Production

What is the maximum grant available?

The Arts Council will not normally contribute more than £200,000 to any one production. The Arts Council’s Lottery contribution to a production budget will be up to 50% depending on the type and scale of the production. In the case of low-budget short films a grant of up to 75% may be available, i.e.

Applications greater than £30,000 may seek up to 50%

Applications less than £30,000 may seek up to 75%

What is eligible?

Funding is available towards costs relating to pre-production, production and post-production of single feature films, short films, experimental films, documentaries, animation and digital media projects.

What is not eligible?

Marketing, distribution and promotion costs.

Completion funding.

What counts as Northern Ireland spend?

The Arts Council acknowledges that there are certain processes and costs associated with film production which mean that some elements of the budget will have to be spent outside Northern Ireland. These costs may include film processing and some post-production work which often incur expenditure outside Northern Ireland. With these constraints in mind, the Arts Council expects producers to make every effort to maximise their spend in Northern Ireland.

Although details of cast and crew are often unknown at the time of application an indication of the likely maximum spend should be provided. Evidence of attempts to identify appropriate Northern Ireland based personnel should be provided. Producers are asked to make realistic assessments of the Northern Ireland spend elements.

Is there a commitment to good practice?

All productions supported by the Arts Council will be required to make a contribution to the Skills Investment Fund (SIF), the training levy to be collected and distributed by Skillset on behalf of the industry. Producers will have to pay 0.5 per cent of their budget to the SIF. The maximum levy on any one production is £39,500. This should appear as a line item in the budget. This levy does not replace any existing provision for the employment of trainees that may be in the budget. SIF is an additional training cost. For further details contact Skillset, 91 - 101 Oxford Street, London, W1V 5RA, Tel: 020 7534 5304.

The Arts Council is also supportive of the Northern Ireland Film Commission’s (NIFC) Industry Code of Practice and would expect all productions to comply with it. For further details contact NIFC, 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HD, Tel: 028 9023 2444.

How will the Arts Council investment be recouped?

For films intended for commercial distribution (theatrical, broadcast, video sales etc.) the terms of recoupment of Lottery funding will be negotiated individually. The Arts Council will normally require a percentage of net profits in line with its initial percentage investment.

Are there any deadlines?

Applications for feature films and television drama series or serials only will be considered twice a year. The deadline for receipt of applications in these categories only is 1 February for a decision the following May; and 1 May for a decision the following August.

All other types of application for Production funding are accepted at all times.

Short film distribution and promotion

What is the maximum grant available?

The maximum support available for Short Film Distribution and Promotion of any one short film will be £3,000 or a maximum of 75% of the total cost whichever is lower. An additional title on the film, carrying an Arts Council credit, should be budgeted for as this will be a requirement of Arts Council support for Short Film Distribution and Promotion.

What is eligible?

Only short films and packages of short films are eligible to apply. Packages of short films will be expected to show economies of scale in their joint promotional costs.

A short film in this context is a film originated on any format with a running time of no more than 30 minutes. The distribution medium will normally be a 35mm print unless the applicant can make a valid case for another medium.

Short films which have not received Arts Council Lottery funding support towards development or production are still eligible to apply for funding. Short film Distribution and Promotion funding is not intended to act as a direct subsidy to distribution companies, rather to act as an aid in securing a distributor. For short film Distribution and Promotion funding the application must be for elements clearly additional to the organisation’s normal activities. The following are eligible for funding:

• Film: Internegative/interpositive duplicating materials; 35mm print blow-up; cost of adding an Arts Council credit;

• Video: Telecine transfers, tape masters, VHS copies; cost of adding an Arts Council credit;

• Festivals: Shipping costs; entry fees and information packs for competitive festivals;

• Promotional materials: design costs;

• Access: subtitles and audio description.

What is not eligible?

Short films intended exclusively for broadcast on television or release on video.

Are there any special priorties?

Priority will be given to the distribution and promotion of:

• short films made entirely in Northern Ireland, however, short films about Northern Ireland and other films of cultural relevance that have not been exclusively made here are not excluded;

• short films made by producers resident in Northern Ireland;

• short films where the applicant can demonstrate a strong commitment to distribution and promotion within Northern Ireland, as well as to national and international audiences;

• low budget shorts;

• films which can demonstrate the highest levels of production spend in Northern Ireland.

Are there any deadlines?

There are no deadlines for applicants seeking short film Distribution and Promotion funding. Applications are accepted at all times.