Screen Ireland has announced the 21 organisations awarded funding from the fifth round of the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme to deliver new skills development opportunities and initiatives to address priority areas for the Irish screen sector. Funding worth over €625,000 was awarded.
For the 2023 round of Screen Stakeholders, applicants were asked to address at least one of eight priority areas, which reflect significant challenges and opportunities for the Irish screen sector. These priority areas were:
- Equality, diversity, and inclusion
- Sustainability and green production
- Future technology and virtual production
- Improving workplace culture and well-being
- Regional development
- Careers in the screen industry for young people
- The development of a competency framework for sectoral roles
- Company/business development
Following a panel assessment of the applications, funding has been allocated to the following organisations:
ACE Producers for the ACE Animation Special, a six-day project-based workshop to answer the changing needs of the industry and to offer its education to producers looking to diversify their traditional ways of working.
Ardán for the FÍS Games Summit 2024; FÍS Games Workshop; and Game mentorship programme pairing emerging talent with mentors on a long-term basis.
Cork Film Centre for a series of online masterclasses and in-person workshops focusing on virtual production.
Cork International Film Festival for IGNITE, a cross-border talent development collaboration for documentary filmmakers.
Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet for a series of in-person and online workshops designed to engage with CEOs/Company Owners/Executives across the screen industries to develop company strategies across three strands: sustainability, workplace culture and wellbeing, digital innovation and transformation.
Eirmersive for Disruptions in Screen, a series of in-person events across three regional locations to build knowledge and awareness of the latest tech insights from industry experts.
Fresh Film for the Hothouse and In Focus programmes, a community-led creative space for next generation filmmakers to develop their ideas and projects and a micro documentary programme.
Gorm Media for the Wideshot programme, a series of workshops, education, training and events on digital storytelling, creative-media and documentary skills for young adults aged 18-30, from groups underrepresented in the screen industry, living in Ireland.
Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) for Through the Lens, a series of international talent and skills masterclasses and panel discussions addressing identified skills gaps and industry needs.
Le Groupe Ouest for Less is More, a boosting ideas workshop designed for filmmakers from different fields to strengthen their projects narratively and thematically.
MediaXchange for the Creative and Business Vision programme comprising 6 interactive online modules and with one place awarded to a participant on the programme for the Showrunner TV Drama Exchange group in Los Angeles.
National Film and Television School for a business development and leadership programme consisting of six themed sessions on filmmaking with tutors and guest speakers delivered online and in-person for emerging production companies.
Screen Directors Guild of Ireland for Exploring Reality, a programme of workshops, masterclasses, practice-based classes and seminars focusing on documentary filmmaking.
Screen Producers Ireland for the second research phase of MOSAIC, a diversity, equality and inclusion programme for new and emerging producers.
Sligo Northside Community Centre for four additional components/modules to the Film Project course to upgrade the QQI Level 5 course from a minor to major award.
Storyhouse for a new annual symposium and lab which highlights, champions and develops the art and craft of writing and storytelling for the screen.
Stowe Story Labs for the Connemara Writers' Retreat, a residential five-day retreat for international and Irish writers to collaborate on feature film or TV pilot script development with mentors.
Women in Film and Television Ireland for a series of workshops including a 16mm film workshop, the Cannes Changemakers series, online masterclasses, Producing Beyond the Pale and WIFT writers' showcase.
Writers Guild Ireland for research into a potential writers’ trade mission to Los Angeles.
X-Pollinator for a professional development course for female, female identifying and non-binary screen professionals focusing on talent development, networking, partnership and project development.
Young Irish Film Makers for the National Youth Film & Animation School, a 10-day residential workshop for pre-college students, 16–19-year-olds. 16 young animators and 28 young live-action filmmakers, including bursary awards for 8 young people from traditionally underrepresented communities.
“Screen Ireland is delighted to congratulate the organisations that have been awarded through this year’s Screen Stakeholders funding scheme,” said Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen, speaking about the funding awards. “Each initiative reflects an industry priority, challenge or opportunity to address the development of our sector into the future, and we are committed to working with organisations across the country to achieve that. We’re looking forward to all of the activities, programmes, schemes and events that will be rolled out over the next year for the Irish screen industry.”
For more information about the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme and to see a full list of previously funded organisations and initiatives, visit the scheme’s webpage here.
