First Take is a training and development platform for newly established film professionals, film and media students and the wider film industry.
NTA Film & TV are excited to return to this year’s Cork International Film Festival, presenting a session for young filmmakers as part of First Take, as well as co-hosting a networking session to close the day.
Pathways to Early Credit Funding
This practical session will offer advice and clear pathways for young filmmakers to approach securing early funding for their short films, including contributions from short film funders and creative and constructive advice from filmmakers with recent experience in this realm. Speakers will include Jamie Hooper (Co-chair, Screen Cork) and Sophie O'Donovan (Filmmaker), Clare Monnelly (Filmmaker & Actress) and the session will be hosted by Eibh Collins (Programme Director, National Talent Academy Film & TV)
All First Take sessions will be accompanied by Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing on screen.
10:00 - Door opens / registration
10:30 - Introduction
10:35 - Session 1 - Pathways to Early Credit Funding
11:25 - Session 2 - Beyond the Festival Circuit: Strategies for Short Film
12:20 - Lunch
13:00 - Session 3 - Ancestors | Transitioning from Screenwriting to Directing
14:00 - Session 4 - Stories from a Shared Island | Skintown
14:50 - Break
15:00 - Session 5 - First Take Keynote | Brendan Canty
16:00 – Networking Reception
16:45 - END
Date: Thu 19 November 2026
Time: 10:30 – 16:45
Venue: Triskel Cinema, Tobin Street, Cork
Tickets can be booked HERE
Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) is Ireland’s first and largest film festival and one of Cork’s most significant and popular annual cultural events.
It marked its significant 70th edition in November 2025, and its 71st edition will take place Thursday 12th to Sunday 22nd November 2026.
CIFF is a local, national and international celebration of cinema, running annually in venues and online in November. Award-winning films from the international film festival circuit, new discoveries and cinema classics are selected by our experienced curatorial team, to be premiered in cinemas in Cork and screened online via the Festival Digital Platform, available to viewers nationwide.
The Festival is proudly supported by principal funder The Arts Council of Ireland, along with Cork City Council, Creative Europe MEDIA, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Cork County Council, and HSE. Media Partners are RTÉ Supporting the Arts and Irish Examiner.
Please address any questions to filmandtv@nationaltalentacademies.ie
The National Talent Academies is an initiative of Screen Ireland .
This newsletter will keep you up to date with courses, activities, programmes, events, news, and resources related to the Irish screen sector from crew, film, and television to animation and VFX.
Subscribe
