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Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland) provide a wide range of production funding programmes to enable and encourage high levels of production activity across the film, television, and animation sector. Further details about these programmes and making an application can be found below.  For any queries that are not answered in this document please contact the Production & Development Coordinator. Please also refer to the Producers Resource Section of the Screen Ireland website for other useful documents and information. 

Guiding Principles

Screen Ireland’s assessment and decisions in relation to funding are guided by factors which include editorial and creative merits as well as a number of important investment considerations. 

Our principles for review are broken down under the following headings:

  • Creative Vision  
  • Talent Development 
  • Accessing Audiences
  • Culture & Additionality 
  • Industry Growth & Creative Ambition

Creative Vision

Screen Ireland supports the pursuit of high-quality audiovisual works. We are committed to funding projects of increased value to the Irish and international market, which represent our identity, creativity and storytelling strength in a clear, powerful and authentic way. 

In considering whether to support a project for funding, Screen Ireland will focus on the following editorial objectives: 

  • Clarity of Vision 
  • Authenticity & Originality 

All projects must clearly indicate their aims and objectives and how they plan to achieve (in terms of development funding) or have achieved these targets. 

Proposals for funding should be clear and concise in terms of their submission. Those proposals which directly indicates the opportunity and sets out the pathway forward in terms of the creative proposal and its journey are favoured. 

Clarity can be achieved through rigorous examination of not only the broader proposal and copy, but also by ensuring the creative world, characters and broader themes of any submission are clearly indicated within the proposal. 

Whilst there is scope for continued development, Production applications will need to be fully formed, and the basic foundation of the above creative elements clearly understood and considered.

In the case of Development, whilst some of these elements may not be fully formed, a clear statement of intent and process should be indicated. 

Screen Ireland funding will be directed towards projects that offer an authentic and original purpose, ensuring high quality creative work, though the talents of Irish writers, directors, producers and other key personnel. 

At the heart of Screen Ireland funding, is the support of new, ambitious, and authentic stories which offer a new perspective and drive a different sensibility and understanding on screen. This creates opportunities to project a broad range of diverse, talent driven narratives that connect to audiences due to their inherently distinctive and honest voice, ultimately defining a unique USP. 

Funding decisions will favour those creative talents who bring to the screen a strongly individual view of the world, and who create works that give a new and/or reinvigorated approach to that experience. 

These requirements do not mean that existing forms or genres will be avoided, but instead that the Irish writers, directors and producers supported will bring a fresh approach and new thinking to these forms or genres. 

Given the limited capacity for market, Irish talent will need to be able to work with talent from other countries on projects being funded by Screen Ireland, and originality will continue to be factored in as part of the assessment of the combined talents of all parties involved.

Talent Development

At the core of Screen Ireland funding is the development of Irish talent, which includes a broad range of diverse voices and backgrounds. 

We actively encourage and seek out opportunities to support an increasingly wide range of perspectives and viewpoints through the projects and stories that we fund. 

Strong preference will be given to submissions which: 

  • are of Irish initiation in a creative sense; that is, conceived, written, produced and/or to be directed by Irish talents
  • entail new, emerging, and diverse Irish talent in key creative roles, i.e. director, writer, producer, composer, principal actor and other heads of departments.

Accessing Audiences

Screen Ireland is increasingly focused on ensuring that funding decisions will favour projects that reach a clearly defined audience. 

This does not mean that Screen Ireland is only interested in supporting material with commercial prospects, but instead that it is open to considering projects that may appeal to a wide range of viewers, be they commercial, arthouse, festival-going or cross platform etc. 

Particular emphasis will be placed on a project’s potential to engage its intended audience, as well as the planned approach and scale of the project. A clear audience opportunity must be present and considered as part of each individual proposal with a focus on reaching new and diverse communities and a broad range of interests.

Culture & Additionality 

In responding to needs of the Irish audiovisual production industry, Screen Ireland considers that certain projects, in terms of their content, provenance or benefit to the industry, represent clear priorities for its funding. 

Screen Ireland places increased importance on projects and submissions that are culturally representative and offer unique Irish perspectives. Submissions which offer further opportunity to find a voice for our rich culture and traditions are recognised within our review and we seek to ensure there is a range of traditional and modern Irish themes and topics supported as part of our funding. This includes content which focuses on Irish Heritage, diverse Communities and Landscape and offers a contemporary relevance to the Irish perspective and history. 

Strong preference will be given to submissions which: 

  • tell Irish stories, drawing on and depicting Ireland's culture, history, way of life, view of the world and of itself 
  • are made wholly or predominantly in the Irish language 

An essential rationale for making public money available to an industry is that it should create activity that would not otherwise occur, i.e. that the market, left to itself, would not create. 

It follows that audiovisual works backed by the Screen Ireland should be those that would not be made or would not be made with the same level of benefit to Ireland, unless enabled to do so with the support of Screen Ireland. Such audiovisual works and the benefits that flow from them represent ‘additional' economic activity. 

This does not mean that Screen Ireland is interested only in supporting material with limited commercial prospects. There is a wealth of evidence in our audiovisual history to show that the successes are frequently ground-breaking projects. 

Screen Ireland will give energetic backing to producers who display an ambition to achieve market success and to projects that display an awareness of the market while at the same time providing a challenge to existing perceptions of what the marketplace expects.

Industry Growth & Creative Ambition

Screen Ireland also supports projects that offer an increased growth trajectory for the Irish Audiovisual Sector. 

Screen Ireland is seeking to achieve further innovation in creative storytelling, targeting local and international opportunity and building creative producers, talent and a broader industry of scale through increased international partnership and visibility, whilst also supporting continuous employment and spend in the Irish economy. 

