Nominations open for Film Project Award (Ireland)

Objectives and Priorities

• There are two strands to this award and each has a specific purpose.
  • Strand 1: Research and Development
    • The purpose of this strand is to offer applicants an opportunity to research and develop ideas that could be developed into proposals for Strand 2 Production projects (i.e. they should be ideas for creatively ambitious and artistically authored film work of an experimental nature for exhibition in cinema, in the first instance) or for Reel Art or Authored Works.
    • Ideas for projects developed under Strand 1 are eligible to apply for Strand 2 or other Arts Council film funding as appropriate (e.g. Reel Art or Authored Works) in a subsequent year.
  • Strand 2: Production
    • The purpose of this strand is to support the making of creatively ambitious and artistically authored film work of an experimental nature that would be unlikely to receive support from other funding sources. The work should be filmic and be made with a view to engaging and challenging audiences. It should be made for public exhibition in cinema settings in the first instance, though secondary exhibition in other contexts and on digital platforms may follow.
    • This award specifically excludes conventional/mainstream film-making or film made for gallery contexts, in the first instance.
    • Potential proposals could be those that:
      • Are experimental in form or content
      • Are non-narrative in structure
      • Involve the creative use of new technologies.

Funding Information

• There are two different funding levels available depending on which strand you are applying for:
  • Strand 1: Research and Development- Up to €7,000
  • Strand 2: Production- Up to €80,000

Ineligible Funding

• You may not apply for more than one project award in any artform/arts practice area in any one round of funding.
• Activities and costs that you may not apply for include the following:
  • Strand 1
    • Film production
    • Activities and costs that do not fit the purpose of the award, including:
      • The development of conventional film (including mainstream short film, animation and documentary) and work for television.
      • The development of moving-image projects for exhibition in galleries – such proposals are more suited to the Visual Arts Project Award.
  • Strand 2
    • Script or project development
    • Activities and costs that do not fit the purpose of the award, including:
      • Conventional film (including mainstream short film, animation and documentary) and work for television.
      • Moving-image projects for exhibition in galleries – such projects are more suited to the Visual Arts Project Award.
      • Activities delivered in a formal education setting.
      • Activities that are focused on the business of film-making.
      • Completion funding.
  • Strand 1 and Strand 2
    • Major capital purchases.
    • Ongoing core costs.
    • Activities that is more suited to another award funded by the Arts Council or operated by other state agencies, including broadcasters, Screen Ireland or Culture Ireland.
    • Activities undertaken for charity-fundraising purposes, for participation in a competition, or for primarily profit-making purposes.
    • Projects that solely involve the touring of existing productions.

Who can apply?

• The award is open to professional artists and organisations working in film. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Be resident in the Republic of Ireland. There are certain exceptions where the Arts Council may deem eligible applications made by those based outside the Republic of Ireland. However, before admitting as eligible any such application, the applicant would need to explicitly outline within the application how the outcomes of any such proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland, and the Arts Council must be satisfied with same.

Ineligible

• Applicants who cannot apply include the following:
  • Organisations currently in receipt of funding under the following Arts Council programmes: Strategic Funding, Arts Centre Funding, Partnership Funding – though the involvement of such organisations as partners is welcome.
  • Organisations or individuals in receipt of 2024 Arts Grant Funding.
  • National Cultural Institutions (or their Council members) directly funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
  • Individuals or organisations who do not have a demonstrable track record as professional artists or organisations.
  • Individuals seeking support towards fees for postgraduate (including unaccredited)/higher education or study.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.