Frameworks

About the Funding

FRAMEWORKS is an initiative for the support of short animation filmmaking. It is a flagship scheme for the Irish animation sector which has produced global award-winning films to a consistently high standard. This scheme is for professionals already working in the animation industry and is not a training scheme. Projects selected for funding will combine creative exploration with an ability to appeal to a general audience, however, please note this is not a scheme aimed at children.  
 
The scheme is co-funded by Screen Ireland & RTÉ. Films may be made in English or Irish (if produced in the Irish language subtitling will be necessary for festivals & sales worldwide).

Parameters of the scheme

Films can be between two (2) and five (5) minutes in duration. Budgets can be between €13,000 and €14,500 per minute depending on format. The scheme recognises that economies of scale occur in films of longer duration and therefore cost per minute at the lower end of the scale may be applicable.                                        

• Method: All forms of animation acceptable.
• Delivery: DCP & MP4.               

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

Please note in the case of a preliminary offer being made we reserve the right to adjust budgets and script lengths should we feel the projects would benefit from this.

Structure of the Frameworks scheme

This scheme seeks high-quality, concise, imaginative storytelling to be delivered by applicants wishing to make an impact on the domestic and international stage. Applicants should demonstrate previous experience in delivering high quality animation.  

The proposal should showcase the director and creative team’s outstanding talent and be of a storytelling and visual standard capable of attracting world-wide festivals and distribution.  

We would encourage less experienced applicants to apply for funding for shorter films (eg. 2 minutes). 

We remind applicants that for longer films (ie. films longer than 2 minutes in duration) it is advisable to apply through a studio with a proven ability to deliver high quality animation projects.  

Frameworks projects are selected with an expectation of achieving international success, and this particularly applies to the higher budget films. Frameworks films are broadcast on RTE television and on RTE Player.  

Who Can Apply

Applications are invited from producer/director/writer teams (where the producer and director are not the same person) applying through a limited company registered in Ireland subject to eligibility guidelines as follows: 

• Producers - must provide a CV demonstrating their ability to produce animation.  
• Directors - must have previously directed at least one animated short film or substantial sequence in a film or series. 
• There is no restriction on the number of Frameworks a Producer can receive funding for, however if a producer has previously produced a Frameworks and failed to deliver the project fully, they would be ineligible to apply. 
• Directors may apply to make more than one FRAMEWORKS film but may not receive funding through the scheme more than three times during a ten-year period.  
• Projects submitted twice before unsuccessfully may not reapply. 

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 biographies will not suffice.  

Application Materials

To thoroughly assess the potential of applications the following materials are required: 

• Logline and Synopsis 
• Script 
• Visual examples i.e. characters, background etc. 
• Director’s Notes 
• Producer’s Notes 
• Links to director’s previous animation work - All Vimeo links must be rated for all audiences. The panel must be able to watch the previous credits in full. Trailers and teasers should not be submitted. An IMDB link or general website link will not suffice. 
• Summary production budget in Euro  
• If a project is based on any underlying materials (e.g. a short story, novel etc…) any necessary permissions for adaptation and/or archival clearances from their sources should be included 
• Comprehensive CVs clearly outlining relevant previous experience for writer, director and producer roles 

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 the agreed deadline. The scheme recognises that some animation methods are more time consuming and delivery deadlines are open to discussion at pitching stage.  

Important Features of the Scheme

• FRAMEWORKS 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. 

  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.  

• 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.  

• Should a project be shortlisted, a company director of the applicant production company should be available for the interview. 

• 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.  

• Screen Ireland & RTÉ are the sole funders of the project and will take Executive Producer roles and credits. No outside source of funding may be added to the offer made by Screen Ireland & RTÉ. 

• The following applies to 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. 

  - Insurance:        Allow 1.2% of budget 

  - Contingency:        Allow 5% of budget (a production fee and/or company overhead should not be included) 

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

  - Final script (and the funders may appoint a script editor in certain cases) 

  - Budget 

  - Production Schedule 

  - Casting voice and/or other cast requires pre-approval 

  - Animatic, Rough Cut and Final Animation Stages 

  - Credits 

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

Rights

Screen Ireland will retain non-exclusive rights in all media in Ireland and non-exclusive promotional rights for the rest of the world.  RTÉ will retain non-exclusive internet rights and a number of broadcasts in Ireland. 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.   

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. 

How to Apply

• Applications can be made online using the 'Make an Application' button on this page.  
• The online system will automatically close down at 1pm on Friday 1st May 2026 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. 
• 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  
• For any technical issues or queries when applying, please email: technicalsupport@screenireland.ie  

The deadline is 1pm Friday 1st May 2026.

This page was last updated on 02/03/2026.