Belfast Harbour Studios Engages The MBS Group As Operator

Belfast Harbour Studios, Northern Ireland's premier studio facility and one of the UK's leading production campuses, has engaged The MBS Group to operate its state-of-the-art media campus.

The studios, which were developed by Belfast Harbour in 2017 with a further expansion in 2024, are based at the 340-acre Giant's Park and include more than 107,000 square feet of purpose-built soundstages, as well as extensive supporting production offices, workshops, and a unit base.

In June 2025, Belfast Harbour Studios also announced the opening of Northern Ireland's largest film and TV virtual production studio, the £72 million 75,000 square foot Studio Ulster, a partnership between Belfast Harbour, Ulster University and NI Screen.

Partnership has made Belfast the major global production hub it is today with NI Screen attracting productions including making the city the home of HBO's Game of Thrones series, as well as recent Belfast Harbour Studios-based productions like DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon.

Commenting on the partnership, Graeme Johnston, Property and Place Director at Belfast Harbour, said: “This the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Belfast Harbour Studios and the region's wider film and screen industry.  Belfast Harbour Studios is now a substantial media campus that can compete on the world stage.  The specialist expertise and connections MBS Group brings will enhance the operation and profile for Belfast Harbour Studios and Northern Ireland's outstanding film supply chain.”

The MBS Group is the world's largest studio operator and production equipment company, with an unparalleled global network representing over 650 best-in-class soundstages across the world's major production markets, including renowned MBS-operated sites such as Manhattan Beach Studios, the company's namesake and home to James Cameron's AVATAR franchise, AmazonMGM's Culver Studios, Netflix's Raleigh Studios Hollywood and UX1 Studios London, Apple's The Wharf Studios and Symmetry Studios London, Sony's Wardpark Studios Scotland, AlUla Studios Saudi Arabia, and Ardmore & Troy Studios Ireland. MBS currently operates thirteen studio campuses across England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.

“With best-in-class production facilities that include 60-foot tall 64,000 square foot clear-span soundstages, Belfast Harbour Studios can handle productions at any scale,” said Jason Hariton, Chief Studio & Real Estate Officer at The MBS Group. “We are grateful to Belfast Harbour for entrusting us with this responsibility and look forward to expanding our presence in Northern Ireland and also working closely with the fantastic team at NI Screen.”

Hariton, former head of global real estate and production operations for Netflix, is no stranger to the UK Creative Sector or Belfast Harbour Studios, as the studio was home to hit Netflix series The School for Good and Evil during his tenure with the streamer. Hariton established Netflix's global production hub at the storied Shepperton Studios, and he recently announced MBS as the operator of London's historic Elstree Studios.

MBS has the most extensive studio operations, sales, and leasing network in the industry, providing production planning solutions to major global content creators, with the world's largest and most advanced lighting, rigging, and LED inventory. MBS operates 50 studio campuses in 8 countries, servicing nearly 1,000 high-end film and television productions each year.

To learn more about Belfast Harbour Studios, visit: www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/real-estate/belfast-harbour-studios/

To learn more about The MBS Group, visit: www.the-mbsgroup.com/