Skills Development Events Funding Scheme

Screen Ireland supports skills development events and activities including masterclasses, workshops, seminars, webinars, networking events, writers' rooms, panel discussions and programmes/initiatives (that may offer placements, shadowing opportunities) where the activity will expose industry practitioners to international and Irish best practice for the screen sector.

Due to limited resources, the application process is competitive. Benefit to the Irish film, television, animation, or related sectors must clearly accrue from the delivery of the event/activity.  

Screen Ireland welcomes applications for events/activities that are aligned with any of the objectives of the Screen Ireland Strategy "Fís Athnuaite: Strategic Plan 2025-2029"

In general, the maximum funding available for each applicant per annum will be €10,000. Where merited, for exceptional applications, the panel may approve funding above the maximum for high quality events/activities that would likely have a significant impact, and that present unique skills development opportunities for the Irish screen sector.

Screen Ireland particularly welcomes applications for events that address at least one of the following priority themes:

• Advanced international skills development initiatives for above the line talent – writers, directors, producers, actors etc. 
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion 
• Sustainability/Green Production 
• Future Technology/Virtual Production/Games 
• Improving Workplace Culture & Wellbeing 
• Regional Development 
• Careers in the Screen Industry
• Company/Business Development 

 Please see below for a list of organisations and events/activities perviously funded through the scheme.

The organisation applying for support must be based in Ireland and the proposed skills development event/activity must take place in Ireland. If the skills development event/activity is to be delivered online, then it must be primarily aimed at Irish participants.  

The organisation must have strong links to the screen sector in Ireland and can include festivals, guilds, stakeholders, and industry bodies. The scheme is not open to producer companies, third level colleges or public funded agencies/organisations.   

The decision to support any proposed event/activity will only be made on receipt of the completed application form containing a full breakdown of the event/activity, budget, and tutor/speaker biographies.  

A maximum of one application will be supported per organisation per year, except when two proposals of extraordinary merit are submitted presenting unique skills development opportunities that cannot be replicated at another time.  

The event/activity must be for established and emerging industry professionals working in the Irish film, television, animation, and related sectors.

Generally, there should be no fee charged for those attending any event/activity supported through the Skills Development Events Funding Scheme, unless agreed in advance with Screen Ireland. The funded organisation must process all applications and manage all paperwork (including feedback and evaluation for the Final Report) for the activity. When allocating places for events/activities, the funded organisation must demonstrate a fair and transparent process.

All documentation and publicity related to events/activities funded through the Skills Development Events Funding Scheme must state that the event/activity is supported by Screen Ireland and must contain the Screen Ireland logo.  

Insurance to cover the proposed event/activity is the responsibility of the organisers.

Applicants must submit a completed application form and budget via the online applications portal a minimum of eight weeks prior to the commencement of the skills development event/activity.  

The application must contain: a full breakdown of the proposed event/activity; a budget, including additional funding/sponsorship and projected income (if any); and tutor/speaker biographies.  

Applicants should factor in a fee (maximum 15%) for admin/operational costs to support delivery of the event/activity.

The funding scheme panel meets six times a year so applications should be submitted a minimum of 8 weeks in advance of the planned skills event/activity.

Decisions will be made by the funding scheme's panel based on the following criteria and scoring (out of 100): 

• Overall quality of the application (25)
• How beneficial the proposed event/activity is to the Irish film, television, animation, or related sectors (25)
• How the application addresses two or more of the key priority themes (25)
• Track record of the organisation in terms of previous skills events/activities delivered for the screen sector (25)

Only one Skills Development Funding Award will be made to any one organisation per year. Any effort to influence a panel member will immediately disqualify. Retrospective applications will not be accepted.

The award will be paid in two instalments, the first 80% will be paid up to 30 days after completion of the contracting process (upon receipt of the signed contract and requested documentation). Payment will not be processed until all requested documentation has been received. To draw down the final 20% payment the organisers must submit a completed evaluation form which will be emailed when funding is approved.

Successful applicants will be asked to provide the following documents as part of the contracting process:

• Organisation Management Team and Board of Directors (if applicable). 
• Bank account details (in the organisation's name)
• Tax clearance cert or tax registration& access number for the Organisation.
• Budget and finance plan for the proposal.
• Evidence of insurance policy to cover the event/activity in the proposal.
• Confirmation of registration of the Organisation with National Vetting Bureau (if applicable) in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016. 

Applications should be submitted a minimum of 8 weeks in advance of the planned skills event/activity.

• This funding scheme is open all year round.  
• The deadline for application is the final Friday of each month.

Applications should be made via the online application portal.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with us about this scheme, please email skills.fundingschemes@screenireland.ie.

This page was last updated on 25.02.2026