we support the widest range of screen content of any screen agency. The Full Picture also reflects that we know that Northern Ireland Screen is only one cog in the wheel and that our future success is dependent on energising partnerships.
Mr Williams said that Northern Ireland Screen’s main objective was “to see more projects developed here, more local companies growing in confidence and scale, with more people able to see a future for themselves in this industry.”
He added: “This strategy sets out how we will help make that happen.”
Among the priorities in ‘The Full Picture’ are a renewed emphasis on the full range of sectors covered by Northern Ireland Screen, including language and heritage; continued work on social inclusion; stronger engagement with major studios and streamers; support for locally developed stories with global potential; and an all-island approach that encourages projects to take advantage of incentives on both sides of the border.
It also emphasises the growing role of Studio Ulster as a driver of innovation and production, with first projects already coming through the facility.
Photo: Clive Myrie hosts a panel discussion at the Northern Ireland Screen strategy launch with Kieran Doherty, Andrea Harkin, Fionnuala Deane and Trevor Birney.
Jon Creamer
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