The US feature Leap Year staring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode has been green lit for an Irish shoot at the end of this month.

The news was confirmed after improvements to the Irish tax incentive, Section 481, were ratified by the European Commission this week.

The amendments increase the cap per project to $64.9m (Euros 50m) from $45.4m (Euros 35m) and the individual investor cap for those wishing to invest in a film or TV production in Ireland will increase to $65,000(Euros 50,000) per annum (up from the former limit of $41,000 (Euros 31,750).

Investors can now claim 100% relief on their investment whereas previously the relief was 80%.

Announcing the ratification of the changes Martin Cullen, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said

'The film and TV production industry is a fast moving and competitive global one. Ireland has now done what is essential to remain competitive in this crucial high-end inward investment industry. The investment pipeline for this year is promising and I believe that these adjustments to the tax investment regime will be the catalyst in securing those opportunities for Ireland.'

Scripted by Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan and Simon Beaufoy, Leap Year has an Irish budget of around $16.5m (Euros 21.4m) which will be spent directly on Irish crew and services.

The film is directed by Anand Tucker and will prep and shoot in various locations throughout the country over a four to five month period in total. It is expected to hire over 150 local crew and approximately 1500 extras during this time.

Leap Year is produced by Spyglass Entertainment and co-produced by Morgan O' Sullivan and James Flynn of World 2000, based at Ardmore Studios outside Dublin.

A spokesman for Spyglass Entertainment said, 'Leap Year marks our third visit to Ireland's wonderful film community [after Reign Of Fire and The Count Of Monte Cristo]. We are happy to tell a story that can show off the unique charm and beauty of Ireland.'

Irish producer, Morgan O' Sullivan commented, 'We very much acknowledge that Minister Cullen's foresight in improving the incentive has resulted in Ireland now competing again at the highest level in the large-budget, international feature film production market. We are delighted to welcome Spyglass Entertainment back here.'

Leap Year tells the story of an American woman (Adams) travelling to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on February 29. Ending up lost in the Irish countryside, she meets a local inn keeper played by Goode and they both set out to find her beau in Dublin. The film will shoot in and around the Aran Islands, Connemara, Temple Bar, Georgian Dublin and Wicklow National Park.

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