FEATURE DOCUMENTARY DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION CALL
Date Posted: February 9, 2024
Northern Ireland Screen intends to provide funding through the Screen Fund to develop feature documentaries with the potential to appeal to an international audience that will deliver unique visions and voices on universal stories from Northern Ireland resident filmmakers.
Northern Ireland based production companies can apply for up to a maximum of £9,000 based on a budget of £10,000.
All applications including supporting documentation must be received by Friday 29th March 2024. All applications will be assessed with decisions intended to be made by late April 2024.
KEY TERMS OF THE FEATURE DOCUMENTARY CALL:
- Ideally projects should be intended for theatrical distribution and eligible for the UK film tax incentive. However, if the rationale is compelling, Northern Ireland Screen will consider a broadcast hour and may consider two-parters or mini-series with evidence of national or international distribution interest. Nothing will be automatically excluded on duration.
- This is a development call; projects that are already in production are not
- Successful applicants are expected to deliver a taster tape at the end of the development
- The intention is for supported projects to submit completed taster tapes to Hot Docs, IDFA, and other leading documentary festivals with a view to raising production finance. Costs for attendance at a minimum of one market should be included in the development budget.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO:
- Projects that can demonstrate serious interest from an international broadcaster or sales Priority will be given to projects that have international distribution interest rather than projects picked up for only the UK and Ireland.
KEY ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
- The quality of the proposed story and
- The potential international appeal of the
- The quality of the director’s previous film(s).
- The track record of the creative
- The level of interest demonstrated from potential international distribution
- Projects that drive innovation, progress inclusivity and address sustainability. These 3 considerations sit alongside our other assessment criteria.
APPLICATION
Pre-application meetings with Funding Executive, Nicky Coyle are strongly encouraged, as is early application. To arrange a pre-application meeting or to request a link to the online application form please email Nicky Coyle ([email protected]) or call 028 90 232 444.
All applicants must complete an online application form. Please ensure that all supporting documentation is submitted either online with your application or via email to Nicky. Failure to provide the requested supporting documentation will result in your application being eliminated from the feature documentary development call.
Northern Ireland Screen strongly encourages applicants that applied to a previous call and were rejected not to re-apply with the same project unless it has substantially changed.
In addition to the general required supporting documentation as listed on the online application applicants should submit:
• A treatment submitted electronically that includes names of confirmed contributors that are attached to the project.
• A letter of serious interest from a broadcaster or sales agent (if applicable). Please note that priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate serious interest from an international broadcaster or sales agent.
• Letters from broadcasters should reference the project, potential audience, potential channel and if applicable the specific strand that the project would fit within.
• Letters from sales agents should reference the project, details of potential sales, and key territories.
