2024 International Programming Ireland Fund (Round 3)

Tourism Ireland aims to select a balanced slate of projects reflecting the key interest areas and this may impact on awards made.

Objectives

• High-quality and innovative broadcast projects profiling the island of Ireland which feature one or all of the following:
  • The island’s stunning landscapes
  • Rich heritage and living culture
  • Food and drink
  • Soft adventure
  • People and characters
  • Sustainable themes
  • The regions beyond Dublin
  • Northern Ireland themes are a priority for Round 3
  • Ireland’s seasons throughout the year

Funding Information

• Tourism Ireland is pleased to confirm that €1,700,000 has been allocated to the fund for 2024, to support a number of TV projects. Funding is awarded on a sliding scale to projects that fulfil the scheme criteria, with a maximum investment of up to €200,000 available (no more than 50% of the global budget for the project).

About the Scheme 

• Since launching in 2021, Tourism Ireland’s International Programming Ireland Fund has supported almost 50 high-quality international television projects, including documentary, lifestyle, specialist factual and factual entertainment series, produced for international broadcast on channels such as Channel 4, Sky, PBS, ITV, France 3, Arte, Smithsonian, BBC, Food Network UK, Mediaset Canale 5, SVT and more.
• The fund is designed to attract and support new, original and commercially viable programming that will showcase the island of Ireland in the key markets overseas. Targeting Great Britain, the United States and Mainland Europe as key markets, projects with a confirmed European broadcaster attached are of particular interest – particularly in Germany and France, but also in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. Themes can include profiling the island of Ireland’s stunning landscapes, rich heritage, living culture, food and drink, soft adventure, people, characters and stories. Projects that profile Northern Ireland and the regions, as well as stories rooted in winter, spring or autumn, are of particular interest to the fund in 2024.
• Funding is awarded to producers through a competitive selection process of projects that are at a sufficiently advanced stage of development and fulfil the dual function of showcasing the island of Ireland, as well as fully satisfying the brief of an identified international broadcaster.

Specific to Round 3 

• This is the third of three funding rounds in 2024. This presents enhanced opportunities for applicants to get their projects market and criteria ready.
• Experienced Development/Executive Producer Colin Pauser-Cowman has been appointed to oversee the application process. Colin is available to provide development and eligibility feedback prior to submission to companies with developed proposals intending to apply.
• Note that a similar fund will be available in 2025. If an application demonstrates genuine potential to fulfil the scheme objectives, but requires further development to meet the criteria, Tourism Ireland may provide development guidance and support to allow perceived gaps in the project to be addressed and to then be re-submitted in 2025.
• Priority is given to submissions with confirmed international broadcaster interest. Co-production projects with Northern Ireland or Irish broadcasters, additional state funding or tax incentives attached/identified are also welcomed. In this case, applicants must clearly demonstrate an international distribution plan for the project and how it will be crafted/tailored to fulfil the brief of at least one international broadcaster in a desired territory.

Ineligible Projects

• TV drama or scripted submissions.
• Crime-based themes.
• News or current affairs genres.
• Political or agenda-based narratives.
• Animation submissions.
• Projects that are exclusively studio-based.
• Projects intended exclusively for theatrical release.
• Projects with a niche focus that may have reduced audience appeal/reach.
• Projects seeking sponsorship funding are not invited for this funding initiative.
• Proposals with a broadcaster ad/spot funding requirement are not invited for this funding initiative.
• Projects intended exclusively for broadcast on the island of Ireland.
• Concepts centred on themes that could be perceived as controversial or have the potential to reflect negatively on the island of Ireland.
• Projects that cannot demonstrate either international broadcaster or distributor commitment.
• Underdeveloped projects at concept stage.

Who can apply?

• Experienced independent production companies (domestic, international or a co-production) with a demonstrable track record in producing high-quality programming for TV broadcasters outside the island of Ireland are invited to apply to this scheme for funding. A producer/production company may submit up to two projects for consideration only.

Eligibility Criteria

• Tourism Ireland invites applications which can fulfil these objectives under the following criteria:
  • Well-developed projects with broad appeal, with identified broadcasters and/or a distributor.
  • Genres with a fresh and authentic destination focus are of particular interest. However, the scheme has a broad interest in a range of non-scripted genres and creative approaches that entertain and engage. These include (but are not limited to) documentary, doc series, travelogue, lifestyle, features, popular factual, factual entertainment, cultural, history and specialist factual.
  • Other genres such as challenge-based game shows are welcome to apply, provided they meet the fund criteria and aspirations to showcase the island of Ireland i.e., they should not be studio-based (with reduced opportunity to profile Ireland).
  • Existing formats or popular returning series which have the potential to be based authentically in Ireland may also apply. These projects require an international broadcaster attached at submission stage.
  • All submissions must demonstrate that they have identified and attached on-screen talent that is both appealing and well known to the intended international broadcaster and audience. Projects with unknown talent in that territory are less likely to be funded through this scheme.
  • Projects intended for established international broadcast channels that can provide slot averages, audience reach and impact metrics will be prioritised. However, projects intended for SVODs and streamers are also invited, provided they can demonstrate clear projections on the potential audience reach and impact of the project.
  • Projects with a confirmed distributor and a defined international distribution strategy that include Tourism Ireland’s desired territories will also be prioritised. Evidence of confirmed distributor investment in the finance plan is an advantage.
  • Projects must demonstrate evidence of international market support and commercial viability, including onward sales. The project must have at least one broadcaster identified/confirmed in US, GB, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Nordics or Canada. Projects with a confirmed European broadcaster are of particular interest to Tourism Ireland this year and will therefore have a distinct advantage. Additionally, projects with confirmed sales or distribution interest will be prioritised.
  • Existing high-end content that can travel overseas with the appropriate re-versioning is also of potential interest.
  • It is essential that confirmed financing be in place with clear evidence of market support. This can be secured from a broadcaster or from a combination of broadcaster(s), sales agent, distributor, publisher, established funders such as Screen Ireland, BAI, Creative Europe etc.
  • While all talent does not need to be attached at the time of application, those which require key talent such as a celebrity or presenter should aim to have their commitment in principle secured to demonstrate viability.
  • Celebrity/artist/expert-led content tends to work well, but it must involve internationally recognised talent. Documentaries and cultural content including music, literary and film themes with a strong sense of place are also of interest.
  • Projects may be made in any relevant language but the application must be made through English.
  • Tourism Ireland may consider a follow-on series of a project that can clearly demonstrate the success of the first series and present a strong rationale for support. Reality genres such as adventure are welcome, provided they meet the brief.

For more information, visit Tourism Ireland.