Irish Animators Take on the US
Ireland’s leading animation and digital media companies are in New York this week to showcase their latest productions at KidScreen – the United States’ annual children’s entertainment industry conference. Thirteen Enterprise Ireland digital media clients are participating in the showcase, including the Oscar-nominated Brown Bag Films and Cartoon Saloon.
The Irish participation at Kidscreen is part of a wider Enterprise Ireland trade mission of 36 companies to New York and Boston this week, which is being led by the Minister for Trade and Commerce Mr. Billy Kelleher T.D (9-11 February). Sectors represented on the mission include software, telecoms, e-learning, life sciences, environmental services and premium Irish food brands. A number of business-matching events and forums are also taking place during the mission around those sectors.
Announcing the mission Minister Kelleher said:
“Brown Bag’s Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty and Cartoon Saloon’s The Secret of Kells are showcasing that Ireland’s animation and digital media sector is highly dynamic and is growing both in size and in global reputation. Besides these recently Oscar-nominated animators there are a number of other internationally successful Irish companies participating in this week’s summit. Galway-based Telegael is an Emmy Award winner for their production Tutenstein; Boulder Media, one of Ireland’s largest production houses, is behind some of today’s most popular and successful shows such as the Emmy nominated ‘Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends while CR Entertainment’s teenage drama series ‘Aisling’s Diary’ has been nominated in Tween/Teens for Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie Category at this week’s show.
“The US is Ireland’s second biggest export market and a particularly important market for Ireland’s high-tech companies such as those participating on this trade mission. These and other success stories have raised awareness of the quality and high-tech nature of Irish products and services. This trade mission is another important Enterprise Ireland initiative to drive the sales of Irish products and services in the US and support employment and enterprise development back home,” the Minister added.
Enterprise Ireland’s Director of the Americas Tom Cusack added:
“Ireland has more than 50 animation companies, offering a broad range of products and services to the worldwide entertainment market. Enterprise Ireland works with a broad range of these companies including dedicated animation companies, post-production houses, flash and mobile content developers, advertising and TV/film production companies. Collectively, their work has captured accolades at prestigious awards events, including Sundance, the Emmys and Oscars, Cartoon Forum and the ANNIE Awards.
“Interest in Irish companies will be high at this year’s Kidscreen Summit and all the companies that are here this week have exciting stories to tell, have great potential and are key innovators. This event allows us to build the profile of the Irish animation industry at the largest children’s animation show in the US and create opportunities for Irish companies to network with existing and potential clients over here. We expect a number of business successes to follow on from the event.”
In other trade mission related activity, Mr. Kelleher referenced the recent successful launch of the third level education initiative, Irish Universities – Connecting Continents, which aims to strengthen the ties that link the institutes of higher learning on both continents. The Minister will also address the Irish Business Organisation in New York and the recently established New York Irish Third level Pan Alumni Association, a voluntary group comprised of alumni and representatives of Irish third level institutes living and working in the New York/Tri State area.
To mark the tenth anniversary of the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Consul General in New York are holding a networking reception to introduce the work of the Centre to top research hospitals, cancer institutes and medical universities in the United States. In Boston, the Minister will be guest at a reception to acknowledge Irish government support for collaborative research opportunities, and to augment the relationship between Science Foundation Ireland and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
For further information contact
Ciara O’Mahony, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland,
Tel:+353 1 7272284,
Mobile: +353 87 2043435
