Nuachtlitir MEDIA Nollaig 2023 | MEDIA News December 2023

Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise!   Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Ag súil le sibh a fheiceáil ag ár n-imeachtaí éagsúla i 2024 !  We look forward to seeing you in 2024 at our events and webinars. 

Reminder that some new MEDIA calls opened this month including European Co-development and European Film Distribution. See below for details and upcoming webinars.

Enjoy the holidays and we look forward to hearing from you in 2024.

Tá achoimre thíos maidir leis na torthaí MEDIA go léir in Éirinn i 2023 - luach €2.37 milliún in iomlán.  

A round-up of Irish companies and projects that were funded by MEDIA in 2023 with a total grant award of €2,370,000 so far this year. Congratulations to all the successful companies! You can read the full story here on our website which details all the funded projects plus quotes from some of the successful Irish companies.

Cistiú ltionscadal | European Slate Development

In 2023, five Irish companies received European Slate Development funding totalling €1,370,000 for this call. Slate funding supports independent European production companies to develop a slate of 3 to 5 audiovisual works in fiction, animation, and creative documentary. Applicants may add a short film by emerging talent to their slate.

• Element Pictures
• EZ Films
• Fantastic Films
• Homebird Productions
• Wildcat Pictures

'EZ Films were delighted to be awarded the MEDIA Slate Funding in 2023 and it has proved to be a fantastic way to develop our slate to an advanced stage but also a fantastic way to develop our company. Beyond supporting creative development milestones, the funding has also allowed us to present and pitch at markets internationally, gaining insights for the individual projects but also for our business. The award and the approval from MEDIA has proven to be a real badge of honour. It has also allowed us to make more international connections so as to co-develop and co-produce with production companies in other countries.' Ciarán Deeney, producer, EZ Films.

Comhfhorbairt Eorpach | Irish Co-development Results

In summer 2023, eight co-development awards that featured Irish companies as lead applicants or partners were announced from applications made in September 2022. ​European Co-development Funding supports co-development of fiction, animation, creative documentary for cinema, TV or digital platforms. The next European Co-development Funding call is open now until 6th March 2024.

Ábhar Teilifíse agus Ar Líne | TV & Online Content 2023

This year saw three Irish companies get funding for their TV projects with a total of €1,177,528 in Creative Europe funding under this call.

• Goat Girl (animation) from Daily Madness
• Hidden Assets 2 (TV drama series) from Saffron Moon
• Louise Lives Large (drama, young people) from Tailored Films

Físchluichí & Ábhar Tumthach | Video Games & Immersive Content

In 2023, Isometric Dreams in Galway received funding for their game, The Darkside Detective, Season 3.

Féilte agus Margaí | Film Festival Funding and Access to Markets

This year, Cork International Film Festival was funded by Creative Europe as was The Film Fair at Galway Film Fleadh (Access to Markets).

Tá an Eoraip Chruthaitheach MEDIA ag tacú le comhlachtaí Eorpacha atá ag comfhfhorbairt togra amháin - Drámaíocht, Beochan nó Faisnéise - le comhlacht ó thír Eorpach eile faoin scéim tacaíochta Comhfhorbairt Eorpach.

Is é an Spriocdháta don scéim ná an 6ú Márta 2024. Spriocam: 1600 in Éirinn. Tá na hoifigí MEDIA ag eagrú seimineár eolais faoin scéim seo ar 18ú Eanair 2024.

Creative Europe MEDIA's European Co-development call supports the co-development of one animation, creative documentary or fiction project for cinema, TV or digital platforms.

European Co-development funding supports to the development of a single project for commercial exploitation intended for cinema release, television broadcasting or commercial exploitation on digital platforms or a multi-platform environment in the following categories: animation, creative documentary, or fiction.

The project must be co-developed by at least two European independent production companies in two different Creative Europe countries, having signed a co-development agreement specifying the division of tasks and the collaboration on creative aspects.

The call funds audiovisual production companies to develop works with high creative value and cultural diversity and wide cross-border exploitation potential. Companies are encouraged to develop strong and innovative collaborations at creative and financing level. It's also important to present strategies for marketing and distribution from the outset of the development phase to increase audience reach at a European and international level.

Applications should also present adequate strategies to ensure a more sustainable and more environmentally responsible industry, and to ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity and representativeness.

The deadline to apply for European Co-development funding is 6th March 2024.

