Section 481 Petition

movieextras

Here's Something to do on this slow Friday Afternoon: sign our online petiton.

If you love Irish Films from 'Intermission' to 'I went down', from 'eat the peach' to 'My left foot' take a few moments out to petition the government on the section 481 tax incentive, without which this industry will collapse in 2005.

Today, we have launched a web-resource to petition the government to reinstate Section 481 Tax Relief for the Film Industry. The governments stance means the loss of all foreign films in Ireland from 2005 onwards.

This industry plans 18 months and more ahead, so the current impasse has already lost projects such as the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The petition is at : http://s481.movieextras.ie

Unusually, this petition has the support of both the industry bodies IBEC and SPI and the Unions SIPTU (Equity).

There is plenty of information on our site, including the indepth reports on the subject. However, to join the petition is very simple. Take a couple of minutes to sign up now.
http://s481.movieextras.ie

Kalina

Petition signed. Hope it has the desired effect!

movieextras

Save the Irish Film Industry - Campaign Update

We have had a great response to our petition so far. Over 1500 people have signed the petition and most have gone on to send emails to their TDs.

Thanks to everyone who signed up.

Due to the high level of canvassing we have got messages supporting our petition from nearly 40 TDs. These TDs are listed on the site.

We still need more help. The campaign is shifting its focus from broadly informing the TDs about Section 481, to trying to put pressure on the minister of finance.

If you haven't signed up, please sign up today.

http://s481.movieextras.ie

Thanks


Kevin Gill
movieextras.ie Section 481 Campaign

lodgepole

Very good cause...

Signed...

Lawnkiller

Same here - actually - I'll get onto one of my mates in Young Irish Film Makers...

DapperGent

Signed. Like a fox.

patch

I got a letter back from Frank Fahey, along with a letter forwarded from Charlie mcCreevy.

Somebody somewhere is obviously taking notice!

ciaran.hickey

good Cause will tell me mates about it

lodgepole

Gerry O' Brien came into my college today to give a talk about it, handed out some leaflets. When I get a chance later on, i'll transcribe some of the info.

I'd advise people to forward this onto whomever they can.

LoneGunM@n

Done ...

lodgepole

It's hard to believe that since My Left Foot, there has been such a transformation within the Irish film industry in the last 10 years. Who would have believed less than 15 years ago that a stable of talented writers, directors and producers would emerge to international prominence? Looking back at those heady days, I find it fascinating to remember that the first rumblings of the so-called Celtic Tiger had in fact started to take shape and that a new, more confident Ireland was emerging as we slowly crawled out of the 80s reciession.



That's not to say that maybe we've lost a little of our charm and innocence as we all run around with mobiles and laptops chasing the next deal - but forget the contstant negativity - young people today are bright, informed and confident and really believe that the world is their oyster. Is it that confidence and optimism that is one of our greatest assets and if today's young high fliers are a little pushy and brash at time, i'll still take a "can do" attitude any day of the week compared to the doom and gloom of the early 1980s.


Let's start looking at the bright side of things for once.


We've a great industry, great talent, great people and a great natural landscape. Our films and TV dramas are shown throughout the world and have a huge impact on how people abroad see our country, culture and natural assests - Ireland is now on the map and our writers, actors, poets, singers and dancers are no an international stage thanks to their own drive, ambition, belief and most of all creativity.


It never ceases to strike me when I go to Los Angeles how much their key industry figures hold Irish film makers and Ireland as a film location in such high regard. We've a great oppurtunity now to tap into that esteem. We're not one of the top six favoured film locations in the world for nothing - this acheivement has been built on over the years by the industry positioning itself, building its experience and knowledge at every level and through the consistent support of various Irish Governments.


My new film, In America, chronicles the difficulties and challenges that a young Irish couple faced when they had to emigrate from Ireland in the early 80s - let's hope that those days are gone. The fact is that everytime myself, Neil Jordan and other Irish directors make a film here, we are bringing substantial inward investment into the economy.


