Studio Ulster’s groundbreaking virtual production facility launches

Source: Screen Northern Ireland

Studio Ulster is designed to support productions at every scale, from blockbuster films and high-end television to AAA game development and world-class animation. The facility integrates real-time engines, in-camera visual effects, volumetric capture, and motion tracking into a seamless, sustainable pipeline that redefines how stories are created, rendered, and delivered.

Studio Ulster is the result of a £72 million investment, part-funded through the Belfast Region City Deal. Developed by Ulster University in partnership with Belfast Harbour and supported by Northern Ireland Screen, the facility offers large-scale virtual production stages that set new global standards for real-time filmmaking. It is designed to elevate the UK and Ireland’s capacity for commercial studio production using advanced in-camera visual effects, establishing a world-class benchmark for the industry.

“Virtual production has truly come of age at Studio Ulster,” said Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen. “While many filmmakers are aware of the basics, few fully grasp how radically the technology has evolved. Studio Ulster is a genuine game-changer, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on screen and enabling directors to bring any imagined world to life, right here at Belfast Harbour. Northern Ireland Screen is proud to support this landmark facility, which redefines the studio offering not only in Northern Ireland but across the UK and Europe.”

Ahead of the official launch, Studio Ulster hosted a special industry preview afternoon, sponsored by the SCREEN Cluster and funded through the BFI and National Lottery, offering key stakeholders an exclusive first look at the cutting-edge facilities.

“From the docks that built the Titanic to the LED stages that now build entire universes, Belfast has always punched above its weight. The launch of Studio Ulster marks a new chapter, one where cutting-edge virtual production, motion capture, and digital scanning converge to give filmmakers, game developers, and creatives the power to shape worlds in real time” said Professor Declan Keeney, CEO of Studio Ulster and BFI Board Member. “We’ve taken the spirit of Belfast’s shipyards, precision, ambition, and pride in what we build and applied it to the future of storytelling. This isn’t just a studio. It’s a global platform for imagination, powered by some of the most advanced creative technology anywhere in the world.”

Northern Ireland continues to position itself as a premium production destination, bolstered by the UK’s screen sector tax reliefs for high-end TV, film, animation and video game productions. Combined with world-class infrastructure and a skilled local workforce, Northern Ireland is fast becoming a go-to hub for global content creators.

Studio Ulster is the only purpose-built virtual production campus of its kind on the island of Ireland. Its integrated ecosystem includes everything from 3D/4D scanning and motion capture to full-scale LED volume stages and post-production suites, all under one roof.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The journey of the creative industries here tells such a positive story of our progress over the last 26 years. A journey that we, as an Executive, are proud to have been involved in and to have championed over the years.

“Productions like Game of Thrones and Derry Girls have put us on the map as a place of talent, creativity, and technical expertise. This incredible space will build on that momentum and help attract even more high-end productions.

“With the opening of this incredible facility, we enter into the next chapter of our creative industries journey – we are excited to see where the next part of the journey takes us, and we, as an Executive, want to continue our role in making it a successful one.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:  “Northern Ireland is on the cutting edge of global screen production and immersive technologies and I am proud that through Belfast Region City Deal, we have been able to support this multi-million pound investment in our creative industries.

“We are known throughout the world for our productions and for our expertise and skills in this thriving industry. We have the facilities, people and locations that can make a success of any screen production and I am confident Studio Ulster will raise our potential to a new level, helping to attract even more big budget films and television productions.”

Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “Our screen industries are flourishing and for very good reason.  We have the locations, skilled staff and incredible studios and facilities.  Studio Ulster will add to our already outstanding offering to the global screen industry.  It is an investment in a priority sector and will help continue to place the north at the cutting edge of virtual production and immersive technology.  This industry is central to our economic development.  Supported through City Deal funding, Studio Ulster has been a visionary project, now brought to life, by so many partners who I commend for this extraordinary facility and firmly placing the north as a world class, top class, production destination.”