SEIMINEÁR EOLAIS AR LÍNE MAIDIR LE COMHFHORBAIRT EORPACH, 18ú Eanáir 2024 MEDIA DESK CO-DEVELOPMENT WEBINAR, Thursday 18th January 2024

• Seimineár Eolais | European Co-development Webinar
• 11.00 Déardaoin 18ú Eanáir 2024  | 11.00 Thursday 18th January 2024
• CLÁRAIGH ANSEO | REGISTER HERE

We will host an information webinar on the European Co-development call for Irish producers. European Co-development supports the co-development of one animation, creative documentary or fiction project for cinema, TV or digital platforms. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask questions about the call. The Co-development Call deadline is 6th March, 2024.

Tá nascanna do na seisiúin eolais atá á eagrú ag an EACEA ar fáil ar an leathanach seo.

The EACEA series of funding webinars continues in January  2024. You can find the links to all the EACEA webinars on this page and there's no need for advance registration. Scroll down the page to find the list of webinars. If you missed previous webinars, the playback videos are also available on the same page along with all the webinar presentation slides. 

• MEDIA: European Co-development EACEA Webinar, Tuesday 16th January, 1pm - 3.30pm Irish time, online.
• Cross Sector: Journalism Partners Pitching Session, Wednesday, 10th of January 2024, 10am - 11.30am Irish time. (See Cross Sector news below for details).
• Cross Sector: Creative Innovation Lab call 12th January from 9.30am to 11am Irish time. (See Cross Sector news below for details).

Please do contact us if you would like to get advice on any of the MEDIA or Cross Sector  calls, and how best to prepare your MEDIA applications.

X-POLLINATOR is a cross-disciplinary professional development and networking initiative for female, trans and non-binary talent launched four years ago, setting out to help rapidly address gender diversity in the Irish screen industry. 

The programme is seeking participants from various disciplines of film, theatre, performance, literature, comedy, and visual art including both emerging and established female, trans and non-binary creative talent.

The programme will take place over one weekend and aims to inspire collaboration and facilitate the forging of new creative teams and partnerships to foster the creation, development and production of new work for the screen. The initiative will also cover the business and practical side of creative screen content and navigating the audiovisual industry.

X-POLLINATOR 2024 will consist of a wide, carefully curated programme of talks, masterclasses, panel discussions, break-out sessions and keynote speeches from esteemed speakers and practitioners, sharing their approach and experiences to inspire and inform participants over one weekend. The initiative will also provide facilitated networking opportunities to make connections between participants and build the creative teams of the future. Find out more here about the participant profile and the programme.

X-POLLINATOR 2024 is supported by Screen Ireland through the Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme and Coimisiún na Meán, in association with Creative Europe Desk Ireland and TU Dublin School of Media.

Apply online HERE by 5pm, Wednesday, 3rd January.

[LUX Audience Award 2024 Nominated Films]

Tá Scoth na Scannán MEDIA á thaispeáint sa bpictiúrlann agus ar líne i mí na Nollag. MEDIA supported films screening this month across Ireland in cinemas and online. We also highlight films showing in independent cinemas and cinema clubs that are part of the Europa Cinemas network as well as films promoted by Creative Europe and EU supported initiatives such as European Film Promotion, the European Film Awards, European Cinema Night and the LUX Audience Award.

Bhuaigh cúig scannán MEDIA 7 nduais ag Gradam Scannán na hEorpa ar an 9ú Nollaig.  

Five films that received EU support came out on top at this year's European Film Awards, winning a total of seven prizes.

The winners of the 36th edition of the European Film Awards, which took place in Berlin, were announced during the Awards Ceremony held on 9th December 2023. The MEDIA funded winners are:

• The Promised Land (Bastarden) by Nikolaj Arcel for Best Cinematography. Best Costume Design and Best Actor award to Mads Mikkelsen for his role in the film
• Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Savvusanna sõsarad) by Anna Hints for Best Documentary;
• Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger for Best Feature Film
• Club Zero by Jessica Hausner for Best Original Score
• La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher for Best Production Design.

The EU supported the development and distribution of these works through its Creative Europe MEDIA Programme.

Anatomy of a Fall won Best European Film while its director, Justine Triet won Best European Director 2023. Read the full list of European Film Awards winners here. 

