Minister for the Arts, John O'Donoghue, has announced that Ireland has been chosen as the prime filming destination for the upcoming remake of 'Lassie Come Home'.
The Minister announced today that the US and UK producers of the new 'Lassie' film have selected Ireland as their main filming location. The movie is an adaptation of Eric Knight's 1938 novel 'Lassie Come Home'.
Minister O'Donoghue has been leading an Irish Film Board delegation to the US, to meet with film executives at major studios, as part of a fact-finding mission. He met with the US producers of the new 'Lassie' film at Classic Media in New York today.
It is expected that filming for 'Lassie Come Home' will begin in Ireland in April of this year. Further filming will take place on the Isle of Man, in association with the Isle of Man Film Commission.
Minister O'Donoghue said: "I am delighted that Classic Media and Firstsight Films have chosen Ireland. It demonstrates again the importance of our tax incentive Section 481 which has been extended and enhanced and demonstrates the Government's ongoing commitment to the Irish film industry."
Mark Woods, CEO of the Irish Film Board, said: "Today's announcement reinforces the Irish Film Board's focus on ensuring Ireland retains its reputation as a premier film destination."
The Irish producer on 'Lassie' will be Element Films. Producer Ed Guiney said today: "This is good news for Ireland and is a good start to 2005 for the Irish film industry. We have great locations, excellent crews and an enhanced tax incentive."
'Lassie' is one of entertainment's most successful franchises with ten feature films and more than 675 half-hour television episodes.