Film production creates jobs, generates economic activity, helps tourism and pays taxes. It attracts inward investment to Ireland that would otherwise not take place.


To make a sporting analagy, we know in the Irish film industry we are not in the "Big League". We are "League of Ireland" and yet with a generous though small tax break we have been able to play in the major competitions. We have won what would be called The European Championships, Berlin and Venice three times in the last eight years and we have been at the World Cup Finals, the Oscars three times in the last decade alone. We didn't win the major prize but we might someday, we believe. It will not happen with a film produced in Ireland if the tax incentive is taken away. We would then have to go play for Man Utd (if we got our game). We want to play for Ireland in Ireland. And we think our film culture is as important as sport, and hope will remain so in the future. Ireland was the first country in Europe to provide funding to an arts body when Senator Yeats secured a contribution from the first Dail. We have an honourable tradition which is vital for us to uphold.


Ireland boasts the best in music, literature and art - our filmmaking is right up there too. With the right direction, support and growth of talent, this sector has a terrific future.


Jim Sheridan

This is taken from a report on the film industry.

Bannor

Got this from my TD this morning.

Dan,

Many thanks for your recent correspondence with regard to Section 481 of the Finance Act. I must say, that I entirely share your concern, and I sincerely support the retention of this very important tax relief for the film industry. I have communiced with the Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, T.D., expressing my concern in this regard.

If you wish, I am prepared to meet with you, and indeed with other members of the film industry, if you are organising any public information event with regard to this important issue. I can be contacted at the above address.

As soon as I hear from the Minister, I will, of course, be in touch with you.

With best wishes,

MICHAEL MULCAHY, T.D.

lodgepole

I got two replies. FF's Seamus Brennan is keeping quiet.

Many thanks for letter regarding the opposed abolition of section 481 tax breaks
for investment in the Irish film industry.

Our party has been supportive of the move by Minister Mc Creevy to close a
series of tax loopholes and simplify our tax code but we are strongly arguing
that an exception will have to be made for the film industry tax breaks such as
that provided by section 481

I believe that the economic arguments alone should convince the Minister that a
special case has to be made for the film industry. I am certain he is aware
that a number of multimillion budget films, scheduled to be made in Ireland next
year, will be lost to other destinations if we do not match the tax conditions
that these countries have adopted (often drawn from the example of our own tax
strategy.)

I sense that the Minister for the Arts is now supportive of the Government
maintaining some favourable tax status for the industry and that both the
independent report produced on the issue by Screen Producers Ireland and the
Government commissioned report by Price Waterhouse have made a strong argument
in this regard.

The key to changing the Government's position will be to first of all convince
the Minister of Finance of the case and then allow him the political room to
maintain some favourable tax measures without being seen to have climbed down
on the issue. The art of achieving change in politics is often trying to get
the person who has to make the change believe that it is their own idea and that
they will receive credit for the measure.

I have attached a copy of the debate between my party colleague Paul Gogarty and
Minister John Donoghue on the Matter from Ministerial Question time. I have
also attached a copy of a question that I have put to the Minister for Finance
for the 30th of October next which I hope will add to the pressure he is coming
under to yield on this one issue.

I promise to do all that I can in the Dail on this vital issue and please feel
free to contact me if there is any detail that you think should be added to the
general debate.

Yours sincerely




Eamon Ryan TD

I can appreciate your concern about the withdrawal of incentives at a time when the economy is faltering and all sectors finding it difficult to compete with other locations.

I know that the Fine Gael spokeskesperson for Arts, Sports & Tourism, Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD is very supportive and I enclose a copy of three of his recent press statements on this matter.

Kind regards,
OLIVIA MITCHELL TD

Jim

got emails from richard bruton and another td, also got a letter from my local td all sayin they supported this. might be actually working.*



*prob not though

Andrew Duffy

The plan to drop section 481 got a fair bit of air time on the IFTA awards the other night. Hopefully Charlie was watching.

superfly

i got one from Michael Woods