Written by on Dec 3, 2013. Posted in On Location

Football feature Shooting for Socrates filming in Northern Ireland and Spain

Football feature Shooting for Socrates is filming on location in Northern Ireland and in Spain. Named for the legendary Brazilian footballer Socrates, the movie tells the story of the Northern Ireland team at the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico, which involved a clash with Brazil.

New Black Films started shooting in Belfast and the Windsor Park football ground – currently home to Linfield FC – will host scenes of the Northern Ireland team’s crucial game against England. The match secured Northern Ireland a place in the World Cup Finals. Spain will double for Mexico in the finished film.

“We are delighted to welcome New Black Films to film Shooting for Socrates in Northern Ireland, particularly as the script is from one of our foremost writers, Marie Jones,” commented Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen.

“Good screenplays are the life-blood of our industry and Northern Ireland Screen’s support for both the development and production of this project is born out of our continued commitment to develop a dynamic and vibrant screen industry and culture in Northern Ireland.”

Northern Ireland Screen’s support for both the development and production of this project is born out of our continued commitment to develop a dynamic and vibrant screen industry and culture in Northern Ireland.

Richard Williams, Northern Ireland Screen

Northern Ireland is a thriving production centre, partly as a result of being the long-term home of HBO’s hit fantasy series Game of Thrones, while productions can also now qualify for the UK’s TV tax credit, which runs alongside a competitive filming incentive. Game of Thrones is based in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast but also films on location across the region.

Richard Williams recently stated that Northern Ireland should be looking to attract local production spending of around GBP240 million over the next four years – twice what has come into the region since 2009.