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Production Continuation Fund

Production Continuation Fund

The Production Continuation Fund is to assist production companies deal with the uncertainties caused by the COVID–19 pandemic.

About the Funding

The Production Continuation Fund (PCF) is designed to assist production companies deal with the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is to assist production companies in covering the costs incurred by way of a documented incident of Covid-19 on set and which is not covered by other insurances. The PCF has operated very successfully since 2020 allowing film and TV drama production to take place in a more stable environment.

These PCF guidelines are reviewed on a continuing basis. The PCF is currently expected to operate until 31st December 2023.

The total fund available is a maximum of €5 million and the maximum amount available to any one production is €300,000. A production can make multiple claims, but the total amount claimed cannot exceed €300,000.  A production will only be considered eligible for the PCF once the application has been submitted and reviewed by Screen Ireland and the production company has been notified that they are covered by the scheme.   Once they have received notice of eligibility it will be effective for the full period of principal photography. In the event of a successful claim under the PCF, any drawdown of funds will be structured as a production loan and any drawdown of funds in the event of a claim application will be recoupable. There will be an excess applicable to any claim application of 1% (calculated on the value of the claim submitted).        

Productions should seek to maximise insurance cover in the normal course of business. 

The PCF is available for live action Feature Film and TV Drama only. In order to be considered eligible the production must have equity finance from at least one of the following: Screen Ireland, BAI, RTÉ, TG4, the Arts Council and/or Virgin Media.  The Irish production company must hold a meaningful and proportionate part of the Intellectual Property (IP) either as an original production or as a co-production. It also does not cover productions that have access to production insurances that do not contain any Covid-19 related exclusions. The fund does not cover broadcaster in-house production or broadcaster acquisitions.  

The project must be in receipt of a Section 481 Certificate which is evidence of the Cultural Test and the Industry Development Test. 

Application Process - Statement of Eligibility
  1. Each production must apply to Screen Ireland and receive a notification from Screen Ireland that the application has been reviewed and that the production is eligible and covered by the scheme.
  2. Each application should be accompanied by the top sheet of the Global Production Budget, full Finance Plan and the project is in receipt of cashflow, full Production Insurances, Section 481 Certificate, Evidence of ownership of IP (including a co-production agreement, if applicable), and full Health & Safety Protocols.
  3. Eligibility is also contingent of a confirmation from the production company that full financial closing has occurred.
  4. It is essential that productions effect the fullest insurance cover possible as they would in the normal course of business to mitigate losses.  Productions that have access to other forms of COVID-19 cover are not eligible.  Upon a review of the insurance documentation Screen Ireland may set out exclusions it considers appropriate or in line with market norms.     
  5. Eligible costs are those costs incurred in the Republic of Ireland to deal with an incident/incidents of Covid-19 on set and can include crew costs and testing costs.  It will not include historical production costs or costs already included in the production budget.  It will also not include finance costs, or overhead/production fees. For the avoidance of doubt the PCF only pertains to the Irish portion of the Shoot and where the COVID incident/incidents happen in Ireland.
  6. Any potential claim must be notified immediately are not eligible.
  7. In the event of an incident giving rise to a loss Screen Ireland must be informed immediately and will require further information – including schedules, up to date cast and unit lists, call sheets from 3 days before the Covid-19 incident and 3 days post, a narrative summary of the event(s) which is/are the subject of the claim and all steps taken as a result of the event(s) occurring, and any other information Screen Ireland may request in assessing the claim.  The adherence to the relevant protocols leading up to and following the event(s) will come under particular scrutiny and Screen Ireland must be of the view that the costs incurred as a result of an incident of Covid-19 are fully justified and vouched. Any amount which cannot be vouched or evidenced will not be taken into consideration when assessing the claim. 
  8. In the event of a claim any amounts recovered from other sources (such as other financiers and/or proceeds of any insurance claim) need to be factored in and advised to Screen Ireland.

Screen Ireland may, at its discretion, appoint a suitably qualified person to deal with the assessment of the quantum of any claim.

It is vital that the Irish producer keeps Screen Ireland fully up to date at all stages of the production and Screen Ireland should be consulted immediately on the occurring of an event(s) which may give rise to a claim application.

Any drawdown from the PCF is to be considered a production loan in line with the Screen Ireland State Aid approvals. 

Any drawdowns must also be in accordance with State Aid rules under the General Block Exemption with regard to the cumulation of State Aid.

A credit will be required in the final form of film in the end credits – “Supported by the Government of Ireland Production Continuation Fund”.

These guidelines may be subject to updates and clarifications.

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