Northern Ireland Screen wins two Global Production Awards at Cannes Film Festival
Date Posted: May 20, 2025
Cannes Film Festival, France, 20 May 2025 – Northern Ireland Screen was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the Global Production Awards for its outstanding contribution to sustainable production.
Taking place during the Cannes Film Festival, with over 270 of the global screen industry’s top executives and producers in attendance, Northern Ireland Screen was honoured with the Special Recognition Award and the Best City of Film Award for Belfast.
Congratulating the team at Northern Ireland Screen while delivering the most prestigious award of the night, Matt Mueller, Editor-in-Chief at Screen International of Media Business Insight (MBI) Ltd, commented:
“How Northern Ireland Screen has driven economic growth through fostering local creative talent, investing in skills development, supporting state-of-the-art infrastructure, and attracting world-class projects serves as a blueprint for how to operate a vibrant and dynamic film commission. On top of that, bringing in a new sustainability support scheme demonstrates their key commitment to driving meaningful change on a global scale, while showcasing how a practical approach can deliver quick and tangible results.”
The city of Belfast was named City of Film, beating competition from New York City; the Gold Coast and Sydney, Australia; and Zagreb, Croatia. Judges commended Belfast’s cross-sectoral approach to attracting inward investment and driving economic impact, including how the city leverages tourism opportunities, invests in skills and sustainability initiatives, and fosters vibrant Irish language and Ulster-Scots storytelling.
Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said:
“We are incredibly proud to receive the Special Recognition Award and see Belfast named City of Film at this year’s Global Production Awards. Sustainability is central to our vision for Northern Ireland as a world-class screen industry hub, and this recognition from a panel of global screen industry experts makes it especially meaningful. Their acknowledgment affirms the real impact of our efforts—from introducing the UK’s first sustainability support scheme to mandating cleaner fuel, to our continued focus on skills development and collaborative partnerships driving economic growth. These awards reflect the dedication of our team and partners who are helping shape a more responsible and dynamic screen industry.”
Both awards serve as significant international recognition of Northern Ireland Screen’s strategic leadership in advancing a sustainable and forward-looking screen sector. As the global production landscape continues to evolve, Northern Ireland Screen remains committed to fostering an environment that supports creative excellence, economic impact, and environmental responsibility.
Matt Mueller, Editor-in-Chief at Screen International Nicola Lyons, Production Manager at Northern Ireland Screen.
Global Production Awards at Cannes Film Festival, France
