TG4 in association with Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen announced a range of new supports for budding filmmakers at the Galway Film Fleadh this weekend.
The three organisations have announced a range of new Irish language development funds, aimed at supporting new & emerging talent.
Céim Eile is aimed at developing TV scripted drama, Tús will support short filmmakers, and a new factual short film scheme is also in the pipeline.
Mary Ellen Ní Chualáin, Commissioning Manager TG4 said they are, “committed to supporting Irish creative talent to produce compelling and contemporary stories in the Irish language.”
“We want to see more Irish language content screened at festivals and theatrical releases, as well as being available on TG4 and on TG4’s player worldwide.”
A one-off pilot scheme, Céim Eile welcomes applications for development for scripted single episode dramas of 30-minute duration with investment of €420,000.
Eight projects will be shortlisted with a development fund of €15,000 each, from which three will be chosen to go into production, with a budget of €100,000 apiece.
Submissions for Céim Eile scheme are required to have fluent Irish speakers whilst supporting a diversity of talent from different backgrounds and communities.
Applicants must form a partnership with an experienced production company as part of the submission with the means to bring the film to fruition both in development and production stages.
Andrew Byrne of Screen Ireland said. “Following our investment in Irish Language tv series development last year, we are delighted to further support new and emerging Irish Language voices and a diversity of talent.”
“These new initiatives allow a range of opportunity and for all audiences to be reached with authentic, ambitious and contemporary stories.”
A Scripted Short Film Initiative Tús 2022 was also announced during the Film Fleadh on Saturday.
The aim of this joint initiative Tús (meaning start) is to encourage, nurture and promote original drama in the Irish language and to support diverse creative voices le Gaeilge at an early stage in their careers.
The scheme aims to develop drama shorts between 10 and 12 minutes in duration.
Ten ideas will be shortlisted in Tús 2022 and will each receive development fee of €3,000. Three of those shortlisted will be produced with a budget of €30,000 each.
A factual shorts initiative with a €187,000 budget will also help to develop creative, ambitious Irish language documentaries for festival release, broadcast, and digital platforms.
The fund will support the development of 8 documentary projects (10’ approx. each) and 6 x circa 25-minute documentaries with a view to funding the production of 3 x 10’ shorts and 3 x 25’ tv documentaries.
Áine Walsh, Head of Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, said “Developing skills within the Irish speaking production sector has always been an integral part of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund”
“We are delighted to be partnering with TG4 and Fís Éireann on this initiative which will give new and emerging talent the opportunity to develop and produce short dramas and documentaries.”
“We are excited to see what new and wonderful stories and talent will emerge from this partnership,” she said.
More details are available on tg4.ie/ga/coimisiuin/
TG4, Ardán and Galway City of Film also announced today the inaugural TG4 / Ardán Short Documentary Film / Gearrscannán Funding Awards.
Two teams will be awarded funding to produce and deliver a Short Film Documentary as Gaeilge.
This award is open to filmmaking teams from Galway City and County and/or films produced in Galway City and County.
