Dublin group behind Green Knight film returns to pre-tax profit

Wild Atlantic Pictures Ltd saw 2020 revenues decline by 13% to €20.2m

Wild Atlantic Pictures Ltdy was behind the recently released Green Knight starring Barry Keoghan. Photograph: Victor Boyko/Getty
Wild Atlantic Pictures Ltdy was behind the recently released Green Knight starring Barry Keoghan. Photograph: Victor Boyko/Getty

The Dublin based movie firm behind the recently released Green Knight starring Barry Keoghan last year recorded pre-tax profits of €324,740.

New accounts show that Wild Atlantic Pictures Ltd returned to pre-tax profit in 2020 as revenues declined by 13 per cent from €23.23 million to €20.2 million.

The pre-tax profits of €324,740 follow pre-tax losses of €170,958 – a positive swing of €495,698.

The company has also produced the acclaimed thriller Black 47 and the new accounts show that three of the company’s productions escaped a significant impact from Covid-19 last year as principal photography was completed on the productions.

READ MORE

Minimal effect

The directors state that as a result, the pandemic has had a minimal effect on post-production and they do not expect the pandemic “to have a significant impact on the company going forward in terms of its activity or its ability to continue”.

Underlining the exceptional busy year enjoyed by the company – led by Macdara Kelleher – numbers employed more than doubled last year from 377 to 842. This resulted in staff costs increasing from €16.6 million to €22.86 million. Mr Kelleher and Eoin Vincent Egan jointly own the company.

The accounts give an insight into the various costs associated with a movie production in front of and behind the camera.

They show that for the year 2019, cast/stunts cost €869,247, set construction €1.39 million, wardrobe €1 million, catering €284,550, director €350,350, extra talent €198,668, special effects and armoury €198,430 and makeup and hairdressing €652,661. Travel and living cost €1.69 million.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times