Applications open for International Programming Ireland Fund Program

Objectives

• High-quality and innovative broadcast projects profiling the island of Ireland which feature one or all of the following:
  • Discovery and exploration – new unique experiences to appeal to mind and spirit.
  • Meaningful connection to place and people – local authentic experiences.
  • Meaningful connection to nature – immersion and rejuvenation by the natural beauty of the island of Ireland.
  • Projects that profile Northern Ireland and their regions, as well as stories rooted in winter, spring or autumn, are of particular interest to the fund this round.

Funding Information

• Submissions can apply for funding of up to a maximum of €200,000 per project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Experienced independent production companies (domestic, international or a co-production) with a demonstrable track record in producing high-quality programming for TV broadcasters outside the island of Ireland are invited to apply to this scheme for funding.
• A producer/production company may submit up to two projects for consideration only.
• Tourism Ireland invites applications which can fulfil these objectives under the following criteria:
  • Well-developed projects with broad appeal, with identified broadcaster/s in Tourism Ireland’s Key Markets; and/or a distributor.
  • Multi-episode TV series proposals are preferable (30’s and 60’s), in keeping with commissioning trends, but strong/compellingly themed one-offs, or feature-length documentaries (with potential to deliver as 2 x 1-hour docs) are also welcome to apply. The attached broadcaster should define the optimum number of episodes and duration.
  • Genres with a fresh and authentic destination focus are of particular interest. However, the scheme has a broad interest in a range of unscripted genres and creative approaches that entertain and engage. These include (but are not limited to) documentary, doc series, travelogue, lifestyle, features, popular factual, factual entertainment, cultural, history and specialist factual.
  • Other genres such as challenge-based game shows are welcome to apply, provided they meet the fund criteria and aspirations to showcase Ireland, i.e., they should not be studio based (with reduced opportunity to profile Ireland).
  • Existing formats or popular returning series which have the potential to be based authentically in Ireland may also apply. These projects require an international broadcaster attached at submission stage.

Ineligibility Criteria

• This is a factual and unscripted fund. Drama, scripted, political and current affairs programming are not eligible
• TV drama or scripted submissions
• Crime-based themes
• News or current affairs genres
• Political or agenda-based narratives
• Animation submissions
• Projects seeking sponsorship funding are not invited for this funding initiative.

Selection Criteria

• Projects submitted will be assessed by a panel, with selection criteria based on:
  • Concept and content
  • Destination focus
  • Broadcast/distributor commitment in a preferred/relevant market
  • Potential audience reach is extremely important
  • Viability to progress based on financing and talent confirmed
  • Producer’s evidenced track record of placing high-quality content on international broadcast channels.

For more information, visit Tourism Ireland.