Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland has announced the first round of successful recipients for the €1 million Enhanced Project Development Fund: a development fund launched as part of Screen Ireland’s suite of COVID-19 response measures over the past 6 months. The Enhanced Project Development Fund is a one-off scheme designed to support smaller production companies as they respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the effects the pandemic has had on the Irish screen industry.
The fund was established as an alternative to Strategic Slate Development, tailored specifically for companies with smaller slates or who work project by project and have close collaborations with writers and directors. Further underlining Screen Ireland’s focus on development during the pandemic, its aim is to support companies in developing a strong slate of quality projects, so that the industry can emerge in a position to scale up production activity.
16 companies will receive funding awards of up to €40,000 to support a maximum slate of three ambitious, unique, and diverse projects across all genres. Alternatively, the funding can be used to fund two stages of a single project.
Funding Awards
| Company | Amount |
| True Films | €30,000 |
| Little Rose Films | €40,000 |
| Soilsiú Teoranta | €40,000 |
| SOS Productions | €38,600 |
| MDV | €20,000 |
| FSE Films | €26,125 |
| Janey Pictures | 30,000 |
| Harvest Films | €40,000 |
| Collective Dublin Productions | €20,000 |
| Wiggleywoo Limited | €40,000 |
| Danu Media Teo | €40,000 |
| Little Wing Films Ltd | €34,930 |
| Inland Films Ltd | €40,000 |
| MVG Film & TV Limited | €40,000 |
| Paper Panther Productions | €40,000 |
| South Wind Blows | €37,688 |
The second round of Enhanced Development Funding closed for applications in July, and successful companies will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2020.