Written by on Jul 21, 2015. Posted in General Interest

Irish Film Board commissioner to join Pinewood Productions Ireland

The current commissioner of the Irish Film Board (IFB) is to join Pinewood Productions Ireland Limited as the company’s Head of Production. Naoise Barry has headed the Irish Film Board for the past 14 years, but will leave the organisation in mid-August.

Pinewood Productions Ireland Limited was announced in mid-May as a full service production company set up to assist Pinewood clients filming in Ireland.

“Naoise has played an enormous role in attracting international production to Ireland,” said James Hickey, chief executive of the IFB.

“During his tenure at the IFB he succeeded in establishing two very important and influential networks; the FILM DUBLIN Partnership and the Network of Regional Film Offices.”

Added Andy Weltman, executive vice president of Pinewood International: “We are delighted to welcome Naoise Barry to the Pinewood Studios Group. We’ve worked with Naoise in his role at the IFB over the years, and know he has an exceptional record of achievements in his field. His unique expertise will prove invaluable to Pinewood’s new venture in Ireland.”

Ireland is a popular international filming location and boosted its filming incentive – known as Section 481 – at the start of the year. Television dramas Vikings and Penny Dreadful are based near Dublin and have become successes. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (above) was based at Pinewood’s London facility last year but also filmed scenes off the coast of County Kerry.

Pinewood Productions Ireland Limited will also be exploring the possibility of opening a new studio facility in Ireland.

Ardmore Studios and Ashford Studios outside Dublin are Ireland’s main filming facilities, but there is a lack of purpose-built studio space elsewhere in the country. Ardmore Studios is still in discussions to potentially adapt a former factory in Limerick into a new studio facility.

Pinewood Shepperton’s most recent UK opening was Pinewood Studio Wales, which offers three stages in Cardiff.

(Image: Lucasfilm)