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Focus Shorts

Focus Shorts

Focus Shorts is a short film scheme for the making of live-action, fiction films.

About the Funding

FOCUS SHORTS is a short film scheme for the making of live-action, fiction films that act as a proving-ground for Irish creative talents aspiring to write, direct and produce films for the cinema.

In keeping with Screen Ireland’s commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality, Focus Shorts particularly welcomes teams with these aims at the heart of their applications. Authentic voices telling diverse stories by film-makers from a variety of backgrounds should be the lifeblood of the emerging film landscape in contemporary Ireland. Screen Ireland is excited to help make these new films happen.

Focus Shorts aims to encourage strong, original storytelling, visual flair, and production values appropriate to the big screen. It offers an opportunity for producers, directors and writers to work in a professional environment that will bring their experience up to a higher level and can be seen as a stepping stone for more ambitious projects.

FOCUS SHORTS can be up to 10 minutes in length and receive a budget of up to €60K.

Films may be made in the English or Irish language. If produced in the Irish language, subtitling will be necessary for festivals & sales worldwide.

Parameters of the scheme

  • Duration:                    10 minutes maximum
  • Budget per film:*        Maximum €60,000 
  • Delivery:                      DCP, Prores & MP4                

* The application budget should reflect costs for delivery as above and subtitling if applicable.

Deadline

The deadline is Friday, 8th March 2024 at 1pm.

The online system will automatically close down at 1pm on this day so please ensure your submission is completed and submitted well in advance of the deadline as late applications will not be accepted by email or otherwise.

Who Can Apply

Applications are invited from producer/director/writer teams (where the producer and director are not the same person) subject to eligibility guidelines as follows:

  • Producers - must have previously produced at least one live action short film.
  • Directors - must have previously directed at least one live action short film.
  • Writers - must have previous writing experience eg. screen, published or online work (links to online work should be provided on their CV).
  • For application stage any one producer can be attached to a maximum of two  applications only.
  • Projects submitted twice before unsuccessfully may not reapply.
  • Producers, Directors & Writers may apply to make more than one FOCUS SHORTS film but may not receive funding through the scheme more than three times.
  • The scheme is not open to full-time students.
  • FOCUS SHORTS is a career-evolving initiative for applicants who can provide examples of their previous work.

For the avoidance of doubt, the writer, director and producer must all be attached at application stage and a comprehensive CV should be submitted for each individual. Please note biogs will not suffice.

Application requirements

Important Note on Timeframe

  • When preparing your submission applicants should carefully consider the production timeframe. It is the producer’s responsibility to ensure that the schedule and budget are achievable and that they are working to bring projects to delivery by end of May 2025. Late delivery can affect future applications.

Important Features of the Scheme

  • FOCUS SHORTS films should be originated and creatively led by talent who are Resident in the Republic of Ireland and produced by an ROI registered production company using an ROI based crew. Irish Citizens living abroad for a time may also be considered if prepared to return home for the entirety of their production if successful in securing funding.For the avoidance of doubt, if any applicant, creative contributor or HoD is neither an Irish citizen nor is Resident in the Republic of Ireland, they are not eligible to either apply to or participate in the scheme. Please consider this very carefully before deciding to apply.
  • The production company used to contract with the funder must be limited & registered in the ROI and only one company may be used to produce the film.
  • Should a project be shortlisted, a company director of the applicant production company must be present at the interview.
  • One producer only may be approved and credited for selected projects where they will be expected to assume full responsibility for the production.
  • The Executive Producer credit and role lies with Screen Ireland only as the sole funder of the project.
  • The proposed team must demonstrate their ability and methodology to complete the project on schedule and to the agreed specification. The funders will hold the producer responsible for the project and as such the producer should ensure they have full commitment from their team prior to commencement.
  • Producers must provide evidence of their ability to acquire all rights worldwide in perpetuity in all forms of media now known and to be invented.
  • Particular attention should be paid to adaptation, life rights or any necessary archival materials that are essential to the project ensuring the rights are available worldwide in perpetuity in all forms of media. Evidence of availability from the source must be included with the application and costs accounted for in the submission budget.
  • No outside source of funding may be added to the offer made by the funder.

The following rates will apply to the production budgets of all films made under the scheme:

The Writer, Director and Producer fees should be in line with the budget, the overall cost of the project and the intentions of the scheme. Fees deemed excessive will be adjusted should projects be selected.

  • Daily rate for cast & crew:      €150
  • Insurance:                               Allow 1.2% of budget
  • Contingency:                          Allow 5% of budget (production fee’s disallowed)

Screen Ireland will have approval rights over the following elements of all films made under the scheme:

  • Shooting script (and Screen Ireland may appoint a script editor in certain cases)
  • Budget
  • Shooting Schedule
  • Casting including voice-cast requires pre-approval
  • Key technical crew – requires pre-approval
  • Rough Cut
  • Credits

Any significant changes to a successful project’s screenplay, schedule, key personnel or cast that are not approved by Screen Ireland may result in the award being withdrawn. If such changes are necessary, they must be discussed with Screen Ireland.

Rights      
  • Screen Ireland will retain non-exclusive rights in all media in Ireland and non-exclusive promotional rights for the rest of the world.  The rest of the distribution rights will remain with the film maker who can choose to appoint a sales agent or distribute the film themselves.  Screen Ireland feel this will provide vital training in the area of distribution and will enable filmmakers to build relationships with distributors directly.
Festivals
  • Screen Ireland will arrange a festival strategy meeting with filmmakers of completed projects where together we will consider the best options. A separate limited budget will be made available to producers for this, therefore festival expenses should not be included in the production budget.
Procedure
  • Submissions will be examined, with consideration given to the treatment, creative notes and the creative team. We welcome applications which pay attention to authentic inclusivity and diversity within their subject matter and their teams. We aim to achieve gender balance across the selected creative teams.
  • A shortlist of teams will be invited to attend an interview.
  • After a project has been shortlisted for interview, any significant changes to the treatment, schedule or key personnel may result in the withdrawal by Screen Ireland of the proposed interview. If such changes are necessary at this stage, they must be discussed with Screen Ireland.
  • Should a project be selected for funding, any subsequent significant changes to the team or the story must be presented to the Board for approval and may result in the offer being revoked.
  • Teams selected must attend an information day in order to be entitled to claim their funding.
Application Materials

In order to thoroughly assess the potential of applications the following materials are required:

  • Logline and Synopsis
  • Script
  • Directors Notes
  • Producers Notes
  • Links to director’s previous live action work
  • Detailed production budget in Euro
  • Signed Evidence of Ownership of Rights (to include any necessary permissions for adaptation and/or archival clearances from their sources)
  • Comprehensive CVs clearly outlining relevant previous experience for writer, director and producer roles

The deadline is Friday, 8th March 2024 at 1pm.

How to Apply 
  • Applications can be made online using the 'Make an Application' button on this page.
  • Applications which do not meet the criteria set out in these guidelines will automatically be deemed ineligible for consideration.
  • Applicants must apply through a Production Company/Producer account in the Screen Ireland online application system.

For any enquiries relating to this scheme please email: shortsapplications@screenireland.ie

Online submission opens Tuesday, 16th January 2024.

This page was last updated on 16/01/2024.