The Western Region Audiovisual Producer's Fund – or WRAP Fund – has announced a €2 Million regional grant in order to encourage the development of the Western Irish film and TV industry.  funding of 10 new film and TV projects as a result of the grant. The WRAP Fund is a unique initiative of the Western Development Commission (WDC) and the Galway Film Centre and was set up to stimulate the industry in the western region. Its aim is to support local talent and increase the economic impact of the industry in the region. Run in association with the local authorities of Clare, Donegal, Galway City, Galway County, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta, WRAP will ensure investment in the sector until 2020.

There have, so far, been ten projects announced, with five receiving production investment and five receiving development support from WRAP. These projects include Death of A Ladies Man, by Cohen Productions DAC/Port Pictures, which will start shooting across Galway in late May, Ooops! Back In The Deep End, an animated feature by Moetion Films which is in production in Galway City Screamers, a documentary by Dot Television and Marcie Films, which is in pre-production and will be shot across Donegal and Sligo. The Winter Lake, by Winter Lake Productions/Tailored Films, which has just completed production in Sligo, and the previously announced Calm With Horses, which was shot in Clare and across Galway City.

The WRAP Fund is hoping to generate over €4 Million in spending around the region, an investment return – they say – of around 8:1. Of this goal Sarah Dillon Development Manager of the WRAP Fund says “this is reflective of the general standard over the last few years in Irish film, television and animation with Irish talent making its mark on a global stage at the world’s leading film festivals. WRAP is delighted to give a platform to local talent telling stories.”