Screen Ireland in collaboration with the UK’s National Film & Television School is pleased to offer Creative Business Development and Leadership for Producers: Building Your Production Company. The course will be a mixture of online and in-person sessions over 3 months. As one of the top film schools in the world, the NFTS has a proven track record of delivering gold standard training to industry professionals. Their Creative Business MA programme has given numerous industry leaders the skills required to develop and lead successfully. This course has taken some key elements from the MA modules and will be offering a Certificate of completion to participants.
NFTS has designed a bespoke course that will meet the needs of producers and leaders, working in film and TV in Ireland and equip them with the skills they need to run a successful creative business. It will be particularly focused on commercialisation and enabling people to grow their business by securing funding, exploiting IP, becoming global, recruiting inclusively and committing to sustainable production practice.
1-2-1s with the NFTS tutors and team will be scheduled throughout the programme. Each participant will also be assigned a mentor, to have 4 post-programme, follow on sessions to cover an area relevant to the mentee. Masterclasses with key industry figures are incorporated into the sessions for the participants, as they are required.
The programme is supported through the Screen Ireland Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme to support the Irish creative screen industries.
Begin your journey to business mastery. Learn to identify and leverage your production company’s unique strengths from day one. In this introductory session, participants will receive a detailed outline of the course, providing a clear roadmap of what to expect in the coming 13 sessions. Discover how businesses solve problems and pinpoint their unique selling points (USP) and define their mission and vision.
Why do some film and television businesses become great places to work and others are companies to avoid? What do the good ones do that enables people to thrive? This session will focus on how companies can build what psychologists call a “coaching culture”. The application of simple principles and techniques will explored, stressing that healthy working practices aren't just nice-to-have, but are embodied by the whole organisation.
How do you effectively finance and monetise film & TV projects? In this session, participants will delve deep into the sales and rights landscape that forms the backbone of the Film and TV business. Understand the various revenue streams available to your production company and how to harness them effectively.
Transform your creative ideas into a thriving business: Learn to build and manage a dynamic portfolio of film and TV projects! Understanding how to scale and diversify your intellectual property (IP) portfolio is crucial for long-term sustainability and success in the competitive entertainment industry. This comprehensive module will equip participants with essential insights into managing, scaling, and creating a diverse portfolio during the development stage, ensuring readiness to meet industry demands.
IP has no value until it is distributed, but how do you get there? Mastering the art of engaging with distribution channels is key to turning your creative projects into profitable ventures in today’s fast-paced media environment. This module transitions from development to production, providing participants with critical insights into the licensing of intellectual property (IP)—an essential contrast to creating IP yourself.
The creative industries are witnessing a landmark shift with the rapid emergence and proliferation of ground-breaking technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual production, and advanced collaboration tools. Staying ahead in technological innovation is crucial for producers who want to maintain a competitive edge, remain sustainable in the future and capitalize on the fusion of technical and creative domains.
Understanding legal intricacies is vital for any executive to safeguard their creative and business interests in the complex world of film and TV. This module provides in-depth insights into legal concepts, chains of title, and the broader scope of legal affairs crucial for film and television projects and companies.
Effective financial management and leadership are the cornerstones of running a successful business, enabling executives to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the entertainment sector. This session offers a comprehensive dive into the critical aspects of business affairs and the financial acumen required to efficiently manage a company.
Learn to craft compelling business plans, pitch decks, and understand various investment types, financial concepts and models to secure investment for a company.
In the modern world sustainability goes beyond green initiatives and represents the rethinking of business models to prioritize environmental conservation, social responsibility and economic viability all while maintaining profitability.
IP and talent form the bedrock of every successful film and TV project; without them, there's nothing to produce or market. Mastering the art of identifying and developing these assets is essential for creating compelling content and driving your projects forward.
The final session will culminate in a pitching session where participants can present their final business plans to each other and a group of industry experts to gain invaluable insights and feedback.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone in the creative industries looking to build a viable business. The course is well designed for those who are setting up and those who are already actively running a production company. It takes you through the stages of company set up, running it and pitching it. All this is done through expert led sessions. This programme will give you the tools and confidence to move forward strategically.
- Anna Mannion, Tri Moon Films
To be eligible, participants must be running an early stage production company (which may have not exec produced any work as yet), and have credits as a producer on either a first feature (fiction or documentary), HETV drama or a substantial body of funded shorts. The participants should be ready to take their production company to the next level.
Selected participants MUST be available for ALL the sessions.
Applications from people from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the screen sectors, who fulfil the above criteria, are particularly welcome.
Apply for Creative Business Development & Leadership for Producers: Building Your Production Company
Online information session: Monday, 26th January 2026, 13:00 (email hpeters@nfts.co.uk to register your interest)
Extended deadline for applications: Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, 11.59pm
Interviews (online): Thursday, 12th February 2026
Course starts Wednesday, 4th & 5th March in central Dublin.
For further information, please email Neil.Murphy@screenireland.ie
Screen Ireland skills opportunities are open to all regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, civil status, family status and membership of the Traveller community. If you require supports, please let us know in advance so we can put these in place to assist your learning.
