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First Stage Documentary Development

First Stage Documentary Development

First Stage Documentary Development Funding is for feature film documentary projects intended for festival and/or cinematic release and documentary series intended for international broadcast.

Important note: Please remember the extremely competitive nature of our funding rounds due to high application volumes and set budgets. This means we have to turn down many more projects than we are able to support.  As such, it is very important to make a strong impact with your application. 

About the Funding

First Stage Documentary Development Funding is for feature film documentary projects intended for festival and/or cinematic release and documentary series intended for international broadcast.

Funding can be sought to create concept work (including the production of a promo/teaser), research, and story work necessary to prepare a documentary feature film or documentary series for production.

Please ensure you have read the Screen Ireland Principles & Criteria before submitting an application for funding.

Who Can Apply

Irish producers with a documentary feature film or documentary series they wish to develop. Clear access to the necessary rights in the work and in any material that is to be produced, or a letter of interest, or an agreement in draft form with the director and any contributors must be obtained before an application is submitted. On receipt of an award, rights documents must be fully executed, in an approved form, before funding can be drawn down.

How to Apply

Applications can be made online using the 'Make an Application' button on this page. Applicants must read the Development Funding Guidelines prior to making an application. Applications which do not meet the criteria set out in these guidelines will automatically be deemed ineligible for consideration.

Please note the applications portal closes at 1pm on the day of the application deadline.

If you wish to make an application for funding by post, contact 091 561 398 for the relevant application form.

This page was last updated on 07.02.24.