Nationwide Additional Production Fund FAQs

Please refer to the fund guidelines for further information.

• What rationale will the investment be assessed on?

Please see the criteria on the Screen Ireland website for full detail. Please note, in relation to Criteria Number 4 in particular the following applies: 

Screen Ireland encourages applicants to think creatively and originally on this criterion. There is no one-size fits all or standard answer. In relation to Criteria Number 4, we are looking for productions to help create a positive local legacy or wider nationwide engagement arising from temporary production activity. This requirement is additional to the skills development requirements of Section 481 and any National Talent Academy, Crew Academy or regional film office funding requirements.

Options for fulfilment include but are not limited to: 

1. Community engagement;
2. Mentoring or inclusion of individuals from areas that have not traditionally benefited from regular production activity;
3. Creating a longer term legacy which benefits the local industry or community as a result of the production;
4. Proposing innovative techniques for reaching new audiences to the project

• Is the Fund award recoupable?

Yes, the nationwide additional production loan is fully repayable to Screen Ireland.

• Is the funding automatic?

No, the NAPF is a limited fund and is increasingly competitive, therefore maximum amounts or the requested amounts are not guaranteed and finance plans should be estimated conservatively.

Please note that applications with demonstrated locally based HODs will be viewed more favourably or, in lieu of this, where there are experienced HODs who are not established locally, applications that show a high level of upskilling opportunities will be viewed more favourably.

• Is there a minimum budget or spend ratio?

Yes, under Strand One, the total global budget for a project must exceed €1,500,000. In relation to the amount of NAPF sought, Screen Ireland requires a minimum ratio of 3:1 nationwide expenditure relative to its NAPF investment.

Applications must also include a clear nationwide expenditure budget that specifies whether each line item is established regionally or locally.

• Can I apply if my company is established within the 65km radius from Dublin GPO?

Yes, you can apply. However, under Strand One, applications from bona fide companies established outside of the 65km radius from Dublin GPO will be encouraged. 

When will applications be assessed and decisions communicated?

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. A timeline for the decision will be communicated to each applicant on receipt of an application for NAPF. 

• When to submit an application?

Under Strand One, we recommend applications are submitted no earlier than 4-6 weeks in advance of commencement of principal photography. This is to ensure definitive Key Deliverables can be extracted from the application form.

• Can I amend/resubmit my application form once submitted?

Due to the nature and timing of the fund, once the application has been reviewed by the panel, no further amendments will be reviewed or considered. 

The panel will only review an application once before scoring and submitting for approval. The panel will not be in a position to review an application more than once.

• How are production hubs defined?

Any area outside of the 65km radius is considered a less established production hub. 

These areas outside of the 65km radius have not historically experienced the critical mass of production activity, nor do these areas have the facilities, comparable to those production hubs within the 65km radius.

• Is there a minimum period of principal photography required under Strand One?

In order to qualify for NAPF under Strand 1, Screen Ireland require a minimum period of two weeks (10 business days) of principal photography to occur in the area. Projects shooting for less than two weeks (10 business days) will not be eligible. Shoot periods of less than three weeks (15 business days) will likely not achieve maximum awards or anything near maximum. The longer the period of principal photography/animation the more favourably the application will be received.

• What is the process of receiving an award against my short film under Strand Two? 

As per guidelines your film must be selected as part of the Focus Shorts Programme and must not be in principal photography at time of application.

• Use of other public funding sources?

Any proposed use of NAPF funding cannot overlap with sources such as Section 481 or Pathways. For example, if you have 4 trainees set out in your s.481 skills development plan you should not list these same 4 trainees as NAPF trainees in your NAPF application. The trainees listed in the NAPF application must be additional to the trainees set out in your s.481 skills development plan.

• Is security required for NAPF funding?

Standard production security is required to be in place to release NAPF funding under Strand One only. Under Strand Three, in place of security for the NAPF funding, an acceptable recoupment position for Screen Ireland must be agreed before NAPF funding will be released.

• What are the delivery requirements?

A list of Key Deliverables will be extracted from the application form and scheduled to the NAPF agreement. To access the final instalment of an NAPF award a delivery report must be submitted and must include a cost report against the nationwide expenditure budget that was submitted at application stage.