Studio Ulster Opens World’s Largest Virtual Production Facility in Belfast

Studio Ulster, located on the shores of Belfast Lough, has officially opened as the world's most advanced virtual production facility, spanning 75,000 square feet. The £72 million ($96.7 million) investment, partly funded by the Belfast Region City Deal and developed by Ulster University in partnership with Belfast Harbour and Northern Ireland Screen, integrates cutting-edge technologies including real-time engines, in-camera visual effects, volumetric capture, and motion tracking to support film, television, game development, and animation productions. The studio features modular, large-scale virtual production stages and offers unprecedented flexibility for filmmakers to create diverse scenes quickly, positioning Northern Ireland as a global leader in virtual production. Studio Ulster aims to elevate the UK and Ireland’s commercial production capabilities, attracting major streamers and independent projects alike, and hosts the CoSTAR Screen Lab, a national research hub for creative technologies. CEO Professor Declan Keeney emphasized that the launch marks a new chapter for Belfast, linking its historic shipbuilding heritage to pioneering digital filmmaking. The facility builds on Northern Ireland’s growing reputation as a filming destination, having hosted productions like "How to Train Your Dragon" and Netflix’s "The School for Good and Evil."