Serious attention will also be paid to submissions which: 

  • propose a distinctly Irish project (in terms of setting, characters, etc.) that has international investment and is a partnership of Irish and non-Irish talent. 
  • involves an Irish producer as minority co-producer where (a) Screen Ireland is convinced of the quality of the project and (b) the amount of the Screen Ireland's investment corresponds to the level of involvement of Irish personnel, elements (shoot, postproduction, etc) and facilities in the project. 

Screen Ireland will always be vigilant in ensuring that investments entail a high volume of expenditure on Irish personnel and in the Irish industry, and this aspect of a submission is likely to play a material part in a positive decision. 

Further Consideration will also be given in relation to:

  • Has the producer managed and delivered audiovisual works in a professional and efficient manner before? 
  • Has Screen Ireland had positive previous experience when dealing with the producer and the creative team? 
  • In a co-production, do the non-Irish producers involved have good professional track records?

  • Are the key creative and technical positions to be filled by Irish personnel? 
  • In a co-production, is the proportion of these appropriate?
  • Will the production offer quality employment to Irish personnel across all possible grades?

  • Will the work be made in the Republic of Ireland? 
  • Will the project make extensive use of Irish production and post-production facilities?  
  • Will the project attract inward investment into the Irish economy?

  • Is there target against international sales for the film or television series? 
  • Does the project have a distributor attached?
  • Are any sales agents, distributors or broadcasters providing production finance?

  • Are the proposed co-financiers of the film or television programme reliable? 
  • Will the proposed financing arrangements allow Screen Ireland to negotiate a reasonable recoupment position? 
  • Will there be reasonable transparency of accounting with regard to sales revenues, e.g. by use of a collection agent?

Further Note: Some Screen Ireland funding programmes have specific criteria of their own and are not necessarily governed by all of the principles set out above. 

Cinema Distribution

Distribution Support is provided to Irish distributors of Screen Ireland-backed films who demonstrate that funding from Screen Ireland will enhance the promotion of a film in the Irish market. Direct Distribution/Exhibition Support is provided to Irish producers to help defray the cost of a limited theatrical release in Ireland (including Northern Ireland) for feature films already in receipt of Screen Ireland production funding that have been unable to secure suitable theatrical distribution by a bona fide Irish distribution company but that still have clear potential to reach and engage an Irish audience.

Production Funding Overview

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland) provides loans to assist with the production of projects through the following schemes:

Loan LEVEL OF FUNDING AVAILABLE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Fiction: Irish Production

(Eligible for Enhanced Production Funding For Female Talent)

 Screen Ireland can provide production funding in line with the Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure Guidelines with the following conditions:

Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) (if applicable).

In all brackets of Fiction: Irish Production an Irish producer(s), Irish writer(s) and Irish director(s) must be attached to a project for it to be eligible for the maximum levels in these brackets. 

 Live Action or Animated Feature Films
  1. For projects with budgets of up to €3 million, Screen Ireland can provide up to 70% of the budget with a maximum of up to €950,000.

1. Projects in this bracket will be expected to have market and/or festival potential.

The director’s track record will also be taken into account for applications in this bracket.

  
  2. For projects with budgets of over €3 million and not more than €7 million, Screen Ireland can provide up to 65% of the budget with a maximum of up to €1,200,000. 2. Projects in this bracket must have an Irish distributor or international sales interest before application to ensure market interest.  
  3. For projects with budgets of over €7 million and not more than €20 million, Screen Ireland can provide up to 65% of the budget, with a maximum of up to €1,300,000. 3. Projects in this bracket must have substantial international sales interest and substantial pre-sales/a sales advance attached before application.  
Fiction: Creative Co-Production

1.5:1 spend ratio in line with Admissible Irish Expenditure. Screen Ireland can provide a maximum of €350,000 per project.

Post-production only will be in the range of €150,000 per project.

 Teams of Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) (where the Irish producer is the minority co-producer) Live Action or Animated Feature Films
TV Drama Production (Eligible for Enhanced Production Funding for Female Talent)

Projects with budgets up to €6.5 million Screen Ireland can provide 20% of budget to a max of €650,000 

Projects with budgets of more than €6.5 million Screen Ireland can provide 10% of budget to a max of €950,000

 Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) (if applicable) Live Action
Documentary Production (Eligible for Enhanced Production Funding For Female Talent) Up to 65% of the budget with Screen Ireland investment up to a maximum of €250,000 per project.  Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s), and Director(s) 
(if applicable)		 Cinematic Feature Length Documentaries
Documentary Series Production Up to 65% of the budget with Screen Ireland investment up to a maximum of €250,000 per project. Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s), and Director(s) 
(if applicable)		 Documentary Series
Documentary: Creative Co-Production Up to 65% of the budget with Screen Ireland investment up to a maximum of €150,000 per project. Teams of Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) (where the Irish producer is the minority co-producer) Cinematic Feature Length Documentaries
TV Animation Production Up to €400,000 Teams of Irish Producer(s), Writer(s) and Director(s) (if applicable) Animated TV series or single
Completion Funding

Up to €100,000 for a live action or animated feature length film.

Up to €50,000 for a feature length documentary film.

Eligible projects will be required to demonstrate festival and / or distribution commitment

 Teams of Irish Producer(s), Director(s), and Writer(s) Live Action, Animated, or Documentary Feature Films 

Applicants should note that in light of the pressure on Screen Ireland resources, awards considerably less than the maximum amounts available are more likely to be offered. 

