Irish Feature Film Development
Feature Film Development Loans enable producers to commission screenplays and undertake all practical work necessary to prepare an Irish feature film project for production.
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
Feature Film Development Loans enable Irish producers to commission screenplays with a view to developing feature films to production stage.
The maximum amount available is €75,000 without match funding. A maximum of €125,000 may be awarded with third party match funding from other sources. Applicants should note that in light of the pressure on Screen Ireland resources, awards considerably less than the maximum are likely to be offered.
Development funding is provided by Screen Ireland for the making of films predominantly in English or Irish, or a combination of the two.
Development funding is not a guarantee of Production funding at a later stage.
Please ensure you have read the Screen Ireland Principles & Criteria before submitting an application for funding.
NEW: ‘Locked box’ development support
For Irish Feature Film Development funding, there is now a new ‘locked box funding’ support system in place.
Screen Ireland development funding loans are repayable on the first day of principal photography. Now, for Irish feature film development, this repayment will be held by Screen Ireland for that relevant production company to re-invest in the development of new Irish feature film projects. This re-investment is subject to project eligibility criteria – that is, projects that would normally qualify for Irish Feature Film Development funding – and a maximum allocation of €75,000 per project.
The aim of this enhanced support is to incentivise and recognise success, ensuring that support can be re-invested into Irish writers and the screenwriting landscape in Ireland. The locked box system will apply to any Screen Ireland development-supported Irish feature film projects that have not yet contracted for production.
Please see below for some detailed question and answers on this system.
Who Can Apply
Feature Film Development Loans are available to Irish producers (independent production companies registered in the Republic of Ireland which have an office and staff based in the Republic of Ireland) with a feature film project they wish to develop, clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen, and an agreement (at least in principle) with the screenwriter they wish to commission. The commitment of a director can lend weight to an application but is not essential at the outset.
Application Requirements
- Logline
- A short (approx. 1 page) Synopsis with a Detailed Treatment (Minimum of 10 pages excluding images)
OR
- A longer (2-3 page) Synopsis outlining the full story with a Script Sample (20-30 pages only)
- Short character descriptions including character arcs
- Writer/Director/Producer Notes
- Development Budget (The Screen Ireland budget template must be used)
- Evidence of Ownership of Rights
How to Apply
Applications can be made online using the 'Make an Application' button on this page. Applicants must consult 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.
If you wish to make an application for funding by post, contact 091 561 398 for the relevant application form.
Please note that the application portal closes at 1pm on the day of the application deadline.
You can find the Development Funding Guidelines here.
This page was last updated on 05.12.2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no requirement for match funding up to a maximum loan award amount of €75,000 for a single project. After this, any funding offers over €75,000 will require match funding. The maximum available funding is €125,000 for a single project.
No, these increases will only apply to new first stage applications made from the July 2024 round onwards. Existing development funding offers will remain the same, as set out in your funding offer letter and development funding contract.
Yes, existing projects can avail of the new ‘locked box’ support, if the project has not contracted for production and principal photography has not yet taken place. On the closing of contracts for principal photography for the project, the development loan should be repaid in the normal way, and this repaid amount will be allocated to the ‘locked box’, up to a maximum allocation of €75,000.
No - at the moment, the locked box development system is only in place for projects supported by Irish Feature Film Development funding. This is a pilot scheme, however, and may be reviewed in the future.
Please keep checking back on the Screen Ireland website and the Irish industry email newsletter for any updates.
To avail of the ‘locked box’ funding, the producer must complete and submit the Development Locked Box Application Form, a copy of which is available on request. No party other than the producer may make a claim under the Development Locked Box system.
The producer must provide Screen Ireland with a budget and finance plan (in the Screen Ireland templates) and a short synopsis for the proposed eligible new feature film development, the detail of which will be determined by the type and extent of the proposed activities.
Once approved, payment of funds will be made on receipt of a valid invoice and tax clearance details.
Once an Irish Feature Film development loan has been repaid into the ‘locked box’, it can then be used on the development of new projects that meet the criteria for Screen Ireland's Irish Feature Film Development funding. State Aid rules continue to apply to the ‘locked box’ funds.
These funds cannot be used to refinance expenditure already incurred by the producer or by any person connected with the producer.
No - currently, the funds can only be used to develop projects that meet the criteria for Screen Ireland's Irish Feature Film Development funding. This is a pilot scheme, however, and may be reviewed in the future.
Please keep checking back on the Screen Ireland website and the Irish industry email newsletter for any updates.
Yes – as long as the project fulfils the eligibility criteria for Screen Ireland's Irish Feature Film Development funding.
Yes, but the maximum allocation into the ‘locked box’ from any one Irish feature film that goes into production is €75,000.
No, the maximum allocation for re-investment of ‘locked box’ funds is €75,000 per Irish feature film project.
Yes, ‘locked box’ funds should be re-invested into the development of new Irish feature film projects within 24 months of the loan repayment date.