BREAKING: Limerick wins bid to host major global event

LIMERICK has been announced as the first ever Irish host of a 2023 major global event, with the news arriving during the night from Los Angeles, California, USA. 

After a competitive bidding process, Limerick city has been chosen to hold the next Cineposium film conference event - an international film conference, which cities around the world rivalled for the honour of hosting. 

Screen Ireland and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, T.D, have been leading a trade mission in Los Angeles for a number of days now to promote the Irish screen industry. Limerick was ultimately successful in its bid to host the event, out of any other city in the world. 

This is the first time in the organisation’s 46-year history that the conference has taken place in Ireland. Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Cineposium event, which will take place in the last week of September 2023, brings industry leaders from around the world together to discuss policy, economic development and screen production and will serve as an opportunity to showcase Limerick to major studio executives.

Lights, camera, action for major feature filmed in Limerick

Minister Catherine Martin, T.D said: “I am delighted to announce, along with AFCI and Screen Ireland, that Limerick will play host to a global film conference, ‘Cineposium’, this September. 

“This is an excellent opportunity to build on the current wave of success that is happening across the screen industry, and to further strengthen our partnerships with international production companies and studios around the world. 

“Being able to showcase Ireland as a global production hub is a fantastic way to drive more international production to all parts of the country, further developing skills and opportunities for Irish talent and our skilled crew base here.”

Limerick is home to the largest studio in Ireland, Troy Studios, and with a generous tax incentive and added regional funding available through Screen Ireland and the Wrap Fund, it is an attractive location for productions. 

The news comes after the major successes enjoyed by the Irish film industry recently: with Irish Oscar nominations, a Hollywood blockbuster starring award winning actor Russell Crowe being filmed in Limerick’s Dromore Castle, in the Kildimo-Pallaskenry parish, late last year and an upcoming World War II film drama being set in Limerick early this year, the success of placing Limerick on the international film map continues to grow.

Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, welcomed the news: “Limerick winning this bid is a significant recognition of Ireland’s position as a world-class location for film production, both in terms of the range of talent and skilled crew and craftspeople available across the country, as well as our country’s renowned landscapes and diverse locations. 

“The screen industry Cineposium is an excellent opportunity to showcase the strength and power of the Irish screen industry and we look forward to welcoming the global film industry representatives to Limerick this year.”

Over the past decade, Cineposium has taken place in the US, France, New Zealand, Spain, South Korea, Russia and Colombia. The annual Cineposium conference connects AFCI members and film industry professionals with production industry partners and policy makers worldwide.

Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Councillor, Francis Foley, added: “This is brilliant news for Limerick and once again shows that Limerick is a home for Film, a home for innovation and a vibrant place where massive organisations can collaborate on projects such as these. 

“Limerick City and County Council, Film in Limerick and the LCETB locally, along with the Western Development Commission and MSL ETB look forward to welcoming the Cineposium to Limerick in 2023.”

Screen Ireland has recently announced the establishment of a new fund to support regional activity, assigning €3.5 million from the agency’s budget for the fund. The multi-million euro fund is designed to develop crew resources and skills all around the country.

Further information about Cineposium sessions, speakers and early registration will be announced shortly and the event is in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick and the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).