The Arts Council Authored Works Award (Ireland)

One film will be supported in 2024. The film must be completed to premiere at the Irish Film Institute, their exhibition partner, at an agreed date in 2026. Applicants will be notified in July 2024 if they have been shortlisted and a selection panel will be convened. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to discuss the detail of their proposals with the selection panel, which is expected to be convened in July 2024.

Funding Information

• A total fund of up to €247,500 will be made available to the successful applicant. This includes a production budget of up to €230,000 and further exhibition support of up to €17,500.
• This will be made available following completion of the film and on submission of an exhibition strategy (which must include a budget line for captioning and audio-description) to be approved by the Arts Council. Only films that can be made within this budget will be considered.

What may you apply for?

• You may apply for up to €230,000 for production.
• In addition to the normal limits stated above, the Arts Council will also consider costs specifically relating to the making of work by artists with disabilities. If you wish to apply for additional funding on this basis, you should provide information with your application outlining what these additional costs are.
• In applying for Authored Works Award funding, you are required to submit a detailed budget listing all items of expenditure relating to your proposed project.
• Proposed expenditure should include all fees,* wages, production costs, technical costs, administrative costs, etc.

What may you not apply for? 

• You may not apply for more than one Authored Works Award in any one round of funding.
• Activities and costs that you may not apply for include the following:
  • Activities and costs that do not fit the purpose of the award, including:
    • Conventional film or television drama that would be more appropriate for consideration by another funding agency or broadcaster
    • Arts documentaries (please refer to the Reel Art Award)
    • 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 (including work for PhD programmes)
    • Activities that are focused on the business of film-making
    • Completion funding
  • Major capital purchases
  • Ongoing core costs
  • Activities that are more suited to another award funded by the Arts Council or operated by other state agencies, including broadcasters, Screen Ireland or Culture Ireland
  • Activities that have already taken place
  • 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.

Who can apply?

• The award is open to individual film artists or the film artist’s production company.
• The applicant must 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?

• Applicants who are not eligible to apply include the following:
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate or postgraduate education or who will be during the period for which this award is offered.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.