Call for Applications: Audience Design Consultancy with Síle Culley
Posted: 27th April 2026
With the support of Screen Ireland’s Audience Development funding, Síle Culley will be running an audience design consultancy to help Irish production companies grow their understanding of audiences.
Three selected production companies will each receive bespoke and tailored audience design services from Síle Culley on two projects from their slate. At least one of these projects must be in late-stage development and/or on the Screen Ireland production slate with an offer of funding received since 2024.
About the Consultancy
Audience Design is the process of identifying the potential audiences and appeal of a project as it moves from script to screen. It helps sharpen the Director’s creative approach, strengthens the positioning and originality of the project in the marketplace, and reassures financiers and stakeholders that the end consumer has been considered. It looks at empathy and ways to engage with audiences, at what can be captured during production to support this, as well as at partnerships that extend its reach.
The Audience Design consultancy is like a toolbox, filled with prompts, questions and exercises designed to help us dig deeper into the heart of what the filmmakers are making and figure out who’s going to love it (or hate it). As part of this consultancy, each production company will receive in-person workshops on two of their projects. During the workshop, you will cover for each project:
- Critical analysis of the project, including SWOT
- Setting and understanding USP (B2B + B2C)
- Defining core of the story through themes + emotions work
- Audience cluster work + building personas and touchpoints
- Ideation challenges
The aim of this consultancy is to give the team focus and a strategy to work from, to encourage better-suited partners and to gain confidence in how to talk about target audiences.
The workshops will take place from June 2026-March 2027. Each workshop is in person and takes place over two days. Exact dates will be confirmed with the selected companies. The director and producer must be available to attend, and we encourage the writer to also take part.
A small contribution towards travel costs is available for companies attending from outside of Dublin. A small stipend is also available for those with caring responsibilities.
Who can apply
Applications can be submitted by production companies only.
At least one of the submitted projects must have been funded by Screen Ireland and meet one of the following criteria:
- One or both projects submitted must be funded by Screen Ireland with either an unquantified or quantified Fiction: Irish Production offer. This offer must have been awarded from 2024 onwards. The film must be expected to go into production in 2026 or 2027.
- One or both projects submitted must be funded by Screen Ireland with a Feature Film Additional Development funding offer. The offer must have been awarded from 2024 onwards. The film must be expected to go into production in 2026 or 2027.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the application form below and send to Jennifer.smyth@screenireland.ie by 1pm Monday 18th May.
Late, ineligible, or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Applicants will be notified in early June of the final decisions.
About Síle Culley
Síle Culley is an Audience Design consultant working with independent producers and established production companies throughout Europe, Australia and Latin America. She facilitates workshops for film teams to identify potential audiences and position their projects in the competitive marketplace, contributing to international festival premieres, world sales, theatrical releases, and millions in funding secured with bodies across the world.
Síle advises screen agencies on audience-centric approaches, including Nederlands Film Fonds, Estonian Film Institute, and VAF. She is a key advisor to Film i Väst, a returning partner of Screen Australia and TorinoFilmLab, an industry expert for Eurimages, and Director of The Audience Design Lab at the International Screen Institute in Vienna. She is a member of the European Film Academy and founder of The Breakfast Club, a peer-to-peer network for women working in the Business of Film.