Belfast 'Picture House' Looks Abroad

A Belfast-based TV production company is set to invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in a bid to build its reputation outside Northern Ireland.

The Picture House is investing £157,000 with support from Invest Northern Ireland towards an expansion project aimed at growing its export presence.

The company is based on east Belfast's Holywood Road with its sister firm, The Sound House, which recently celebrated 25 years of trading.

The Picture House is keen to build a reputation outside Northern Ireland for its state-of-the-art film and television production and post production services. To support this objective, Invest NI has offered The Picture House over £41,000 to help the company secure sales in the corporate and commercial production markets in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

As part of its overall investment, The Picture House is implementing a targeted sales and marketing strategy to build awareness of its services among potential new customers. The company has appointed an Animation Supervisor to deliver high quality animation and CGI effects and also plans to recruit a Development Producer in the coming weeks to help develop and pitch new programme ideas.

Stephen Wightman, Invest NI's Acting Director of Life Sciences and Creative Industries, said: "The Picture House is one of the many successful firms that are contributing to Northern Ireland's vibrant creative industries sector. This investment will enable the company to enhance its management capabilities and maximise sales opportunities in new markets which have considerable growth potential.

"Invest NI is committed to ensuring that businesses operating in high growth creative industries have the skills and knowledge necessary to exploit the substantial export opportunities offered by the convergent and digital platforms of film, television, digital media and music."

Steve Martin, Managing Director of The Picture House, said: "We aim to establish a competitive position in the RoI and GB production and post production sectors and Invest NI's support with this investment will be a vital component to our ongoing growth and development.

"Enhancing our management team and undertaking targeted marketing activities will help us to build up relationships with network commissioners and other potential production partners in these key target markets."

See: www.thepicturehouse.tv

(LB)