The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has announced details of the latest funding awards under the Sound & Vision 3 Broadcasting Funding Scheme. The Round 31 announcement is made following a detailed assessment process and sees €5.971m being awarded to 130 radio and television projects.
103 radio projects have been allocated nearly €742k while €5.247m has been given to 27 TV projects in this round. Some 227 applications for funding were received in Round 31 of the Scheme, seeking funding of €17.5m.
Notable projects supported in the current round include:
- A first of its kind children’s media literacy animation series for RTÉ Junior called Alva and the Trolls, whose aim is to assist pre-school children navigate digital environments.
- Meeting Ourselves is a feature-length documentary for Dublin Community Television, which will embark upon a journey of discovery with a middle-aged Irish man who was abused as a child.
- Pink Kong Studios’ animated kids short-form TV series Urban Tales for RTÉjr
- The Wealth Divide for Virgin One Media, is a three-part documentary series, which discusses the gap between rich and poor in 21st-century Ireland.
- An adaptation of Donal Ryan’s book The Thing About December, Foscadh is a feature-length Irish drama for TG4.
- Underground Films’ three-part historical series Herstory, a collaborative and experimental documentary incorporating the worlds of music, comedy, theatre, fashion, dance, photography, poetry, fine art, film and more.
- Blinder Films and director Kieron J. Walsh’s The Domestique, a feature drama set in the world of pro-cycling.
- Writer Sophie Petzal’s six-part drama about a suspicious death in a family, Blood,for Virgin Media One.
- Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song for RTÉ One is a five-part series that will offer a look at ten shortlisted folk songs and will also act as a prism through which to analyse Irish history, politics, psyche, present, past and future.
The Sound & Vision 3 Broadcasting Funding Scheme supports one of the BAI’s key strategic objectives to foster diverse and culturally relevant content for Irish audiences. Today’s announcement brings the BAI’s support of radio and television projects under the Scheme to almost €12m in 2018.
While documentary continues to be the most popular category in terms of both applications and funding recommendations, the Scheme has supported an increased number of high-quality drama and education proposals in this round. Together with a greater allocation for Irish language and bi-lingual programming, where funding for 2018 will equate to 30.5% of all funds issued, we are very pleased to support such a wide variety of programming.
Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive – BAI
The BAI will now commence contract negotiations with all successful applicants. A full list of the projects being offered funding is available to download here.