Applicants should also note, for Irish Production applications where the writer(s) or director(s) are not Irish, any funding awarded will be significantly less than the numbers for Irish Production listed above.

Enhanced Production Funding for Female Talent

This production funding applies only to projects which qualify for the Fiction: Irish Production (live action and animated feature films), Documentary Production funding schemes (feature length cinematic documentary films) and TV Drama Production: Live Action. 

This production funding is available for Irish female talent only (born, resident or domiciled in Ireland). 

This funding will be made available in addition to the amount/limits currently available as stated in the Production Funding guidelines. 

For Fiction: Irish Production the maximum amount of enhanced production funding available to a project is €100,000 as follows: 

  • €50,000 will be available to a project with a female Writer attached where the Writer is the originating and lead Writer.
  • €25,000 will be available where a female Writer is part of the originating co-writing team. 
  • A maximum of €50,000 is available for a project with multiple female Writers. 
  • Note this does not apply where a female Writer(s) is not the originating/lead Writer(s). 
  • €50,000 will be available to a project with a female Director attached. 
  • €25,000 will be available where a female Director is part of a mixed gender co-directing team. 
  • A maximum of €50,000 is available for a project with multiple female Directors. 
  • €100,000 will be available to a project with a female Writer/Director attached. 

For Documentary Production the maximum amount of enhanced production funding available to a project is €25,000 as follows: 

  • €25,000 will be available to a project with a female Director attached. 
  • €12,500 will be available where a female Director is part of a mixed gender co-directing team. 
  • A maximum of €25,000 is available for a project with multiple female Directors. 

For TV Drama Production the Irish Producer must be, at a minimum, a creative collaborator and an equitable co-owner of the Intellectual Property of the television drama being produced. The maximum amount of enhanced production funding available to a project is €100,000 as follows:

  • €50,000 will be available to a project with a female Director attached to direct the full production. 
  • €25,000 will be available where a female director is directing one block of episodes. 
  • A maximum of €50,000 is available for a project with multiple female Directors. 
  • Where a female director is directing individual episodes this will not be eligible for the uplift.
  • €50,000 will be available to a project with a female Writer where the female writer is the originating and lead writer. 
  • €25,000 where a female Writer is part of the originating co-writing team.
  • €25,000 where a female Writer is the sole writer on at least two episodes. 
  • Where female Writer is not sole writer on at least two episodes this will not be eligible for the uplift.
  • A maximum of €50,000 is available for a project with multiple female Writers.

This funding will be available until further notice. This funding will not be applied retrospectively. 

As with all applications received by Screen Ireland, each submission will be assessed utilising the Screen Ireland’s general Principles and Criteria with particular attention paid to the editorial strength of the screenplay, track record of the creative team, market appetite, feasibility of the production budget and finance plan as well as readiness for production. 

The total Screen Ireland funding awarded (including this enhanced support) cannot exceed the Screen Ireland’s state sanctioned Regulations and Limits. The total Screen Ireland funding awarded must comply with the Screen Ireland’s Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure guidelines.

Regulations & Limits

The amount of funding that can be awarded to applicants by Screen Ireland under many of these programmes is limited by regulations agreed with the Irish government or laid down by the European Commission.

Under European Commission rules with regard to intensity of state aid (i.e. the amount of funding in a project derived from subsidy funds, tax-based incentive schemes or any other support mechanisms), the amount of state aid used to finance a film project may not exceed 50% of its total cost, subject to , inter alia, where the film is considered to be ‘low budget' or ‘difficult' (see paragraph below); 

Note that the value of the funds raised under Section 481 in Ireland and awards made from Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Fund are both regarded as state aid, and that in an international co-production, the amount of state aid in a project is the aggregate of all such funding provided by all the co-producing countries.

The Department of Culture, Communication and Sport certify if a project is ‘low budget’.

Screen Ireland is authorised to certify a film to be made in Ireland as ‘difficult'. The approved definition of ‘difficult' can be found here.

With regard to production funding, there are Irish government regulations that limit the amount that can be provided by Screen Ireland. In addition, Screen Ireland will also apply funding arrangements and limits. The limits are as outlined above.

There are certain special conditions attached to Screen Ireland funding including: 

  • The production budget must contain adequate line items for the making of marketing materials. 
  • The post-production schedule must allow adequate time for a Test Screening of the film. The test screening is mandatory and will be arranged and paid for by Screen Ireland.
  • A theatrical release in Ireland is expected for all feature films in receipt of Irish Production Funding (although exceptions may be made for documentaries).

Please note that all of the above funding limits are subject to alteration in the event that wholly exceptional circumstances apply to a particular project. Screen Ireland will require that such wholly exceptional circumstances are set out in detail in writing with any application. Given the levels of budget constraints currently in existence, it is not anticipated that any wholly exceptional circumstances will be accepted by Screen Ireland in the near future.

A fundamental principle of Screen Ireland funding for production is that the entire amount invested in a project must be spent on Irish personnel, goods and services. Where only part of the production of a project will take place in the Republic of Ireland, producers should be aware that the amount of funding requested from Screen Ireland may be limited by the amount of such Irish expenditure to be incurred.
 
This is likely to apply most frequently to projects structured as minority Irish co-productions and eligible for Fiction: Creative Co-production funding from Screen Ireland. It may also be relevant to animation feature projects (typically made as multi-country co-productions) and to Fiction: Irish Production projects where little or no shooting takes place in Ireland.

Application Process

Please follow the link to the Online Application Portal from the Screen Ireland website and follow the instructions. Should you encounter any issues, please email technicalsupport@screenireland.ie at least 24 hours in advance of the deadline.

