Industry news: IFB announces new guidelines for Screenplay Development Fund

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) has reopened the Screenplay Development fund for applications. The fund is an essential part of the IFB’s development policy supporting established and emerging writers, writer/directors and directors to develop projects with financial and editorial support early in their genesis.

Established in 2007, the fund will generally operate as before however, a number of amendments will be introduced effective immediately.

  •  If an applicant wishes to apply with an outline/treatment, the IFB now requires that up to 25 pages of the screenplay (script sample) are submitted in addition to the outline/treatment. First drafts of a screenplay are still also accepted.
  • Talent Development: The IFB will introduce a new initiative on a trial basis aimed at applicants whose project is not deemed to merit a screenplay development award but whose writing indicates promise and would benefit from working in a mentored script environment. Candidates will be offered the opportunity to work with an IFB approved Script Editor / Consultant for a nominal period of time to develop ideas further and enhance their writing skills. Successful candidates will only be drawn from those who have submitted applications for the Screenplay Development fund – there will not be a separate application process for this initiative. As mentioned, this initiative will be run on a trial basis in an ad hoc nature. Candidates may not be chosen on a regular basis, nor will there be a fixed number of selected participants. As there will be no funding made available to the candidates, it will be at their discretion if they wish to avail of the assistance.

The next deadline for Screenplay Development Applications will be 1pm on Friday 19th December 2014 and thereafter application deadlines will resume (as normal) on the last working day of every month or as indicated on the IFB website.

Applicants are advised to consult the Funding Programmes section of the IFB website particularly the How to Apply Guidelines and FAQ section prior to making an application.