Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund (ILBF) has announce its latest funding decisions for 2021.
Funding was awarded across a wide genre of TV and online content with a total of 28 projects receiving funding.
The aims of the ILBF are to promote the production and broadcast of quality Irish language content for an audience in Northern Ireland and beyond and to help grow the local Irish language production sector.
Some of the funded projects include:
For young audiences, Máire Zepf’s much-loved children’s book series Rita will be brought to life by An tSnáthaid Mhór on TG4. Many children will also be inspired to cook up a storm in the kitchen with Ligid Productions Cácaí Aoibhin on TG4.
In Macha Media’s observational documentary series Le Chéile, RTÉ and BBC audiences will spend time with one of Ireland’s newest GAA clubs, East Belfast GAA. Below the Radar’s magazine series I Lár an Aonaigh on BBC and online portal Meon Eile will both respectively return for their 10th series following continuing success for both.
Audiences will also be able to follow the next generation of emergency workers as they prepare for work on the frontline on Below the Radar’s 999 Faoi Oiliúint, which will air on BBC and RTÉ, whilst the secrets of bogs will be revealed in a co-production for TG4, BBC Alba and CBC Canada, Rúin na bPortach.
Strident Media will explore how the Irish language enabled Belfast man Frank Murray to document his treatment in a Japanese POW camp, in a documentary for BBC. The company will also bring the 4th series of Beidh Aonach Amárach back to TG4 and BBC.
Clean Slate will look at the work of the Kevin Bell repatriation trust in Bás as Baile for BBC and the company will also examine the strange disappearance of Sir Arthur Kingsley Porter from Inis Bó Finne in Donegal in Ar Iarraidh for TG4.
Waddell Media’s Croí na Ceiste le Caoimhe will see presenter Caoimhe Ní Chathail explore different topics affecting younger people today following a successful pilot earlier this year on BBC. Fans will also be delighted to see the return of some of their favourite faces along with some new characters in the much-loved Turas Bóthair on TG4.
Dearcán Media will introduce us to female farmers country wide in the series Mná na Feirme on TG4. BBC audiences can also get their Derry Girls fix with the company’s Cailíní Dhoire featuring some former Thornhill girls reminiscing on their school days.
Music lovers will be introduced to six new musical families in Táin Media’s Ceol ón Chlann IV for TG4. In Big Mountain Productions Ceol le Toal viewers will see the popular broadcaster John Toal re-acquaint himself with the songs of his past, and explore some of the province’s new musical talents on BBC. The company will also bring a 2nd series of Peataí to BBC and RTÉ.
DoubleBand Films will focus on the innovative music of Belfast harpist Úna Monaghan in the arts documentary film Aonaracht for TG4 and BBC. The company will also produce an architectural series for BBC, Fíorú Físe, which will see architect Ciarán Mackel exploring the importance and influence of architecture and revealing some of the most interesting and exciting buildings in Ulster.
Ronin Films’ feature documentary will explore the relationship between the Irish and the First People of America, for TG4. Sonas Productions’ documentary series on the Irish influence on the songs and music of the lumberjacks of Canada, a Canadian co-production, will also air on TG4 and French CBC.
The Irish Language Broadcast Fund receives funding from the Irish Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and the UK Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport via the British Film Institute.
