 |
'La Mula' Ongoing Woes Lead to Spanish Injunction |
| 03 Sep 2010 | The Irish Film Board and UK Film Council have today released a joint statement outlining their position with regards to ‘La Mula’s ongoing financial woes. Reports have emerged that ‘La Mula’s Spanish co-production company, Gheko Films recently approached both the UK’s Department of Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) and Irish Finance Minister in a bid to resolving the film’s financial situation. Furthermore Irish co-producer, Subotica’s Tristan Orpen Lynch has explained to IFTN that an injunction has now been set against Gheko Films. |
 |
 |
 |
Interview: Stokes Passing SPI Torch to Galavan |
| 26 Aug 2010 | Sean Stokes’ handed over the role of CEO of the Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) to Barbara Galavan on Tuesday, August 24th. Having come to the end of his term as CEO Stokes has taken up his new position as MD of Sports and Media Rights International Ltd. IFTN spoke to both Sean and Barbara to talk about the Stokes’ time with the producers representative group and the challenges now facing Barbara. |
|
|
 |
Barbara Galavan is New SPI Chief |
| 25 Aug 2010 | The Board of Screen Producers Ireland has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Barbara Galavan. Barbara replaces Sean Stokes who is leaving to head up Sports and Media Rights International Ltd a company providing advice and solutions for sports and media rights consumers. |
|
|
 |
BAI Reviewing Irish Broadcasting Market |
| 16 Aug 2010 | Multimedia production and consultancy company, Athena Media is continuing work on a review of the Irish broadcasting market for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. The company was appointed at the beginning of June following a tender competition and is led by Athena Media's MD Helen Shaw. |
|
|
 |
Govt. Assessing Free-to-Air Sports Proposals |
| 13 Aug 2010 | Communications Minister Eamon Ryan announced recently that he has appointed expert consultants to examine the proposal on the revision of the list of sporting events available as free-to-air. Following a month-long tender process, Indecon International Economic Consultants has been chosen to study the proposal and prepare a report on the Review of Designated Events and the Designation of Events of Major Importance to Society under the Broadcasting Act 2009. |
|
|
 |
BAI Announces New DTT Introduction Plans |
| 11 Aug 2010 | The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has repeated its displeasure that its chosen groups have failed to work together in the orchestration of bringing commercial Digital Terestial Television (DTT) to Ireland. The group has thus decided not to reactivate a commercial DTT multiplex licensing process until after the Analogue Switch Off (ASO). RTÉ has selected MHEG as the interactive middleware for the rollout of its national DTT service. |
|
|
 |
£22m Return in NIS Financial Report |
| 28 Jul 2010 | Northern Ireland Screen‘s annual report for the year 2009 - 2010 has been published and shows a return of £22 million to the local economy through the group’s main production investment fund. One of the biggest success stories for the group was ‘Your Highness’ which brought in £11.78 million of this. |
|
|
 |
UK Film Council to be Abolished? |
| 27 Jul 2010 | John Woodward, CEO of the UK Film Council has today announced that the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has informed him of its intention to abolish the UK Film Council. The decision comes in the wake of Britain’s Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt proposing the closure of the group. |
|
|
 |
State Assets Review Group Target RTÉ & TG4 |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has established a specific Group to examine state assets and liabilities and to advise him on how the assets can be better used or disposed of to support economic growth and national investment priorities. The Group, chaired by co-author of last year’s so-called ‘Bord Snip Nua’ report, has already begun its task of examining selected public-sector assets, including commercial State companies such as RTÉ, ESB and TG4. |
|
|
 |
Simon Perry Leaving Irish Film Board |
| 13 Jul 2010 | The Board of the Irish Film Board (IFB) has announced that it will be seeking to appoint a new Chief Executive to commence at the start of January 2011. This date coincides with the ending of the five year term of appointment of the existing Chief Executive, Simon Perry who took up office in January 2006. |
|
|
 |
SPI & IFB Help Resolve Disputes |
| 06 Jul 2010 | The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), through its Arbitration and Mediation Center, has developed customised Mediation and Expedited Arbitration procedures for film and media disputes. Screen Producers Ireland and the Irish Film Board will host a launch of these rules in Galway on Thursday, July 8th. |
|
|
 |
Curtis Appointed Director of Digital Switchover |
| 05 Jul 2010 | RTÉ has appointed Mary Curtis to the new senior executive position of Director of Digital Switchover, with responsibility for an effective transition by audiences in the coming two years to digital television using the new Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) system. |
|
|
 |
'La Mula' Finished by Sébastien Grousset |
| 01 Jul 2010 | The saga of the troubled production of ‘La Mula’ continues with the news that director Sébastien Grousset has concluded shooting of the film following the departure of director Michael Radford (The Merchant of Venice) from the film’s set in November of last year. |
|
|
 |
Niall Cogley Steps Down as Setanta CEO |
| 29 Jun 2010 | Niall Cogley is soon to exit his position of CEO of Setanta Sports to undertake a new undisclosed venture. The position will be filled in the interim by Setanta’s co-founder Michael O’Rourke whilst a permanent replacement is sought. |
|
|
 |
Proposed UKFC / BFI Merger Scrapped |
| 23 Jun 2010 | British Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey announced yesterday, June 22, that there are “no current plans” to merge UK Film Council and British Film Institute, thus ending a long period of speculation that the two bodies would amalgamate. |
|
|
 |
Egg Introduces Nucoda Film Master |
| 08 Jun 2010 | In the past few weeks post production house Egg has installed and put to use a Nucoda Film Master 4k/2k colour grading and finishing system. Delivered last month, the system has already been used to grade Finnish romantic comedy ‘Lapland Odyssey’ by Egg colourist Sebastian Guest and is now being used to grade two further features. |
|
|
 |
BAI Signs 10 Year Contract with City Broadcasting Ltd. |
| 24 May 2010 | The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today, Monday 24th May signed a ten year sound broadcasting contract with City Broadcasting Limited (trading as Dublin’s Q102) for the provision of a music-based commercial sound broadcasting service for a general audience in the 35-55 age group on the FM band in Dublin City and County. |
|
|
 |
BAI Revises Broadcasting Codes |
| 19 May 2010 | The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has issued two revised broadcasting codes. The revised codes update the standards that radio and television advertising, sponsorship, product placement and other forms of commercial communications broadcast in Ireland must meet. All Irish radio and television broadcasters will be legally required to comply with the revised Codes from Thursday, June 10th. |
|
|
 |
IFTA Accepting New Membership Applications |
| 27 Apr 2010 | IFTA is currently inviting applications from all Irish film and television professionals to join its Membership. IFTA is a not-for-profit all-Ireland organisation that promotes, encourages and rewards creative excellence in film and television. |
|
|
|
Industry Reacts to New UK Digital Economy Bill |
| 09 Apr 2010 | British MPs yesterday passed a Digital Economy Bill that will see regulator Ofcom given the power to block websites suspected of piracy in all parts of the UK including Northern Ireland. |
|
|
