The shortlisting of a film by Belfast’s Irish-language rappers Kneecap for two Oscars has capped off a “remarkable year” for the industry in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen also expressed excitement about 2025 with three productions already confirmed to start filming, drawing stars including Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer to the region.
The national screen agency for Northern Ireland said 2024 was a “remarkable year” for the film and television industry with productions from epic fantasy to hard-hitting dramas “demonstrating the region’s strength as a world-class production hub”. Among the highlights of the productions filmed in the region in 2024 included the Universal Pictures franchise How to Train Your Dragon at Titanic Studios, Belfast Harbour Studios and on location across Northern Ireland. It is set for release on June 13, 2025. The influence of Game Of Thrones is continuing with prequel series A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms also filming at Titanic Studios and on location, while How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, a new Netflix series by Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee recently completed filming. Northern Ireland also played host to several high-profile TV dramas including two Channel 4 drama series, Trespasses and In Flight, which are currently shooting, as well as the second series of the courtroom drama Show Trial while Hope Street returned to Donaghadee for its fourth season. A raft of Channel 5 dramas were also shot in Northern Ireland in 2024 including Ellis, a crime thriller featuring Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower, the third season of Dalgleish, based on the novels by PD James and crime drama The Puzzle Lady starring Bafta award-winning Actress Phyllis Logan, best known for playing Mrs Hughes in the award-winning television series Downton Abbey. Pickle Storm series 2 for CBBC, Art Detectives for Acorn TV, and Malpractice series 2 for ITV rounded out the slate of TV dram