Northern Ireland Screen calls the country the most compact 5,196 square miles of back-lot in the world. Within that space, productions can move between coastlines, villages, mountains, glens and loughs, as well as cities whose architecture runs from Victorian red-brick to 21st-century glass and steel.
Behind that offer is Northern Ireland Screen, the national screen agency, funded by the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities. Its stated goal is for Northern Ireland to have the strongest screen industry outside London in the UK and Ireland.
The agency’s main tool for producers is the Northern Ireland Screen Fund. Rather than a rebate, it offers a recoupable award with profit participation, or in limited cases a grant, designed to close the gap on productions that are almost fully financed. Accordingly, projects must already have at least 65% of their funding in place. The level of funding is set after an initial discussion, based on the finance plan, the economic return to Northern Ireland, the use of Northern Ireland resident cast, crew and heads of department, engagement with the agency’s skills strategy, and the project’s timing. Feature films, TV drama, animation, factual and entertainment TV, and interactive content are all eligible.
On top of that, qualifying productions can claim the UK-wide Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit, at gross rates of 34% for film and high-end TV, 39% for animation and children’s TV, and 53% for independent films.
Studio space has grown too. Belfast Harbour Studios offers more than 107,000 sq ft of sound stages, and its second phase opened in autumn 2024. Meanwhile, Titanic Studios combines the original Paint Hall with the Hurst and MacQuitty stages, and Studio Ulster specializes in large-scale virtual production.
The results show. Between 2022 and 2026, productions backed by Northern Ireland Screen generated more than £477 million for the local economy, beating a £442 million target. Credits include Derry Girls, How to Train Your Dragon, Blue Lights and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Just as importantly, 73% of heads of department and 88% of crew on major productions are now resident in Northern Ireland.
Looking ahead, the agency’s new strategy, The Full Picture, launched in April 2026, promises stronger ties with major studios and streamers, plus an all-island approach that encourages projects to use incentives on both sides of the border.
Read more: Cinema & Video International Issue #209
