Submit Applications for Film Bursary Award (Ireland)

The award emphasises the value and benefit to an artist’s development derived from an extended process of engagement with their practice at any stage of their career. The award therefore provides artists with the time and resources to think, research, reflect and engage with their arts practice.

Note: The Film Bursary Award is not a production award. It is not intended to support film-makers whose practice is:

• primarily focused on conventional/mainstream film-making, as this is not within the Arts Council’s role and remit in film, or
• primarily focused on making film for gallery contexts in the first instance (such proposals are better suited to the Visual Arts Bursary Award).

Strategic Priorities

• The Arts Council has identified the following as a strategic priority for support through this award:
  • Film artists who wish to develop their practice in making artisticallyauthored, experimental and non-narrative cinematic work and who would not be ordinarily supported to do so by other funding bodies or agencies in Ireland.

Funding Information

• The maximum amount that may be awarded to each successful applicant is: €20,000.
• The minimum that can be applied for is: €5,000.
• Please note that your application will be deemed ineligible if you apply for more than the maximum (unless you are applying for additional access costs) or less than the minimum amount stated.

What may you not apply for?

• Activities and costs that you may not apply for include the following:
  • Activities or costs that do not meet the objective of the award to support professional film artists to develop their practice in making artisticallyauthored, experimental and non-narrative cinematic work.
  • Activities that are better suited to another award or film scheme funded by the Arts Council or operated by other state agencies, such as Screen Ireland or by broadcasters in Ireland
  • Activities that have already been completed or have already started
  • Activities undertaken for charity-fundraising purposes, for participation in a competition, or for primarily profit-making purposes
  • Activities that have already been assessed by the Arts Council, unless you demonstrate that you have developed the proposal since previously applying or if the Council has specifically advised you to redirect your application to this award. Please bear in mind that such advice is not an indication of a successful outcome.
  • Academic activities
  • Script development for conventional feature, short or documentary films
  • Actor improvisation workshops
  • Film-production funding
  • Equipment costs.

Who can apply?

• The award is open to professional film artists at all stages in their professional careers. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Be professional practising film artist; although they might not earn income continuously or exclusively from their arts practice, applicants must identify themselves and be recognised by their peers as professional practising artists
  • Be resident in the Republic of Ireland. However, they may accept applications from outside the Republic of Ireland. In this case, you must detail in your application form how your proposal would benefit the arts in the Republic of Ireland. They would need to be satisfied with your explanation.

Who cannot apply?

• People not eligible to apply include the following:
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate education (including those participating in foundation courses)
  • Individuals seeking support towards fees for postgraduate (including unaccredited)/higher education or study
  • Individuals seeking support towards work undertaken as part of a formal course of study
  • Individuals seeking support towards the costs of undertaking an internship
  • They cannot accept applications from those employed or contracted on a fulltime basis by an arts organisation funded through Arts Council programmes or through direct state subsidy or by a commercial arts entity
  • Aosdána members in receipt of a cnuas.

For more information, visit The Art Council.