Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) has received a record level of development funding applications over the past year, with the volume of submissions for the Screenplay Development (writer/director only) scheme increasing by 25% in 2016, on top of significant increases in previous years.
Given the success of the scheme, the IFB now aims to consider how the Screenplay Development scheme can best be developed and improved to support emerging and established Irish writers and directors in the coming years. The IFB has been consulting with the Writers Guild of Ireland and the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland and will continue that consultation process going forward.
In order to undertake this review, as well as process the current backlog of screenplay development funding applications already received, the IFB will not be accepting applications for its Screenplay Development Scheme only in the coming months. The IFB expects to make an announcement about its policy in relation to screenwriting talent support, together with application deadlines in the third quarter of 2017.
Please note that the funding schemes for Project Development, Animation Development, International Development, Documentary Development and International Television Drama Development will remain open to applications on the published deadlines.