Scéal to Set

The National Talent Academy for Film & Television (NTA Film & TV) is now accepting applications from emerging directors and writers for Scéal to Set. Scéal to Set is an Irish Language mentoring and career development programme. The goal of Scéal to Set is to guide Irish language directors and writers in developing their confidence and skills in working as Gaeilge.  

Tá an tAcadamh Náisiúnta Tallainne don Tionscal Scannán agus Teilifíse (Scannán agus Teilifís NTA) ag glacadh le hiarratais anois do Scéal to Set ó stiúrthóirí agus ó scríbhneoirí atá ag teacht chun cinn. Is clár forbartha meantóireachta agus gairme Gaeilge atá i gceist le Scéal to Set. Is é atá mar sprioc le Scéal to Set stiúrthóirí agus scríbhneoirí Gaeilge a stiúradh lena muinín agus scileanna ó thaobh oibriú trí Ghaeilge a fhorbairt. 

Course Overview:

Established writer/direct Dathaí Keane will mentor the selected participants both online between Nov 20th and Dec 3rd and in person from Dec 4th – 6th.  

In advance of the in-person sessions in Galway, there will be several online sessions with guest speakers who will discuss their experience on set and working on Irish language Film and TV. A selection of these sessions will be hosted in Irish and/or bilingually. 

During the in-person 3-day course, under the guidance of mentor, Dathaí Keane, the writer and director will workshop the short film script, build on their knowledge of how an Irish language and dual language set runs, meet leading professionals working as Gaeilge and work with fluent Irish Language actors. 

Fluent Irish is not required to participate in this workshop – however a confident and proficient level of verbal Irish and an interest in Irish language and culture is essential. 

Selected participants will be offered a bursary to attend the course and contribute to costs associated therewith. 

Please note: This is an outline of the course and programme. Under the guidance of the mentor, selected participants and the NTAFT, this outline is subject to change, alterations, and additions. 

Próifíl an Mheantóra: 

Dathaí Keane

Is stiúrthóir agus scríbhneoir Éireannach é Dathaí Keane. Chuir sé tús lena ghairm bheatha mar eagarthóir agus d’oibrigh sé le breis is deich mbliana ar thionscadail don Teilifís agus do Scannáin. Ba chláir fhaisnéise a bhí sna chéad tionscadail ar thug sé fúthu mar scríbhneoir agus mar stiúrthóir agus tá líon sraitheanna clár faisnéise scríofa agus stiúrtha aige don teilifís in Éirinn, cláir fhaisnéise a bhfuil gradaim baint amach acu. 
 
In 2015, he created and directed a bilingual Western Drama series called An Klondike that ran for two seasons on TG4. The series has been distributed internationally and is available on Netflix under the title Dominion Creek. Dathaí was awarded the IFTA for Best Director Drama at the 2017 Irish and Film Television Awards for his work on the second season of An Klondike.  

In 2018, he co-wrote and directed his first feature film, the Irish-language fantasy drama Finky. The film was supported by the Cine4 scheme and premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh in 2019 where it won the award for Best Cinematography. He has recently directed all three seasons of hit tv-drama Smother, a noir thriller made for RTE/BBC Studios. Smother has sold worldwide including sales to NBCUniversal’s Peacock in the United States, ABC in Australia, CANAL+ in France, and Alibi in the UK.  

Dathaí is currently in post-production on a new six-part crime drama series for RTE/BBC Studios called Blackshore which will be broadcast early in 2024. 

Cé leis is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh: 

Open to emerging Directors and Writers with the below experience: 

• Directors must have previously directed at least two funded live action short films

• And/or feature film and/or soap and/or several high-end commercials with a clear interest in developing a career in television drama.  

• And/or have worked in the Production Department across multiple projects with a clear interest in developing a career as a director. 

• Writers must have at least two previous pieces of work that have been produced or published, in English or Irish. 

• Creative teams of a Director & Writers and/or Individual Directors and Writers are free to apply. Solo applicants will be paired together. If applicants apply as a team, the writer and director both must apply, in the form you will have the opportunity to link the applications. 

Note that applications from more experienced Directors from other fields (e.g., Documentary) who are looking to build on their body of work and move into a television drama may also be considered.  

Conas Iarratas a Dhéanamh: 

Applicants must apply by completing the application form linked HERE.

This application form will ask you to supply a download link to the following materials 

• Media CV – detailing relevant experience.  

• A Personal Statement detailing how this initiative will progress your career  

(up to 2 pages or filmed statement of up to 3 minutes, in English or Irish). 

• (writers only) Short Film Script an English and Irish version. 

An English and an Irish version of a SHORT FILM script must be submitted as part of the WRITERS application. This script will be the script you focus on for the duration of the workshop. 

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.   

Please address any question to - eibh.collins@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

An Spriocdháta le hIarratas a Dhéanamh: 

The deadline to apply is end of day Monday, 16th October . 

Please make sure you are available on the above dates before applying.  

Próiseas Roghnúcháin: 

The applications will be assessed by a panel to include representatives of the National Talent Academy for Film & Television, and independent external assessors.

Selected applicants will be notified within three weeks of the applications deadline. 

The number of selected participants will be tailored to the amount and quality of the applications. 

Tuilleadh Eolais:   

Financial support for the time commitment, travel and accommodation will be provided allowing individuals to meet personal financial obligations while gaining unique access to the industry, practical experience and career development opportunities. 
 

Má tá ceisteanna agat, seol ríomhphost, le do thoil, chuig eibh.collins@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

Is ionann an tAcadamh Náisiúnta Tallainne don Tionscal Scannán agus Teilifíse agus tionscnamh de chuid Fhís Éireann agus tá sé á bhainistiú ag Ardán.   
 
Tá Scéal to Set á mhaoiniú ag an Acadamh Náisiúnta Tallainne don Tionscal Scannán agus Teilifíse agus ag Fís Éireann, Ardán agus ag Coimisiún na Meán.

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The National Talent Academy Film & TV is an initiative of Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán.   
 
Scéal to set is funded by The National Talent Academy Film & TV, Screen Ireland, Ardán and Coimisiún na Meán.