State-of-the-art £72 Million Virtual Production Studio unveiled in Belfast by Studio Ulster
In the heart of Belfast, UK, a groundbreaking £72 million virtual production facility named Studio Ulster was unveiled on June 19th, 2025. The launch event, themed "LEGENDS UNVEILED," was attended by industry leaders, dignitaries, and creatives, marking the beginning of a new era for content creation in Northern Ireland.
Studio Ulster is the result of a unique partnership between Ulster University, Belfast Harbour, and Northern Ireland Screen, with part-funding coming from the Belfast Region City Deal. This innovative technology hub integrates a globally unique combination of virtual production technologies all under one roof, setting a new global benchmark for efficiency, sustainability, and creative scope.
The state-of-the-art facility spans 75,000 square feet and boasts large-scale virtual production stages that set new global standards for real-time filmmaking. It houses the CoSTAR Screen Lab, one of five national research labs under the UK-wide CoSTAR Network, which focuses on pioneering research and development in screen and creative technologies.
The CoSTAR Screen Lab, funded by £75.6 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and £63 million from industry investment, fosters innovation in real-time technologies, cinematography, and CGI fusion, positioning Studio Ulster as a global hub for R&D in virtual production.
Studio Ulster's facilities include purpose-built LED volume stages, post-production suites, and motion capture studios, supporting high-end film, television, AAA game development, animation, and immersive media. The facility's integration of real-time engines, in-camera visual effects, volumetric capture, and motion tracking creates a seamless, sustainable production pipeline.
Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, believes Studio Ulster is a launchpad for the next generation of creators, while Professor Declan Keeney, CEO of Studio Ulster, highlighted Belfast's legacy of innovation and its role in the future of storytelling. Netflix's Laura Livingstone and Studio Ulster's Kyle Olson praised the facility's international potential and exceptional team, with Livingstone stating that Belfast is emerging as a global centre for high-end virtual production.
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen, emphasized the transformative potential of Studio Ulster, offering a complete ecosystem for virtual production unmatched on the island of Ireland. The facility's launch places Northern Ireland at the forefront of global content creation and economic development through innovation.
In summary, Studio Ulster's innovation lies in integrating advanced virtual production technologies—real-time engines, in-camera VFX, volumetric capture, and motion tracking—within a large-scale, sustainable production facility, supported by a strategic partnership involving academia, industry, and government, making it a pioneering virtual production hub in the UK and Ireland.
- The CoSTAR Screen Lab, located within Studio Ulster, is a global hub for research and development in screen and creative technologies, specifically focusing on innovation in real-time technologies, cinematography, and CGI fusion.
- In the realm of lifestyle, technology, and general-news, the unveiling of Studio Ulster in Belfast signifies a new era for content creation, incorporating a globally unique combination of virtual production technologies for high-end film, television, gaming, and immersive media, making it a pioneer in sustainability and creative scope.
