The National Talent Academies Short Film Fund, Live Action (2026)

The National Talent Academies Short Film Fund, Live Action (2026)

What is The National Talent Academies Short Film Fund? 

If you are already working in the live-action or animation industry, this initiative from the NTA Film & TV Drama and NTA Animation aims to support you to transfer, upskill and/or make a career move into directing your first funded live-action drama short from your current area of expertise. 

The National Talent Academies Short Film Fund is targeted at practitioners who wish to learn additional skills or move into a different role. It is underpinned by a €15,000 fund that will provide the filmmaking team with carefully tailored mentoring, training, and workshops delivered by experienced industry professionals over the course of a year. This scheme is heavily focused on skills development and supporting you in expanding your skillset, enabling you to take on the new role. 

Applicants must apply as a team made up of two or more members, which must contain a Director seeking to transfer/upskill or move into a writing/directing or directing role for the first time. 

Recent successful applicants included an established DOP, a Script Editor, and Unscripted and documentary filmmakers, all of whom received funding to transition into the role of director on their first funded live-action short film. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance the skills you already have, learn new ones, and allow your career to take new direction and flourish. 

The aim is for selected filmmaking teams to start the programme in mid-2026 with the final delivery of a short by January 2027. 

All submission requirements can be found in the guidelines HERE 

 

Who can apply? 

Applicants must apply as a team made up of two or more members, which must contain a Director seeking to transfer/upskill or move into a writing/directing or directing role for the first time. 

  • A Writer/Director (transferring/upskilling) may apply with a Producer. 

  • A Director (transferring/upskilling) may apply with a new or established Writer and a Producer 

  • A Writer (transferring/upskilling) and a Director (transferring/upskilling) may apply with a Producer. 

To qualify as a “transferring/upskilling” director or writer/director, the individual must already be working within the industry, screen sector or in the Arts and hold five or more professional credits (outside of education, training, or trainee roles) in one primary role (not across multiple departments or roles).  

Recent successful applicants included an established Director of Photography, a Script Editor, and Unscripted and documentary filmmakers, all of whom received funding to transition into the role of director on their first funded live-action short film. 

Producers can be emerging or established but they must: 

  • Have a Limited Company, Production Company or a Service Production Company for the delivery of this Short 

  • Have a track record of producing content (e.g. Music Videos, Advertising, Documentary or Animation) and working with a budget of €15,000 or more. 

We encourage applications from diverse teams across Ireland. The NTA are committed to breaking down barriers and providing a platform for voices from regional talent and communities that are currently under-represented within the screen sector.   

 

  

How can I apply? 

More information about the application process, submission deliverables and eligibility can be found in our guidelines. You should read these carefully before submitting your application. 

Please find the application form HERE 

This application form will ask you to supply an open access sharing download link to the materials/documents listed in the guidelines. (Google drive or Dropbox recommended) An incomplete application or application missing any of the requested documents, will not be considered. 

The deadline to submit your application is March 6th at 10AM. 

It is recommended that all applicants take part in one of our information sessions on one of the following dates:  

  • Monday January 26th 2026, Online  

  • Saturday February 21st 2026, Dublin - limited spaces available.

You can register to attend the information session HERE. Guests must RSVP on a first-come, first-served basis. The in-person event attendance numbers are limited. 

  

Next Steps: 

A shortlist of teams will be invited for interview by an expert panel. One memeber from each team must attend the interviews. Up to  three live-action and three animation teams being selected to participate in the scheme. 

  

Key Dates:  

  • Day One: Monday, January 26th 2026, Online (Evening) 
  • Day Two: Saturday, February 21st 2026, Dublin (Morning/Midday) 
  • Application Deadline: Monday, March 6th  10AM 

 

Further Information: 

You can contact NTAFT with any queries around the application process at liveaction.shorts@nationaltalentacademies.ie 

Please read the guidelines in detail before emailing. 

  

We are happy to provide additional support and adjust guidelines if necessary to meet any accessibility requirements you may have. To discuss this, please contact Eibh Collins at  liveaction.shorts@nationaltalentacademies.ie with the subject ‘application supports’ at least fourteen days before the application deadline.  

  

National Talent Academy of Film and TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann, managed by Ardán.