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About Gearrscannáin
‘Gearrscannáin' is a short film scheme to produce Irish language short films that will appeal to a general audience.  The scheme aims to encourage fresh, new directorial voices willing to take risks, challenge audiences and introduce them to interesting themes which will move them. Whilst aiming to engage a diverse viewership, the films should also be able to be rated for an under 15 audience. Applications must be original stories written in the Irish language.   Short films already submitted to the IFB in English will not be eligible.  This scheme will be primarily distributed on-line.

The deadline for Gearrscannáin is 13^th July, 2012. 

Parameters of the scheme
Number of films:         Up to 2 per year

Duration:                       Approx. 8 minutes

Budget amount:          Maximum €10,000 per film 

Format                          Originated on any high quality digital format with delivery on HD, if shot on HD, and digi beta.

Language:                    Irish language

Who can apply:             

This scheme is open to filmmakers who can demonstrate an ability to direct drama but may not have made a short film before other than in college.  If applicants use their college show reel they must have held a relevant role in their college short film, i.e. if they are applying as director they must have directed the short film on the show reel they submit.

The scheme is not open to full-time students.

Procedure:                    

Application forms should be downloaded from BSÉ/IFB's website, completed in full, and sent - together with all the additional materials requested - to BSÉ/IFB's head office in Galway. (It is not possible to apply for BSÉ/IFB funding by fax or online.) Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Submissions will be examined, with consideration given to the screenplay and the creative team, by a group of assessors put together by BSÉ/IFB from in-house and externally. 

Awards will be made to up to two teams, the number of GEARRSCANNÁIN to be funded being dependent upon the overall standard of submissions. Teams selected must attend an information day in order to be entitled to claim their funding.

Rights:  
                        
The IFB will retain non-exclusive rights in all media in Ireland and non-exclusive promotional rights for the rest of the world.  The rest of the distribution rights will remain with the film maker who can choose to appoint a sales agent or distribute the film themselves.  The IFB feel this will provide vital training in the area of distribution and will enable filmmakers to build relationships with distributors directly.  

The IFB have a policy of submitting Gearrscannán films to twenty international festivals, after they have been premiered in Ireland.

Important Features of the scheme

As a general rule GEARRSCANNÁIN films should be originated and creatively led by Irish talent or talent resident in Ireland, and their production should be practically managed from Ireland.

• For selected projects producers must acquire all rights worldwide in perpetuity in all forms of media.
• One producer only may be approved and credited for selected projects.
• The following rates will apply to the production budgets of all films made under the scheme:
  • Daily rate for all cast and crew (as agreed annually with the
    Film Group of Unions) June 2011-June 2012: €120
• BSÉ/IFB will have approval rights over the following elements of all films made under the scheme:
  • Shooting script (and BSÉ/IFB may appoint a script editor in
    certain cases)
    - Casting
    - Key technical crew

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