Studio Ulster: Northern Ireland’s Virtual Production Powerhouse Redefines Filmmaking
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Northern Ireland is stepping confidently into the future of filmmaking with the grand opening of Studio Ulster, the region’s largest and most advanced virtual production studio. Nestled beside the existing Belfast Harbour Studios in Giant’s Park, Belfast, this new £72 million facility is set to make the “impossible possible” by offering groundbreaking technology and vast creative opportunities to both local and global productions.
Revolutionising Filmmaking in Northern Ireland
Studio Ulster is a joint initiative between Belfast Harbour, Ulster University, and Northern Ireland Screen, backed in part by the Belfast Region City Deal. This state-of-the-art facility boasts over 75,000 square feet of space dedicated to film, television, gaming, and animation production. But what truly sets it apart is its cutting-edge virtual production capabilities, including immersive computer-generated imagery (CGI) and extended reality tools that allow filmmakers to craft any setting—whether real, fictional, or futuristic—without leaving Belfast.
According to Professor Declan Keeney from Ulster University, who heads the university’s involvement in the studio, “We can now create Morocco at magic hour and film in it for 12 hours, right here in the harbour.” This level of control opens the door to new creative possibilities that were once limited by weather, location logistics, or daylight hours.
A Magnet for Major Productions
Studio Ulster aims to attract blockbuster film and television productions, building on Northern Ireland’s impressive track record. The region has already hosted large-scale projects like HBO’s Game of Thrones, Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil starring Charlize Theron and Laurence Fishburne, and Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon featuring Gerard Butler.
Among the first to utilize the new studio is a BBC Northern Ireland series produced by Stellify Media, focused on the sinking of the Titanic. The production will harness Studio Ulster’s digital environments to bring real-time passenger and crew accounts to life with unmatched realism.
A Future-Ready Talent Hub
Beyond being a premier filming destination, Studio Ulster is designed to nurture the next generation of creatives. As a designated “virtual production centre of excellence,” it will also serve as an educational and training ground for students in film, broadcast, and production courses at Ulster University. It’s expected to play a critical role in upskilling the local workforce and turning Northern Ireland into a competitive global hub for digital storytelling.
Conclusion
Studio Ulster isn’t just a building—it’s a statement. A symbol of innovation, collaboration, and ambition, it places Northern Ireland firmly on the global production map. With unmatched virtual tools, academic backing, and regional support, this visionary studio ensures that the next big film or series could be made not in Hollywood, but in Belfast.
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