SPRIOCDHÁTAÍ MEDIA 2024  | MEDIA Funding Calls 2024

·         Margaí agus Líonrú | 18ú Eanáir | Markets & Networking | 18th January 2024

·         Uirlisí Nuálacha | 24ú Eanáir | Innovative Tools & Business Models | 24th January 

·         Físchluichí | 24ú Eanáir | Video Games + Immersive Content | 24th January 2024

·         Comhfhorbairt Eorpach | 6ú Márta | European Co-Development | 6th March

·         Scannáin ag dul ó áit go háit | 14ú Márta | Films on the Move | 14th March 2024

·         Gréasáin VOD  | 9ú Aibreán | European VOD Networks & Operators | 9th April 2024

·         Gréasáin d'Fhéilte | 11ú Aibreán | Network of European Film Festivals | 11th April 

·         Dáiliúchán Scannán Eorpach | 25ú Aibreán | European Film Distribution | 25th April

SPRIOCDHÁTAÍ TRASEARNÁLA | CROSS SECTORAL CALLS

Comhpháirtíochta Iriseoireachta - Comhoibriú 14ú Feabhra 2024 | News Journalism Partnerships - Collaborations | 14 Feb 

Comhpháirtíochta Iriseoireachta -Iolrachas 14ú Feabhra 2024 | News Journalism Partnerships - Pluralism | 14 Feb 

Litearacht na Meán 7ú Márta 2024 | News Media Literacy Call | 4th March 

 Saotharlann um Chruthaitheacht Nuálaíocht 26ú Aibreán 2024 |  Innovation Lab | 26 April 

Margaí, Líonraí agus Cúrsaí Traenála MEDIA | MEDIA Markets, Networks & Training

EFP (European Film Promotion) has an open public call for Film Sales Support for digital promotion campaigns of recent European films to buyers and distributors in countries outside of Europe at the European Film Market (EFM) which takes place 15 - 21 February 2024, in Germany and online.

Who may submit?

• European world sales companies registered in the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal of the European Commission, approved by the respective European film promotion institute and also registered online with the EFM to guarantee access to buyers outside of Europe.

 What is covered by FSS?

• Costs/investments for digital promotion and marketing campaigns targeting buyers outside of Europe

 Which films are eligible?

• Recent films finished and unfinished films which have an original copyright established in 2023/2024
• Majority-produced European films with a minimum length of 60' and an origin of country which is part of Creative Europe Media and part of the FSS Guidelines
• Fiction films, animation films and documentaries (feature length)
• Films must be part of the market
• Applications may include up to 5 European finished and unfinished films
• Applications may NOT include FINISHED films which have been supported via FSS at another market while they were still unfinished

 How much is available?

• An investment of up to 50% of the total costs up to a maximum of EUR 5,000 per campaign for an overall spend of EUR 10,000

Deadline: 22nd January 2024. Submit applications here.

Tá na Cúrsaí Traenála MEDIA go léir ar fáil anseo. 

You can find a searchable database here that has training programmes currently supported by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Please note that bursaries can often be provided by the training organisations or by national authorities like Screen Ireland in the case of applicants based in Ireland.

• Comhpháirtíochta Iriseoireachta | Journalism Partners Pitching Session
• 10ú Eanáir | Online, Wednesday, 10th of January 2024, 10am - 11.30am Irish time
• Each pitch will be 5 minutes + 2-3 min. Q&A with the audience.
• Register here.

The Creative Europe Desks from 21 countries are happy to invite you to the European News Pitch for projects that will seek funding from the Creative Europe call News Journalism Partnership. Selected news projects from all over Europe will be presented and the event will be held in English.

If you are currently preparing an application for call and are looking for European partners, you are invited to share your idea or to pitch by filling this Google Form before 3rd January 5pm Irish time (6pm CET).

This event is brought to you by Creative Europe Desks from Armenia, Bulgaria Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden in partnership with the European Commission and the European Executive Agency EACEA.

Find out more and register here.

Tá sí mar aidhm ag an Saotharlann um Chruthaitheacht Nuálaíocht cineálacha cur chuige nuálacha a chur chun cinn maidir le hinneachar a chruthú, le rochtain a fháil air, lena dháileadh agus lena chur chun cinn ar fud earnálacha an chultúir agus na cruthaitheachta.

Through the Creative Innovation Lab call, the EU aims to support projects that design, develop and/or spread innovative tools, models, or solutions applicable in the European audiovisual and other cultural and creative sectors to improve their competitiveness and pave the way towards more environmental practices. The grants will allow organisations to untap the opportunities offered by the development of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Worlds and other new tech.

The variety of previously funded projects shows the richness of this call. These include Creative Web3 Experience Europe (CWXP) coordinated by Get a Gig, exploring the opportunities of Web3, AI, metaverse and NFTs for the creative sector. ;

Unlock the Community by Usheru, focusses on audience development for audiovisual and cultural organisations, and more recently CREA Trust AI coordinated by Panodissey, dedicated to AI and interoperability to improve the creation, monetisation, dissemination and distribution of content.

The deadline for the Creative Innovation Lab call is 25th April 2024. The EACEA will host a funding information webinar on the call on 12th January from 9.30am to 11am Irish time. You can find the webinar link on this page (scroll down the page) and join without registration.