Warner Bros. Ireland has awarded a scholarship to Ciarán Dooley, an MA Screenwriting student at The National Film School at Dublin’s Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), it was announced today by Josh Berger, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain.
Now in its second year, the scholarship will, over the course of the year, provide Ciarán with postgraduate funding support and the experience of a short paid placement at Warner Bros. Ireland’s Dublin offices, as well as access to screenings and mentoring support from Warner Bros. executives in the country.
[quote title=”Josh Berger CBE – Warner Bros. UK, Ireland & Spain, President & Managing Director”]The Warner Bros. Creative Talent scholarship at The National Film School at IADT is part of our continued commitment to finding, funding and supporting talented people from all backgrounds. Last year’s scholar, Daniel Kelly, made the most of every opportunity and experience provided to him and we are confident that with this funding and support, Ciarán will do just the same. We wish him all the very best as he lays the foundations for his future career in the industry.[/quote]
[quote title=”Donald Taylor Black – The National Film School (NFS) at IADT, Creative Director”]We’re absolutely delighted that Warner Bros. has renewed its commitment to the NFS in general and our MA Screenwriting programme in particular. Ciarán is one of a group of extremely talented students here at IADT and we’re confident that he will take this opportunity to progress a very promising career.[/quote]
The Irish scholarship is an extension of Warner Bros. Creative Talent, a key part of Warner Bros. long-term investment in UK creative industry skills and training. Announced in 2013, Warner Bros. Creative Talent’s multi-layered investment encompasses scholarships at some of the UK’s most respected higher education institutions; apprenticeships with roles ranging from set-lighting to post-production; trainee positions on every Warner Bros.’ UK film production; year-long training course places for young people at inclusive theatre company, Chickenshed; work experience placements for schools local to Warner Bros.’ London HQ; and work placements on the West End musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with the most talented of the students receiving an additional three month placement.
Warner Bros. has a storied film-making history in Ireland, most notably the 1996 production of Michael Collins, which became the country’s top-grossing film on release and still remains the highest grossing Irish film of all time. The film’s Academy Award-winning director, Neil Jordan, is also behind other Warner Bros. hits including Interview with a Vampire and award-winning film The Butcher Boy.