Sustainability Policies
Sustainability Support Scheme
As part of our current 4-year strategy “Stories, Skills and Sustainability” Northern Ireland Screen has, through its Screen Fund, created a Sustainability Support Scheme, designed to remove financial barriers and encourage the introduction of innovative technologies and operations that will contribute to the reduction of production carbon emission. This is a pilot scheme running until March 2026 when its future delivery will be reviewed.
Awards Available
- Large Scale – £53,500
- High End Television Drama – £28,500
- Children’s Drama – £18,500
- Independent Film including new talent focus – £13,500
This funding is available to all live action scripted productions that are filming at least 50% of their production in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland Screen’s expectations that all projects that fall within this criterion will take up the offer of additional sustainability support funding from the Screen Fund.
Use of the funding must include:
- £3,500 for a Sustainability Advisor to cover up to 10 days on the production. This will include 1-2 days in pre-production during which time the Sustainability Advisor will develop a sustainability plan for your project.
- The Sustainability Advisor must be engaged within the first week of the production office opening.
This funding can also cover:
- Sustainable alternatives from approved Northern Ireland Screen sustainable suppliers
- Sustainable technology, such as Hybrid generators, EV machinery and charging infrastructure
- Waste Management, that includes increased recycling options and compostable materials or items.
Application process
The option for this additional funding and the requirements attached to it will be discussed as part of Northern Ireland Screen’s initial discussions with producers.
Applicants should include this additional funding within their Screen Fund production application on top of the requested level of production award e.g. if the application is for £300k production funding then the total request including the Sustainability support funding should be £328,500.
Key points to note:
- Engagement with the Sustainability Advisor is essential as is having an agreed Sustainability Plan in place. Northern Ireland will require a copy of the agreed plan.
- The costs related to the sustainability measures being utilised on the production should be included in the overall production budget which Northern Ireland Screen will review.
- As the funding forms part of the full Screen Fund award it is recoupable.
- The funding will be cashflowed across production in line with the standard Screen Fund cashflow milestones agreed in the contract.
- Northern Ireland Screen will require a final sustainability report once production has completed.
- Should the agreed sustainability requirements not be met per the contract, Northern Ireland Screen will have the option to reduce the level of award and/or require funding to be repaid to the level of the additional funding provided.
For further information please contact Northern Ireland Screen’s Facilities and Sustainability Manager, Gavin Kelly – [email protected]