If the project is already in development with Screen Ireland, please contact the relevant Project Manager to discuss making an application. For new projects, prior consultation with a member of the Production & Development team is NOT required in order to make an application for production funding. Screen Ireland Head of Audiences Emma Scott must be consulted prior to making an application for Distribution Support or Direct Distribution funding.*

Production Funding Deadlines for the year will be published on the Screen Ireland website. All applications must be submitted before 1pm on the day of the deadline.

Screen Ireland reserves the right to amend or change the deadline dates from time to time. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they are aware of any amendments to the deadline dates.

Additional material received after the application deadline will not be accepted and will not be taken into account in considering the application, unless such additional material has been specifically requested by a member of the team. Decisions will generally be reached within 10-12 weeks of the submission deadline.

2026 Production and Distribution Funding Deadlines

  • 30th March 2026 at 1pm
  • 13th July 2026 at 1pm
  • 26th October 2026 at 1pm

* Distribution applications outside of the published deadlines may be considered on an exceptional basis, if a compelling reason is presented to and approved by the Head of Audiences.

Assessment Process

A project will be considered for production funding by Screen Ireland only if it is submitted by an independent production company which is resident in the State, or is resident in an EEA State other than the State and carries on business in the State through a branch or agency which must: 

  • Be tax compliant in the Republic of Ireland,
  • Make an ongoing significant contribution to the culture and development of the Film and TV industry in the Republic of Ireland,
  • There must be a company director committed to making the film or TV project.

Applications will be assessed by members of the Project Group utilising Screen Ireland Principles & Criteria at a funding meeting comprising of members of the Screen Ireland Production, Development & Distribution team, members of the Legal & Business Affairs team and consultants, as required. The decisions taken by the Project Group will be expressed as recommendations to the Board of Screen Ireland and then the investment decision will be made by the Board of Screen Ireland and thereafter be communicated to Applicants. 

Following an unsuccessful decision by the Board, a project may be re-submitted to Screen Ireland only if significant, material changes have been made to the package (i.e. to the screenplay, to key creative elements such as casting, or to the production cost). Screen Ireland will only consider a project submitted to a funding programme twice – if an application is unsuccessful following a second submission, it is no longer eligible within that funding programme.

Funding Options

If an application is awarded funding by Screen Ireland, applicants may receive one of two offers as follows: 

  1. An Unquantified Offer of Commitment of production funding available for a 12-month period.
  2. A Quantified award of production funding available for 12-month period.

If a project is not submitted for quantification or contracted before the relevant expiry date the offer will automatically lapse and the applicant will be expected to re-apply via the Screen Ireland Online Application portal. 

All offers are subject to the availability of Screen Ireland funding. Due to the pressure on Screen Ireland funding, the duration and terms of offers are non-negotiable. 

Funding Conditions

  1. Funding is provided in the form of limited-recourse loans recoverable from a share of revenues from the exploitation of the project and also entitling Screen Ireland to a share of net profits.
  2. In making funding available, Screen Ireland pays close attention to the previous work of all individuals involved (including producers, co-financiers, sales agents and distributors) taking into account their creative abilities in audio-visual media as well as their professional competence and reliability. Screen Ireland production funding is generally provided during production in accordance with an agreed cashflow. Before starting to fund, Screen Ireland will need to be satisfied that all other providers of finance to the production are contracted and securely committed, and that the amount of finance available is sufficient to cover the entire budget.
  3. On all productions with a global production budget in excess of five (5) million euro it is a strict requirement of Screen Ireland that an approved completion guarantor has been engaged in relation to the production where Screen Ireland’s funding is to be made available during production.
  4. The appointment of an approved collection agent is a normal requirement of Screen Ireland.
  5. Screen Ireland funding may only be incurred on Irish costs (see guidelines on Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure below).
  6. Screen Ireland contractually requires that all rights relating to a project (especially a documentary) be cleared worldwide and in perpetuity across all media. This includes rights in all underlying materials, performers, music, archive footage etc.
  7. All projects in receipt of funding must be eligible for Errors & Omissions insurance and have an allowance for this within the submitted production budget.
  8. All projects in receipt of Screen Ireland funding must provide and allow for a contingency of 10% of the submitted production budget. Exceptions may be made in relation to documentaries on a case-by-case basis.
  9. Screen Ireland will require viable theatrical windows for all feature film projects especially those involving Broadcaster support. In the case of documentaries, Screen Ireland requires a minimum twelve-month theatrical window from the date of first festival screening. In the case of feature films, Screen Ireland requires a twenty-four month theatrical window from the date of the first theatrical screening.
  10. Projects supported by Screen Ireland Creative Co-production funding must be approved as official co-productions under a bilateral treaty or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production. Where in exceptional cases Screen Ireland agrees to waive this requirement, the project must still be structured as a bona fide co-production in which ownership, rights and revenues are shared among the co- producers. All co-productions with the UK, supported by Screen Ireland must be approved as official co-production. Screen Ireland will not waive the requirement for official status in respect of co-productions with the UK and as a result Screen Ireland cannot become involved in projects which have EIS or SEIS funding as part of their financing.
  11. In relation to Animation TV Production, the maximum amount available is predicated upon the production of the maximum number of standard episodes in a series (e.g. 52 x 11’). Where a fewer number of episodes are proposed, Screen Ireland investment is likely to reflect this.
  12. Any individual found in breach of their contractual obligations to Screen Ireland is not in a position to sign the Declaration of Compliance requirement when submitting an application.
  13. Screen Ireland will impose strict sanctions on any individual found in default of a contract which may involve precluding them from making any further funding applications to Screen Ireland for a designated period of time and reducing or cancelling any outstanding payments owing on a project.
  14. Each company will have to provide their Policy Suite to Screen Ireland as part of the conditions precedent to include - (i) health and safety policy, (ii) dignity in the workplace policy, (iii) grievance procedures, (iv) child protection policy, (v) diversity and inclusion policy, and (vi) sustainability policy.

Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure Guidelines

A fundamental principle of Screen Ireland funding for production is that the entire amount invested by Screen Ireland in a project must be spent on Irish personnel, goods and services. Where only part of the production of a project will take place in the Republic of Ireland, the amount of funding requested from Screen Ireland may be limited by the amount of such Irish creative expenditure to be incurred. In relation to the amount of investment to be sought from Screen Ireland for a project and the amount of admissible Irish creative expenditure to be incurred, Screen Ireland requires a 1.5:1 spend ratio on its investment. 

The definition of admissible Irish creative expenditure governing the level of Screen Ireland funding in a project is different from the definition of eligible Irish expenditure under the Section 481 tax incentive provisions. Screen Ireland currently regards the following as "Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure" for the purposes of its own investment:

  • Fees and salaries paid to Irish persons working in the Republic of Ireland or abroad

  • Per diems paid to any persons while working in the Republic of Ireland

  • Expenditure on goods and services purchased in the Republic of Ireland 

Please note that the following costs are not eligible as Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure: 

  • Travel costs of non-Irish persons unless travelling to/from Ireland in order to carry out work in Ireland

  • Payments for insurances, including completion bond

  • Payments for rights clearances in respect of music, literary work, archive material, etc.

  • Financing costs 

In the case of Ireland/UK Co-Productions where the production is taking place in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, as part of its considerations in relation to Screen Ireland funding, Screen Ireland may take into account the ratio of Section 481 and UK tax credit expenditure in relation to the project. 

With regard to development costs, these will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Payments to Irish persons (e.g. screenwriters) will clearly be admissible; other costs will be assessed taking account of the nationality of the producer primarily responsible for development and, in some cases, the provenance of development finance.

The above conditions on Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure are applicable to Fiction: Irish Production, Fiction: Creative Co-Production and Animation TV Production. It is likely to apply particularly to projects structured as minority Irish co-productions and eligible for Fiction: Creative Co-Production funding. They may also be relevant to animation feature films (typically made as multi-country co-productions) and to Fiction: Irish Production projects where little or no shooting takes place in Ireland. 

Please note that Screen Ireland Guidelines on Admissible Irish Creative Expenditure are subject to a periodic review.

Recoupment Principles

Screen Ireland seeks to recoup its investment pro rata pari passu with all other equity after the bank. We will accept certain market finance in first position such as gap finance and negotiated sales agent advance, expenses and commissions.  Producer investment must be made in cash and advanced to the production on closing.  Any recoupment of Section 481 is after Screen Ireland and before Net Profits. 

Recoupment Corridor Guidelines

Under Screen Ireland’s recoupment corridor system the Irish producer, Irish writer and Irish director of a feature film / television drama / feature documentary / animated project in which Screen Ireland has provided production funding are entitled to share in a recoupment corridor of 60% subject to certain terms and conditions. 

Recoupment Corridor Conditions

This recoupment corridor shall be broken down as follows:

  • Production Company,
  • 10% to Irish Director, and
  • 10% to Irish Writer.

In the event that one of either the writer or director are not Irish the recoupment corridor shall be as follows:

  • 45% to Production Company,
  • 10% to whichever of the writer or director are Irish.

In the event that neither the writer nor director are Irish the recoupment corridor shall simply be 50% to the Production Company.

In the case of Documentaries the recoupment corridor shall be as follows:

  • 45% to the Production Company,
  • 10% to the Irish Director.

In the case of TV drama series or animated TV series where there may be more than one Irish writer or Irish director involved the recoupment corridor shall be broken down as follows:

  • 40% to Production Company,
  • 10% to Irish Director(s) to be allocated pro rata based on the number of episodes directed, and
  • 10% to Irish Writer(s) to be allocated pro rata based on the number of episodes written.

To avail of any funds standing to the account of the recoupment corridor each participant must complete and submit the Recoupment Corridor Application Form, a copy of which is available on request. No participant may make a claim on behalf of another participant.

The recoupment corridor participant must provide Screen Ireland with all details of the proposed use of funds, which may only be spent on those activities for which Screen Ireland has been State Aid approved i.e. Project Development, Production (Features, TV Drama, Animation and Documentary), Distribution and Training in relation to a qualifying cultural product or service. Once approved payment of funds will be made on receipt of a valid invoice and tax clearance details. A budget and finance plan for the proposed activities is required by Screen Ireland, the detail of which will be determined by type and extent of the proposed activities. For example, in the development process if a writer/director is seeking to option certain material the finance plan may simply be the cost of the option fee; or where a writer/director is seeking to invest in the production of an Irish feature film the finance plan will detail the full list of the financiers of the proposed Irish feature film. The foregoing examples are for illustration purposes and are not intended to limit the proposed activities. 

Neither the recoupment corridor nor monies standing to its credit may be assigned or encumbered or otherwise transferred to any third party and in particular may not be offered by a corridor participant to any other financier as a recoupment source or alternative revenue entitlement. Nor may such monies be used to refinance expenditure already incurred by a corridor participant or by a corridor participant or by any person connected with the corridor participant. 

