Written by on Mar 27, 2015. Posted in On Location

BBC signs agreement to support Northern Ireland filming industry

The BBC has signed an agreement to support Northern Ireland’s production sector by making closer ties with Northern Ireland Screen. Northern Ireland is known internationally as the home of Game of Thrones and the BBC films locally for crime drama The Fall.

In 2016 the BBC will invest at least 2.9% of its network TV spend for the year in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Screen will support the new agreement through its Open Doors Strategy 2014-18, which is designed to further boost Northern Ireland’s filming industries.

“Northern Ireland Screen will use its existing funding programmes outlined in the Opening Doors strategy to support the implementation of the agreement, which we firmly believe will help us deliver the strongest screen industry outside of London in the UK and Ireland within ten years,” said Rotha Johnston, chairwoman of Northern Ireland Screen.

Added Dermot Lavery, of Belfast-based independent DoubleBand and PACT representative for Northern Ireland: “Northern Ireland has already had much to boast about in recent years, with drama hits like Game of Thrones and The Fall. The big hit with this initiative however is the opportunities it offers producers here in all genres.”

Northern Ireland Screen plans to use its Opening Doors strategy to turn Northern Ireland into the biggest UK production hub outside London within the next ten years.

The BBC is set to film a final series of The Fall in Belfast and the city is also currently hosting new ITV drama The Frankenstein Chronicles.

Northern Ireland will get its next major profile boost next month with the launch of the new series of Game of Thrones.

(Image: BBC)