The Irish Film Board (IFB) has offered production finance loans to four companies in its latest funding round: Treasure Films for The Chosen Few; Subotica Films for Shiney's Head; Magahy & Co for Timbuktu and Wide Eye Films for Running 2 Stand Still.

Chosen Few, written by Joe O'Connor and formerly known as Cowboys And Indians, is set to crank up in spring with Paddy Breathnach directing and Rob Walpole producing.

In addition to funding offers for live action drama the IFB has offered a production loan to Dublin animation house Terraglyph for Duck Ugly, the company's third animation feature following Carnivale and Help I'm A Fish.

The IFB also made 29 offers of development finance loans to 27 different companies. Development loans for animation were offered to Magma, for Dragon Rock; Moving Still, for Me & Mrs Magnolia and Rocket Animation for Scraggers. The IFB's next application deadline is January 31.