Screen Ireland has announced support measures totalling €4.5 million for the Irish film and TV industry amid the Covid-19 crisis.
All support measures are being allocated from Screen Ireland’s 2020 capital budget.
The national screen body announced the measures as the pandemic causes unprecedented levels of disruption across the sector.
A Strategic Slate Development Fund valued at €3 million is being launched to allow successful applicants to build a slate of projects. The fund, focusing on diversity and inclusion, will support production companies who in turn will work with screenwriters and directors in developing their own IP. The amount has been increased by €2 million as a result of the pandemic.
Screen Ireland has committed to making the funding available as quickly as possible over a one-year period. This is in anticipation of an increased need for production funding in 2021, because of low production levels caused by coronavirus this year.
The national screen body has also announced an additional €1 million in development support for production companies working with writers on a project-by-project basis. 90% of this will be made available upfront to successful applicants.
In addition, new creative conceptual funding will be available to directors. This will invest in the developments of well-refined projects in advance of bringing them to a producer or financier. The aim is to enable the filmmaker to create a proof of concept to take to a producer or to market.
Screen Ireland is also enhancing its Screenplay Development and Spotlight writing schemes by an additional €100,000. These schemes are aimed at discovering and fostering new and diverse writing talent.
The body will make a funding line available for companies in need of urgent financial-planning support as a result of the pandemic. The fund is worth up to €150,000, with companies able to apply for up to €5,000.
Affiliated training body Screen Skills Ireland will repurpose two of its schemes to allow organisations and festivals to provide industry events online including panel discussions, workshops and masterclasses. Screen Skills Ireland is also introducing two new schemes - one for mentoring support and one for stakeholders and guilds.
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