International Development Loans

Funding for Irish producers to enable them to participate in the development of high profile feature films and TV drama (live action and animation) initiated by overseas producers.

The objectives of this programme are (a) to attract and 'tether' projects to Ireland for eventual production here, and (b) to provide opportunities for Irish writers and directors to work with experienced international producers and on projects being developed with a high awareness of the international marketplace. 

About the Funding

Funding is provided in the form of loans which are repayable on the first day of principal photography of the developed project. 

Eligibility of a project for International Development funding is determined by three guidelines for qualification:   

1. a commitment by the principal (initiating) producer to employing Irish personnel in at least one of the positions of writer, co-writer, director (in the case of a TV series, on at least 50% of episodes); and
2. clear plans by the principal producer to undertake a significant proportion of eventual production of the project in Ireland; and
3. the involvement of an Irish producer (who will be the applicant to IFB) as a bona fide co-producer rather than as a service producer, i.e. with an agreed entitlement to a share of rights and revenues set out in a co-production contract as a condition precedent to funding, albeit an ability for the project to achieve treaty co-production status will not be a requirement. 

Repayment to IFB of International Development funding is similar to other types of development funding, i.e. as to 100% (without interest or premium) by first day of principal photography, provided all three guidelines above have been respected when the prject goes onto production.  Where either (1) or (2) has not been complied with, repayment to BSÉ/IFB will be subject to a premium of 100%; where both (1) and (2) have not been complied with, the premium will be 200%.  In the unlikely event that both (1) and (2) do not obtain but (3) still does, this will not mitigate the level of premium.  

International Development Loans may be drawn down in stages, subject to progress. The maximum amount that can be drawn down at any one time is €50,000; the maximum total amount that BSÉ/IFB can provide to any one project is €100,000. Any amount of BSÉ/IFB development funding above €50,000 provided to a project must be matched by funding from other sources.  BSÉ/IFB's funding contribution to a project cannot exceed the amount of development funding sourced in the project's country of origin. 

Criteria

Applicants should read carefully the Principles & Criteria section of this website with particular reference to the paragraphs on:

• Additionality
• Cultural Priorities, Industrial Priorities
• Making Cinema
• Originality 

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

Certain specific considerations will also apply to this type of funding:

• Projects with Irish content (story/characters/settings) and an evident cultural connection to Ireland will be strongly favoured, but all of the qualification guidelines above will still apply.
• The level of funding provided to a project will be keyed primarily to anticipated development expenditure on Irish elements, but with allowance in certain cases for the Irish producer to be enabled to ‘buy into’ a project as a genuine co-producer by making a one-off contribution to the principal producer’s costs, if agreed and approved by IFB.

Who Can Apply

International Development Loans are available to Irish producers with a project they wish to co-develop, a co-production agreement (at least in principle) and evidence that the principal producer has  the necessary rights in any material that is to be adapted for the screen. If an Irish writer, co-writer or director has already been identified for involvement in the project, this can lend weight to an application but is not essential at the outset.

Projects funded under this International Development programme may be made in any language.  

Making an Application

Before making an application it is essential that you have read the How To Apply guidelines, paying particular attention to any relevant instructions with regard to contacting BSÉ/IFB executives in advance of applying.

If, having studied the How To Apply section, you have any further queries about this type of funding you should contact BSÉ/IFB’s Production & Development Co-ordinator, Sarah Dillon.

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. You cannot apply for BSÉ/IFB funding by fax or online. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

The additional materials that must be included are:

• Logline (ca. 25 words)
• Synopsis (ca. ½ A4 page) 
• Story outline or short treatment (ca. 6-10 A4 pages)* 
• Producer’s notes on proposed screenplay/scripts and further development
• Explanation of the co-production / co-development structure describing the principal producer's company and track record, the work to be undertaken by the principal and Irish producers respectively and the prospective production plan for Ireland
• CVs of all principals
• Full development budget in euros  indicating development funding already secured
• Full Irish development budget in euros
• Evidence of ownership of rights in all relevant material

* In specific cases full-length screenplays may be submitted, where prior approval has been given by the Development Executive

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 Development Loans 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 eight weeks later. Decisions are communicated to applicants by letter immediately thereafter.

For a detailed account of the procedure by which applications are considered for International Development Loans, you should read theDevelopment Procedures: Aims & Practice .

Access to Funding

If your application is successful, you will need to reach agreement with the Development team of BSÉ/IFB on the terms of a funding contract, including dates for draw-down of funding and delivery of materials. Besides a signed contract, BSÉ/IFB will need to have seen and approved all of the following documents before the first payment can be processed:

• Memorandum & Articles of Association of the production company
• Tax Clearance Certificate for the production company
• Option Agreement in relation to underlying rights (if any) and Co-production Agreement between the Irish producer and the principal producer
• Agreement between the production company and the screenwriter
• Agreement between the production company and the director (if any)
• Bank No Set-off Letter: a project-specific bank account must be opened by the producer and evidence of the account supplied to BSÉ/IFB in a letter, the form of which can be obtained by emailing the Production & Development Co-ordinator.
• Producer Inducement Letter: the producer must assure BSÉ/IFB that s/he will develop the project in question, in a letter the form of which can also be supplied
• Development Budget with any revisions made as agreed in discussion with the development team of BSÉ/IFB
• Invoice: the producer must invoice BSÉ/IFB for each stage of funding drawn down

The Production & Development Co-ordinator in conjunction with the Legal & Business Affairs team of BSÉ/IFB will provide the following documents for the producer’s consideration:

• Standard Funding Contract between BSÉ/IFB and a production company
• Deed of Charge: where loans exceed €15,000, BSÉ/IFB will require the producer to sign a deed of charge in order to protect its investment.

Note: where a production company takes over rights in a project that has previously been the subject of an award of BSÉ/IFB development funding to another company, the new owner of the rights must enter into a written agreement with BSÉ/IFB assuming liability for repayment of BSÉ/IFB’s earlier loan(s) on the first day of principal photography.