Our film and television practice is recognised as the largest and most active in the Irish market. We have been engaged in connection with almost every feature film, major television drama and animation series produced in Ireland in recent years.
From the moment a project begins we advise on securing or acquiring the rights to the project; the contractual arrangements to finance and produce the project; and the distribution of the project around the world. Our team is experienced in advising clients on structuring the financing for projects and we have particular expertise on advising on Ireland’s tax incentive for film, television and online-distributed projects, Section 481.
The media and entertainment group is led by Jonathan Kelly and Brian Gormley. Jonathan and Brian are supported by associates, Jessica Gorman and Aoife McBennett.
We are truly integrated into the film and television industry sitting on the boards of the Jameson Dublin Film Festival and Filmbase; advising the Irish Film Board, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Screen Producers Ireland on an ongoing basis; and designing courses for Screen Training Ireland and Filmbase.
We advise on the following areas:
- Broadcasting
- Media Regulation
- Music
- Social Media
- Video Games
- eSports
- Book publishing
- Advertising, marketing and communications
Our film and television practice advises on the following:
Development: option agreements, screenplay agreements, life story rights, development financing agreement, development writer agreements, development director agreements.
Production: writer agreements, director agreements, cast agreements, heads of department and crew agreements; animator agreements; storybook artist agreements; clearances and releases, errors and omissions insurance, composer agreements and music licences.
Financing: equity investments; gap-financing, discounting; security arrangements, completion bond.
Post-Production/VFX: post production services agreements, VFX services agreements,
Co-Productions: co-production agreements; official co-productions European Convention or with Treaty countries such as Canada and Australia, Eurimages funding
Distribution: sales agency agreements, distribution agreements, format rights
Talent: actors, director, writer, executive producers
Clients note that the firm’s practitioners are “very approachable and commercially minded.” Chambers Europe, 2018
