Core Operational Funding

As the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation and documentary industry, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland) is the creative partner to the sector, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. 

We are inspired by original storytelling that will emotionally move audiences at home and abroad. Through a wide range of practical funding supports across development, production, distribution, promotion and skills development, Screen Ireland supports the sector at every stage. We support filmmakers in their creative pursuit to share valuable artistic, cultural and commercial stories on screen. 

About the Funding  

Screen Ireland / Fís Éireann provides core operational funding for national screen guilds and industry organisations. This funding helps support stakeholders to build networks, develop capacity and deliver a wide range of services for their members and the wider screen industry. Importantly the fund enables strategic engagement across the sector and ensure a diversity of voices and talent are represented across the screen industry.

Core operational funding of up to €120,000 is available on a yearly basis. Please note, due to the highly contestable nature of this funding, it is unlikely that successful applicants will be granted the full amount available. We therefore recommend applicants apply for what they need supported.

This funding is available on a yearly basis from January to December in the form of grant-in-aid funding. 

Who Can Apply

Core Operational Funding (“Fund” and “Funding”) is for screen sector organisations that have a membership and / or are representing and promoting a specific element of the broader screen sector. The applicant must be a fully incorporated and registered company and must have been established for a minimum term of twelve (12) months.

Applicable Organisations include:  

A national screen sector organisation or guild that is registered in Ireland; and,  

• A membership and/or talent development focused organisation that supports writers, directors, producers, actors, HOD’s or crew; OR  
• A diversity and inclusion focused organisation that addresses the needs of underrepresented communities in the screen sector.  

All funding should also align with Screen Ireland strategic values: 

• Creative: Screen Ireland supports creative excellence in the Irish screen sector and within the organisation 
• Sustainable: Screen Ireland is committed to sustainability in its broadest terms across the creative screen industry and within the organisation 
• Optimistic: Screen Ireland looks ahead with optimism, working to support a bright future for the screen sector and maintaining positive relationships with its stakeholders 
• Inclusive: Screen Ireland is an inclusive organisation, working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the screen sector 
• Ambitious: Screen Ireland works to ambitiously grow the creative screen sector in Ireland and takes the lead role in driving for success 
• Ethical: Screen Ireland upholds the highest standards of ethics in its role as a public agency, as a funder, as a supporter of the creative screen industry, and as an employer 

Funding is available for the following: 

• Operational and administrative costs;  
• Advocacy work;  
• Providing membership legal support, advice, and referrals;  
• Being an information resource, with a local and international perspective.  
• NB. Costs already funded by third party financiers or investors or capital expenditure will not be covered.

How to Apply 

Please send in your application via: https://applications.screenireland.ie. 

It is important you provide as much information as you can to help us make a full and fair assessment. Consideration for support will only be processed on receipt of a completed application form, incomplete applications will not be considered with early applications encouraged.  

Decisions will be administered by an internal panel of assessors. 

Application Deadline

Applications will be assessed on a yearly basis. The Closing Deadline is 21st November at 1pm.

Criteria for Assessment

• Confirmation that you are an eligible organisation as described in the criteria above, including who the services are targeted at;  
• An Organisation Outline to include (i) a short history of the organisation, (ii) details of the organisation’s Board and corporate governance procedures including anonymised demographics of the organisation’s membership, staff (including CVs of all principals and key personnel) and board members, and (iii) details on the track record of the organisation; 
• A schedule of anticipated core activity to include key events for the organisation for up to the next financial year (please provide a detailed plan), an outline of the key deliverables in respect of the funding requested and, where applicable, an update on the previous year’s activities in respect of funding received (detailing outcomes and impacts); 
• The annual budget for the organisation for the period for which you are applying including details of all other sources of funding contributing to the annual budget;  
• Copies of the organisation’s annual accounts from the last three financial years (if applicable) and valid tax clearance certificate;  
• Evidence of how the organisation’s core business contributes to the overall sector’s development, growth, and sustainability.

Please note that further information may be requested by Screen Ireland in advance of completing assessment of applications. 

Additional Terms & Conditions

• These Guidelines and the Fund itself remain subject to regular review and amendment.  
• Screen Ireland reserves the right to correct or clarify any part of these Guidelines. In the event that these Guidelines are altered or revised, an updated version will be made available on www.screenireland.ie and identified by the month and year it was published. Applicant organisations are responsible for ensuring that they are using the current version of the Guidelines and application form. 
• Any effort to influence a panel member will immediately disqualify. 
• You cannot apply for funding if you have any unapproved overdue contractual or reporting obligations.  

For more information on the scheme please contact corefunding@screenireland.ie.

These guidelines were last updated on 11th November 2025.