Written by on Jan 30, 2014. Posted in On Location

Two new film studios to be developed in Titanic Quarter in Belfast

Two new studios will be built in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast in Northern Ireland in a GBP14 million development project. Titanic Studios currently includes the city’s Paint Hall studio and is home to HBO’s fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

The new studios will comprise 100,000 square feet of production space, doubling the size of the existing film facility.

“The phenomenal international success of the HBO series Game of Thrones, filmed primarily in Northern Ireland and Europe's biggest budget television drama, is driving demand for additional film and television production space in Belfast,” said Titanic Quarter's Chief Executive David Gavaghan.

“The planning application is a measure of Titanic Quarter's intent to ensure that Northern Ireland's burgeoning film industry continues to grow and that there is an adequate supply of bespoke, hi-tech space to support the needs of production companies.”

The construction of more stages can only assist us with attracting further production to Northern Ireland.

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen

Added Northern Ireland Screen Chief Executive Richard Williams: “As we move into a new phase of international activity, on the back of the new tax breaks for high-end television drama and animation, Northern Ireland Screen needs to be able to assure the global industry of our continued capability to house large-scale international productions.

“There is no doubt that the demand for further studio infrastructure exists and the construction of more stages can only assist us with attracting further production to Northern Ireland.”

Game of Thrones has been based in Belfast throughout its four-year run and has helped to boost Northern Ireland’s production industry. The BBC has recently filmed crime dramas The Fall and Line Of Duty in Northern Ireland and has pledged to increase its local production activity over the next few years. Additional studio capacity in Belfast could help further boost the city’s international appeal.

Most of the UK’s main film studios are under pressure to expand their facilities, given that the combination of generous filming incentives and experienced crew base has made the UK one of the world’s top production hubs.

(Game of Thrones photo: HBO; Line Of Duty photo: BBC)