Written by on Apr 29, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

UK filming incentives snatch Javier Bardem Dracula feature from Ireland

A new, big-budget film adaptation of Dracula featuring Javier Bardem will film on location in Northern Ireland after securing an upfront payment under the UK’s incentive laws. Ireland was being considered for the shoot but reportedly couldn’t match the UK’s offer.

Jimmy Deenihan is Ireland’s Arts Minister and addressed the matter at a conference in Kilkenny held by the Young Irish Filmmakers organisation, the Irish Independent reports: “The Northern Ireland Film Board was able to put money upfront to entice [Dracula] to come into Northern Ireland, which was a bit of a loss really for many of you young people because it would have meant an investment of about EUR70 million.”

Deenihan added that Steven Spielberg had made his interest clear in Ireland as a filming location, but that he considered the lack of large-scale studio space a hindrance.