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This funding is for feature films and TV drama originating and principally managed from outside Ireland which use Ireland as a location and involves Irish creative elements, with local services provided by an Irish based producer.

Note: in principle BSÉ/IFB does not have sufficient resources to finance this programme on a year-round basis.  The fund is worth €500,000 for 2013. Loan offers cannot be carried over from year to year. The BSÉ/IFB can only support projects which have >90% of their finance in place, are green lit to go in to production within the calendar year that the application is made, and have Irish creative elements.

About the Funding

Funding is provided in the form of limited-recourse loans recoverable from a share of revenues from exploitation of the film entitling BSÉ/IFB to a share of net profits.

As a guide, BSÉ/IFB normally expects a 20:1 spend ratio (reducible in specifically agreed circumstances to 15:1) between Admissible Irish Expenditure and the BSÉ/IFB investment, but each project will be treated on a case by case basis.

Applicants should be thoroughly aware of the regulations and limits that govern the amount of funding BSÉ/IFB can provide to a project.  These can be found on the Regulations & Limits page of the Overview section of this website.

BSÉ/IFB production funding is generally provided during production in accordance with an agreed cash flow.  Before funding, BSÉ/IFB will need to be satisfied that all other providers of finance to the production are committed and contracted, and that the amount of finance available is sufficient to cover the entire budget.  

An approved completion bond for feature film is a normal requirement by BSÉ/IFB where its funding is to be made available during production.  The appointment of a collection agent is also normally required for feature film. Completion and collection arrangements for TV drama will be reviewed on a case by case basis.        

Criteria 

Provided the Irish producer and the overseas producer have a good track record, and the creative elements are acceptable, assessment by BSÉ/IFB will be based primarily on consideration of the economic ‘multiplier' effect of its funding, and of the opportunities for Irish personnel to be employed in key positions.

As a general rule, and particularly when demand outstrips the funding available, BSÉ/IFB will place an emphasis on:

• Irish employment in all grades
• Favouring projects that can offer employment in lead creative roles including director, key cast, director of photography, production designer, costume designer, editor and composer
• Contribution to Irish audiovisual infrastructure
• Favouring projects that will utilise serviced film studios and post-production facilities
• Spend in the Irish economy
• Favouring projects that will deliver significant economic activity additional to that generated by other Irish funding including Section 481 (tax-based incentive funding)

In making funding of any kind available, BSÉ/IFB pays close attention to any previous work by the individuals making the application, taking into account their creative abilities in audiovisual media as well as their professional competence and reliability.  

Because BSÉ/IFB support for international production is directly linked to consideration of a film or TV programme's economic effect within the Irish industry, the majority of this funding is released progressively during the course of the production upon receipt of cost reports showing that targets of Irish expenditure have been met.

Who Can Apply

BSÉ/IFB funding for International Production is available to established Irish production companies who are seeking to provide production services to co-produce a feature film or TV drama (single or series) originated and principally managed from outside Ireland, which will use Ireland as a location and/or production and post-production base. 

In order to be eligible, projects must have more than 90% of their production finance already confirmed.  Typically projects must be scheduled to start pre-production within three months of the issue of the IFB loan offer.

Making an Application

Before making an application it is essential that you have read the section of this website called Production Funding Procedures and How To Apply, paying particular attention to any relevant instructions with regard to contacting BSÉ/IFB Executives in advance of applying. 

Note that, before applying for this type of production funding, personal contact with either the Chief Executive (James Hickey) or the Film Commissioner (Naoise Barry) is essential in order to discuss the state of the project and its readiness to be considered.  You will be asked to complete a preliminary "information form". An application will not be accepted (i.e. logged and processed) without this prior discussion having taken place and the "points form" being completed and submitted.

If, having studied the How To Apply section, you have any further queries about this type of funding you should contact the Film Commissioner, Naoise Barry (naoise.barry@irishfilmboard.ie).

In order to apply you must download the application form from this page, complete it in full, and send it - together with all the additional materials requested - to BSÉ/IFB's head office in Galway.  Applications by fax or online will not be accepted.  Incomplete applications will not beprocessed.

The additional materials that must be included are:

• Logline (ca. 25 words)
• Synopsis (ca. ½ A4 page)
• Screenplay (dated)
• CVs of all principals
• Note of any cast or creative/technical personnel in place
• Note of any other marketable elements of the project
• Full production budget, including top sheet
• Analysis of Admissible Irish Expenditure
• Completed Information Form (which can be obtained from Naoise Barry)
• Finance plan indicating sources confirmed
• Evidence of ownership by the principal producer of rights in all relevant material

Applications should be delivered by post, by courier or in person to:

Schemes & Applications Co-ordinator
Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board
Queensgate
23 Dock Road
Galway

Following receipt of a submission, applicants will be sent an acknowledgement letter including a reference number which should be retained for use on all future correspondence.

Under current practice, applications for International Production funding received in Galway by the last business day of a calendar month will be considered at a decision-making round that falls no more than four weeks later.  Decisions are communicated to applicants by letter immediately thereafter. 

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