There must be a minimum of €1,000 standing to the applicant corridor participant’s credit in the recoupment corridor before the corridor participant is entitled to make an application to avail of funds.
This recoupment corridor shall not apply to any additional funding provided by Screen Ireland nor to Screen Ireland’s share of net profits. 

All offers are subject to the availability of Screen Ireland funding. Due to the pressure on Screen Ireland funding, the duration and terms of offers are non-negotiable.

Production Funding Policy on Marketing Materials

Production budgets for projects submitted for funding must contain line items adequate to cover the production of good quality marketing materials for your film. 

Marketing materials to be produced for delivery to sales agents and distributors must include:

  • A wide range of approved cast stills, cleared for use in key art (posters, etc) and for other promotional purposes, 
  • A wide range of production stills, 
  • Professionally prepared production notes, to include detailed interviews with director, screenwriter, producer, topline cast and key crew, 
  • An EPK (Electronic Press Kit), to include scenes from the film cleared for promotional use, interviews with topline cast, and behind-the-scenes footage showing production of the film. 
  • A publicist should be appointed to oversee the production of these items and assure their delivery. The budget allowances for marketing materials and personnel will be subject to Screen Ireland approval, and Screen Ireland will have the right to approve the appointed publicist, stills photographer and EPK team. 
  • Screen Ireland should be appropriately credited in any press coverage and on advertising/marketing materials including online databases such as IMDB etc.

Application Guide

Each Production funding scheme has specific requirements that must be referred to throughout all stages of the application process. 

For all Production applications:

  • Please ensure to log on to the online application and review all the specific application questions well in advance of each deadline. 
  • If it is an application for a project that is currently in development with Screen Ireland, please contact the relevant Project Manager before submitting. If it is an application for a new project, please submit directly through the online application portal. 
  • With the exception of Creative Co-Production applications, funding is generally provided by Screen Ireland for the making of projects predominantly in English or Irish, or a combination of the two. 
  • For fiction, feature film applications, projects must give rigorous detail on length of script to meet requirements of a feature length film release (85-120 minutes).

Fiction: Irish Production

About the Funding

This funding is for feature films originated and creatively led by Irish talent including directors, writers, and producers. Applications will generally express Irish culture in some way and the practical management must be primarily in Irish hands. This programme is open to live-action feature films or animated feature films. 

In respect of applications for projects with budgets of up to €3,000,000, the director’s track record will be taken into account. Therefore, evidence of their previous film directing work must be supplied. If the director has not previously directed a feature film they should supply a link to their completed short film.

Who Can Apply

Fiction: Irish Production funding is available to Irish producers. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen and an agreement in place with the screenwriter must be in place before an application is submitted. Where the project is a co-production, the Delegate Producer must be Irish.

Fiction: Creative Co-Production

This funding is for live-action or animated feature films (live-action or animated TV projects are not eligible) originating outside Ireland in which an Irish producer (ROI) is involved as a creative collaborator, not merely a service producer and provider of a minority of the finance needed. 

The film must be structured as an official co-production with third party funding from the leading territory in place and must employ key Irish talent. 

Priority will be given to projects that utilise Ireland as a film location, depict Ireland for Ireland, and where a number of key Irish HOD's and/or Irish cast are employed. Reciprocity from funding agencies in other jurisdictions will be sought in appropriate circumstances. 

Funding is unlikely to be given, or it will be limited, in cases of co-production where:

  • the eventual film will have little or no visual Irish content or no apparent cultural connection with Ireland 
  • no principal photography is taking place in the Republic of Ireland 
  • the Irish creative elements are limited to one or two actors and one or two HOD's working outside Ireland 
  • only a part of post-production is taking place in Ireland (full digital visual effects productions in Ireland will be positively regarded)

The full allowance will be considered in the following circumstances:

  • the film was shot entirely in Ireland, shows Ireland for Ireland on screen, and tells an Irish story 
  • the film is an adaptation of a work of Irish cultural importance 
  • the Writer and/or Director is Irish 
  • where major international distribution is attached at application stage 
  • where Irish talent have been cast in key roles

As a matter of principle, films supported by Screen Ireland Creative Co-Production funding must be approved as official co-productions under the relevant bilateral treaty or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production. Where in exceptional cases Screen Ireland agrees to waive this requirement, the film must still be structured as a bona fide co-production in which ownership, rights and revenues are shared among the co-producers. Screen Ireland will not waive the requirement for official status in respect of co-productions with the UK. 

Films funded under the Creative Co-Production programme may be made in any language.

Who Can Apply

Creative Co-Production funding is available to Irish producers. Funding is available to co-produce and collaborate creatively on a live-action or animated feature film originated outside of Ireland which is structured as an official co-production having secured third party funding from the leading territory. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen and an agreement in place with the screenwriter and director must be obtained before submitting an application. 

Documentary Feature Film Production

About the Funding

This funding is for documentary feature films originated and creatively led by Irish talent - directors, producers and writers - the practical management of which will be primarily in Irish hands. 

The emphasis is on feature-length, creative documentaries in English and Irish language with high cinematic production values which are capable of reaching an international audience through theatrical and festival exposure and on new platforms. 

Please note that documentaries aimed at a one-hour TV slot or shorter, with little or no international appeal, will not be supported.  Screen Ireland is determined to find and foster Irish talents capable of presenting non-fiction material in a way that transcends cultures and languages and utilises the aesthetic and emotional techniques of cinema to communicate its meaning.

Please note the following Screen Ireland conditions: 

  • E&O insurance is required on all Screen Ireland supported projects. 
  • All music and archive utilised in a project must be cleared worldwide, in perpetuity, across all platforms. Failure to comply with this will result in a serious breach of contract. 
  • Where Broadcaster support is involved, Screen Ireland will require a minimum twelve-month theatrical window from the first festival screening of the project. 

