Ireland's screen industry achieved a record production spend of €544 million in 2025, marking a 26% increase from the previous year. This milestone coincides with multiple Oscar nominations for Irish talent and the introduction of a new 40% tax credit for visual effects work. The developments highlight the sector's growing global presence amid industry challenges.
In 2025, Ireland's screen production spend reached €544 million ($632.7 million), a 26% rise from the prior year, according to Screen Ireland. This record comes as Irish creators secure nominations at the Academy Awards in acting, visual effects, and animation categories.
The film 'Hamnet,' featuring Irish actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, has garnered significant acclaim. It won best drama and best actress at the Golden Globes, as well as outstanding British film and best actress at the BAFTAs, and is nominated for eight Oscars. Buckley received an Oscar nomination for best actress, while Mescal won supporting actor at the Irish Film and Television Awards.
Other nominations include visual effects artist Richard Baneham, who won a BAFTA and earned an Oscar nod for 'Avatar: Fire and Ash.' The animated short 'Retirement Plan,' funded by Screen Ireland and RTÉ, directed by John Kelly, and voiced by Domhnall Gleeson, also received recognition. Element Pictures marked its fourth best picture nomination with 'Bugonia,' following its first for 'Room' a decade earlier; the company's 'Pillion' earned BAFTA nods for outstanding British film, screenplay, and outstanding debut.
Désirée Finnegan, chief executive of Screen Ireland, stated, “It’s been another incredible year for the industry. It really showcases how skilled Irish creators [span] so many disciplines.” Emma Norton, a producer at Element Pictures, attributed the growth to investments and tax incentives: “Central to that is obviously the investment in Screen Ireland, which this year has hit its highest level, and the increase in the tax incentives.”
Key policy changes include an enhanced Section 481 tax incentive, offering up to 32% credit with a cap raised to €125 million and extended to 2028. A new 40% tax relief for visual effects applies to productions with at least €1 million in eligible VFX spend, capped at €10 million per project. Jake Walshe, president and CEO of Screen Scene Post Production Group, noted, “We’re getting a massive amount of interest now, because obviously the number is good.”
Screen Ireland has supported skills development through five National Talent Academies, logging over 6,500 placements in 2025. The industry, valued at over €1 billion with more than 15,800 jobs, balances international productions like 'Wednesday' with domestic projects, as discussed by industry figures such as Rebecca O’Flanagan and Lee Cronin.
