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Funding to enable the production of an animated TV series.

About the Funding

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

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 cashflow. Before starting to fund, 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. 

Criteria 

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.

With the increase in quantity and quality of Irish animation work in recent years, standards in this area of activity have become high and the sector is extremely competitive. Further, in a business field that is demonstrably thriving, producers applying to BSÉ/IFB on behalf of animation projects should expect to have to make a strong case for needing public support. 

Who Can Apply

BSÉ/IFB funding for animation production is available to producers who are seeking to produce an animated TV series that has originated and will be creatively led by Irish talents, the practical management of which will be primarily in Irish hands.

Funding under this Animation Production programme is generally but not invariably provided by BSÉ/IFB to enable the making of TV series where the original language is English or Irish, or a combination of the two. 

Making an Application

Before making an application it is essential that you have read the Production Funding Procedures and How To Apply guidelines on this website, paying particular attention to procedures to be followed and BSÉ/IFB executives responsible for each type of funding. 

Where a project is structured as a co-production, it is also essential to read carefully the Admissible Irish Expenditure guidelines downlaodable from this page.

Before applying for this type of production funding, personal contact BSÉ/IFB's Production Executive Emma Scott or a Project Manager (Rory Gilmartin, Mary Callery, Keith Potter) is essential in order to discuss the state of the project and its readiness to be considered. An application will not be accepted (i.e. logged and processed) without this prior discussion having taken place.

If, having studied the How To Apply Guidelines, 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. Applications by fax or online will not be accepted. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Additional Materials that must be included are:

• Sample scripts of TV series
• Logline (ca. 25 words)
• Synopsis of feature or outline of TV series (ca. ½ A4 page)
• Examples of visual realisation, e.g. character designs, backgrounds, storyboards, etc
• CVs of all principals
• Note of any voice casting or creative/technical personnel in place
• Note of any other marketable elements of the project
• Production budget, including top sheet
• Irish creative spend production budget, including top sheet (if applicable)
• Draft/indicative finance plan
• Evidence of ownership 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 Animation 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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