Screen Ireland is committed to growing companies that produce high-quality, internationally recognised documentaries in an efficient and responsible manner and to this end, the role of the producer is vital. 

Applications should present a clear understanding of the market and realistic plan for the exploitation of the film. Producers are encouraged to seek out international partnerships with producers, financiers, sales agents and distributors. 

Screen Ireland is open to considering co-productions through this scheme which follow the principles set out under Documentary: Creative Co-Production.

Who Can Apply

Documentary Production funding is available to Irish producers with a feature documentary project they wish to produce, with clear access to the necessary rights in any material and an agreement in place with the director, lead contributors, and screenwriter if applicable. Clear ownership of rights by the production company (not the individual producers) will be required.

Documentary Series Production

About the Funding

This funding is for documentary series originated and creatively led by Irish talent - directors, producers and writers – to create high end TV content with both an Irish and international audience and marketplace in mind - the practical management of which will be primarily in Irish hands. 

The emphasis is on documentary series with high production values which are capable of reaching an international audience and have already received market backing in this regard.  

Please note the following Screen Ireland conditions:

  • E&O insurance is required on all Screen Ireland supported projects. 
  • All music and archive utilised in a project must be cleared worldwide, in perpetuity, across all platforms. Failure to comply with this will result in a serious breach of contract.

Screen Ireland is committed to growing companies that produce high-quality, internationally recognised documentaries in an efficient and responsible manner and to this end, the role of the producer is vital. Applications should present a clear understanding of the market and supporting investment plan that ensures high value, high end production and series. Producers are encouraged to seek out international partnerships with producers, financiers, broadcasters, sales agents and distributors with details of same to accompany a submission.

Who Can Apply

Documentary Series Production funding is available to Irish producers with a documentary series project they wish to produce, with clear access to the necessary rights in any material and an agreement in place with the director, lead contributors, and screenwriter if applicable. Clear ownership rights by the production company (not the individual producer(s)) will be required. Projects must have a confirmed financial commitment from an international partner (i.e. distribution, sales, and/or broadcaster) prior to making an application for funding. 

Documentary Feature Film: Creative Co-Production

This funding is for documentary feature films (documentary series are not eligible) originating outside Ireland in which an Irish producer (ROI) is involved as a creative collaborator, not merely a service producer and provider of a minority of the finance needed. 

The film must be structured as an official co-production with third party funding from the leading territory in place and must employ key Irish talent. 

Priority will be given to projects with an Irish theme, Irish subject matter or Irish diaspora inclusion, and where a number of key Irish HOD's are employed. Reciprocity from funding agencies in other jurisdictions will be sought in appropriate circumstances. 

Enhanced funding will be considered in the following circumstances:

  • the film was shot entirely in Ireland and tells an Irish story 
  • the Writer and/or Director is Irish 
  • where major international distribution is attached at application stage

Funding may be limited, in cases of documentary co-production where:

  • the Irish creative elements are limited to one or two HOD's working outside Ireland 
  • only a part of post-production is taking place in Ireland

As a matter of principle, films supported by Screen Ireland Creative Co-Production funding must be approved as official co-productions under the relevant bilateral treaty or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production. Where in exceptional cases Screen Ireland agrees to waive this requirement, the film must still be structured as a bona fide co-production in which ownership, rights and revenues are shared among the co-producers. Screen Ireland will not waive the requirement for official status in respect of co-productions with the UK. 

Films funded under the Creative Co-Production programme may be made in any language.

Who Can Apply

Creative Co-Production funding is available to Irish producers. Funding is available to co-produce and collaborate creatively on a documentary feature film originated outside of Ireland which is structured as an official co-production having secured third party funding from the leading territory. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen and an agreement in place with the writer and director must be obtained before submitting an application.

TV Drama Production

About The Funding

This funding is for TV drama series originated and creatively led by Irish talents – directors, writers, producers – to create indigenous TV content with both an Irish and international audience and marketplace in mind. Applications will generally express Irish culture in some way and the practical management must be primarily in Irish hands. Screen Ireland aims to drive the expansion of the indigenous TV drama production sector and provide opportunities for Irish talent to develop both creatively and professionally. 

Priority will be given to projects which meet the following criteria:

  • Undertaking principal photography in Ireland.
  • A clear commitment to the development of Irish female talent.
  • Provide an advanced stage bible with detailed outlines for every episode. TV projects with the maximum amount of available scripts will be viewed favourably.

Who Can Apply

TV Drama Production funding is available to Irish producers. Funding is available for a TV drama series. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen and an agreement in place with the screenwriter and director must be obtained before an application is submitted. Evidence of international marketplace finance and substantial broadcaster or TV streaming service funding must also be provided at application stage. Applications without substantial broadcaster or TV streaming service funding and/or international marketplace finance attached will not be supported.

Television Animation Production

About The Funding

This funding is for animated TV series originated and creatively led by Irish talents - directors, writers, producers, animators - the content of which will generally express Irish culture in some way, and the practical management of which is primarily in Irish hands. 

Who Can Apply

Animation TV Production funding is available to Irish producers. Funding is available for an animated TV single or series. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen and an agreement in place with the screenwriter, director and principal animator must be obtained before an application is submitted. Evidence of Broadcaster support must also be provided at application stage.

Completion Funding

About the Funding

This funding enables Irish filmmakers to complete a live-action, animated or documentary feature film (but not a TV drama, Documentary TV series, or short film) which has reached post-production stage or later (rough cut stage) without Screen Ireland support, shows great theatrical promise and is in need of further funding. 

