Northern Ireland Screen: Short Film Schemes

Overview

Northern Ireland Screen supports the production of Short Films with funding via the Short Film Call. The Short Film Call is for production funding and covers live action, factual and virtual reality short films.

Northern Ireland Screen has been awarded Lottery Funds through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and BFI NETWORK to support the production of Short Film at both Individual and Company level.

Funding is available at Individual and Production Company level to produce live action, factual and virtual reality short films normally up to 15 minutes in length.

The aim of this funding is to: 

• Encourage Northern Ireland resident producers to make a significant contribution to developing talent within the local industry.
• Develop Northern Ireland resident creative talent who intend to work professionally in factual or fiction genres.
• To help individuals and creative teams progress from new talent, through emerging talent and on to established talent.

WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE?

• Individuals can apply for a funding award of £6,000.
  • Northern Ireland resident directors who:
    • are over 18 and not currently undertaking further and higher education up to undergraduate level and have not previously directed a feature film; and
    • have directed a minimum of 1 unfunded short film in the same genre they are applying for funding and which is available to view online; and
    • have not previously received 3 or more individual short film awards through Northern Ireland Screen.
• Companies can apply for a funding award of either £12,500, £17,500 or £22,500. 

Companies must select which level of award they wish to apply for, subject to meeting the criteria for each level, from one of the follow award levels:

• Level 1: Awards of £12,500
  • Northern Ireland based production companies who:
    • Have produced a minimum of 1 short film (funded or unfunded) with a budget of over £6,000; and
    • Are working with Northern Ireland resident directors who:
      • are over 18 and not currently undertaking further and higher education up to undergraduate level and have not previously directed a feature film; and
      • Have directed a minimum of 2 short films, in the same genre they are applying for funding for, which are available to view online, of which at least 1 must have been funded through an Irish, UK or international public body/broadcaster/distribution platform.
• Level 2: Awards of £17,500
  • Northern Ireland based production companies who:
    • Have produced a minimum of 1 short film (funded or unfunded) with a budget of over £7,500; and
    • Are working with Northern Ireland resident directors who:
      • are over 18 and not currently undertaking further and higher education up to undergraduate level and have not previously directed a feature film; and
      • Have directed a minimum of 3 short films in the same genre they are applying for funding for, which are available to view online, of which at least 2 must have been funded through an Irish, UK or international public body/broadcaster/distribution platform.
• Level 3: Awards of £22,500
  • Northern Ireland based production companies who:
    • Have produced a minimum of 2 short films with a budget of at least £10,000, of which at least 1 must have been funded through an Irish, UK or international public body/broadcaster/distribution platform; and
    • Are working with Northern Ireland resident directors who:
      • are over 18 and not currently undertaking further and higher education up to undergraduate level and have not previously directed a feature film; and
      • Have directed a minimum of 3 short films in the same genre they are applying for funding for, which are available to view online, of which at least 2 must have been funded through an Irish, UK or international public body/broadcaster/distribution platform; and o
      • Have directed a short film that was selected in competition at an Oscar® or BAFTA qualifying film festival.

Companies are not permitted to apply to more than one award level with the same project.

Please refer to the Guidelines for further information including key assessment criteria, priorities for funding and a list of FAQs.

The Short Film Toolkit