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said:“I am so impressed by the technology, skills and vision which have brought this world-leading facility to Belfast. The UK Government has part-funded the studio’s development, including through £25.2m awarded as part of the Belfast Region City Deal; CoStar funding through the UK Research and Investment; and £3m from the Levelling Up Fund. Studio Ulster will be transformative for the film industry in Northern Ireland.”

Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour, said:“As a key partner to the project we are absolutely delighted to see Studio Ulster open. Belfast Harbour has invested more than £100 million in developing the world-class Belfast Harbour Studios campus and we are pleased that Studio Ulster is calling it home.  As a Trust Port we work to benefit everyone in the region and Studio Ulster along with the wider campus will reaffirm Northern Ireland’s position as a global hub for screen.”

Studio Ulster is also home to the CoSTAR Screen Lab — one of five national research labs created under the UK-wide CoSTAR initiative. This programme, backed by £75.6 million in funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and £63 million in new industry investment, positions Studio Ulster at the forefront of global R&D in screen and creative technologies.

Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, said: “Studio Ulster is a transformative investment for the screen industries of the UK and Ireland. This incredible facility is more than a milestone, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of creators and storytellers. By bringing cutting-edge virtual production capabilities to Belfast, we’re enhancing the region’s global competitiveness and creative potential, in turn creating jobs and economic impact. As a university, we are immensely proud to have developed and delivered this ambitious new enterprise at the heart of Northern Ireland’s creative economy.”

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly said: “I’ve got one word to describe Belfast’s new Studio Ulster and that’s wow! The Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment set out to turbocharge the fastest growing sectors of our economy – and that’s exactly what Studio Ulster is doing for the creative industries. Belfast can be proud to say it’s now home to the world’s most advanced virtual production facilities for films, TV, gaming and animation. Huge congratulations to our partners Ulster University, Belfast Harbour and NI Screen on their vision and collaboration. I’m excited to see the jobs, opportunities and positive economic impacts that Studio Ulster will create for Belfast residents, and for our city and region.”

Studio Ulster provides a fully integrated production ecosystem under one roof. The most advanced of its kind anywhere in the world. The studio is designed to support all levels of production from AAA High-end to independent productions, driving sustainable content creation while driving innovation, talent development and economic growth across the screen industries. With access to the UK’s competitive screen sector tax reliefs and a highly skilled local workforce of over 1200 crews, Studio Ulster is a global hub for next-generation storytelling. The facility makes possible new ways to tell stories across multiple platforms at the same time in the same location.

“Studio Ulster is a transformative investment for the screen industries of the UK and Ireland,” said Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University. “This incredible facility is more than a milestone, it’s a launchpad for the next generation of creators and storytellers. By bringing cutting-edge virtual production capabilities to Belfast, we’re enhancing the region’s global competitiveness and creative potential, in turn creating jobs and economic impact. As a university, we are immensely proud to have developed and delivered this ambitious new enterprise at the heart of Northern Ireland’s creative economy.”

Laura Livingstone, VFX Executive at Netflix, said: “This is a pivotal time for our industry, where innovation is not just accelerating but fundamentally reshaping how we create and experience stories. On a recent tour of Netflix-owned Eyeline in LA, I saw firsthand how advancements from a world-class studio directly inform the techniques we adopt in visual effects and beyond, helping storytellers bring creative visions to life. It’s more than just a facility; it’s a bridge between visionary creators, the local community, and global opportunity.

Studio Ulster has the potential to shape the next generation of storytelling, and I’m proud to have helped launch this studio.”

Kyle Olson, Head of Virtual Production at Studio Ulster, said: “Having worked on virtual production stages around the world, I can confidently say Studio Ulster is a standout. The scale and sophistication of the space is remarkable, but what truly sets it apart is the world-class team. There’s a rare mix here of cutting-edge technology, creative innovation, and a collaborative spirit that’s second to none. With this studio, Belfast is positioning itself as a global competitor.”