Projects must be originated and creatively led by Irish talents - directors, writers, producers. Their content will generally express Irish culture in some way, and their practical management will be primarily in Irish hands.

Films that have screened outside of festival premieres and cast and crew and press events are ineligible.

Funding is available up to €100,000 for live action or animated feature films and up to €50,000 for feature documentaries to enable completion and delivery of the project to top class industry standards. A detailed budget listing the costs to complete must be submitted with any applications.

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

Important Notes

Assessment of applications for Screen Ireland Completion funding is rigorous, with approval given only in cases where the material shot is of exceptional quality, is considered viable for commercial exploitation and/or festival success, and where management of the production and its financing to date is transparent and clearly professional.

Screen Ireland’s investment is recoupable, and should be referenced in the recoupment schedule, to be approved by Screen Ireland’s Legal & Business Affairs department. Screen Ireland’s investment is recoupable alongside all other equity and ahead of any deferred fees.

Projects must have had adequate production insurances in place for the entire production period and evidence must be shown of obtaining E&O insurance cover. 

Emphasis is placed on projects that have garnered strong interest from world sales agents, distributors and/or international festivals. Applications should detail marketing plans and also the exploitation strategy from any attached/prospective market partners 

Screen Ireland Completion funding is generally provided during the remaining stages of production in accordance with an agreed cash flow. Before starting to fund, Screen Ireland will need to review and approve a full up-to-date cost report. Screen Ireland will also need to be satisfied that any other parties' material interests in the project have been satisfied by the producer, and that any other financiers who have invested in the project have agreed the terms on which Screen Ireland’s Completion funding will be provided. 

Screen Ireland Completion Funding is a highly competitive, limited fund. Any funding award must be expended on Irish elements.

Who Can Apply

Completion funding is available to Irish producers (independent production companies registered in the Republic of Ireland with an office and staff based in the Republic of Ireland). Funding is available for live-action, animated feature, or feature documentary projects. Clear access to the necessary rights in any material that has been adapted for the screen, full agreements in place with the screenwriter, director and all cast and crew, and evidence of production insurance and location clearances must be obtained before an application is submitted. Please note that funding is not available to assist the completion of projects that have not finished shooting.

How To Apply

Applicants must consult the Completion Funding Checklist and the applicable Production Funding Guidelines in advance of making a submission. Applications which do not meet the criteria set out in these guidelines will automatically be deemed ineligible for consideration. Please read these guidelines carefully before each submission as they are updated regularly.

If this is an application for a project that is currently in development with Screen Ireland, please contact the relevant Project Manager before submitting. If this is an application for a new project, please submit directly through the online application portal.

Funding application deadlines for Completion Funding will be published on the Screen Ireland website.

Completion Funding Checklist

The items detailed below are strictly required for all projects in order to be eligible to make a submission to Screen Ireland for Completion Funding, however Screen Ireland reserve the right to request additional documentation where necessary. 

  • Clear and detailed production budget and finance plan to date. 
  • Completion Budget and updated finance plan (to include financing of the completion of the film and elements to be covered by Screen Ireland Completion Funding. 
  • All executed agreements with any other person or company providing funding or facilities in relation to the project, indicating any recoupment positions already agreed (including a copy of the collection agreement if one is already in place). Screen Ireland Completion Funding must recoup alongside other equity financiers and ahead of any fee deferrals. 
  • Clear Chain of Title (executed agreements evidencing of ownership, by applicant, of sufficient rights in the screenplay, executed director and producer agreements with the applicant production company). 
  • Actors / Contributors release forms or long-form agreements where applicable. 
  • Location release forms. 
  • Evidence that full clearances (worldwide and in perpetuity across all media) are available for all music and archive materials utilised. 
  • Evidence that the costs of obtaining E&O insurance and a legal review are provided for in the Completion budget. 
  • Schedule of sufficient production insurances to cover all production activity to date. 
  • Quotes for all postproduction work required (to include delivery to a DCP). 
  • Certificate of Incorporation and company constitution. 
  • Up to date tax clearance details for the applicant production company. 
  • Proposal for potential festival and theatrical release strategy reflecting market interest in the project to date. 
  • Detailed outline of the work completed to date and the work that is yet to be completed.

Conflict of Interest Procedures

Screen Ireland adopts procedures in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform covering the personal interests of Board members and staff. In the normal course of business, Screen Ireland may approve grants or enter into other contractual arrangements with entities in which Screen Ireland Board Members or staff are employed or are otherwise interested.

The Board has robust conflict of interest procedures in place which are detailed in Screen Ireland’s code of conduct, but in summary: 

  1. Declaration of conflicts of interest are an agenda item at each Board Meeting. 
  2. A register of all Board Members’ interests is maintained by the Board Secretary. This register is updated regularly for any new conflicts which may arise subsequent to appointment. 
  3. In cases of potential conflict of interest, Board Members do not receive any documentation or otherwise participate or attend deliberations regarding these transactions. 
  4. A schedule of transactions in which a Board Member had an interest are disclosed in Screen Ireland’s annual report to ensure transparency. 
  5. Each Board Member completes an annual Statement of Interest for return to the Standards in Public Office Commission detailing any relevant interests in accordance with the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001. 
  6. All Board Members have received corporate governance training from an independent provider as part of their induction process and conflicts of interest are an important element of this training. 
  7. All funding awards are a matter of public record and are published on the Screen Ireland website in addition to the annual report.

Production, Development and Distribution Team Contacts

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