Westmeath County Council & National Talent Academies Commemorative Animation Award 2025

About the Award:

Westmeath County Council and the National Talent Academy for Animation are partnering to offer an Award of €10,000 to emerging animation artists. This award is designed with a focus on significant commemorations reflecting the early years of the State and is made possible with funding from The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and the National Talent Academies for Animation.

Applicants are invited to submit applications for a 3-5 minute short animation film, which draws on events from the early years of the state or other significant anniversaries in Westmeath.

This award is open to emerging Irish-based animators.

Westmeath Commemorations in 2025

Applicants are invited to submit an application which refers to any one of the events below, or another commemorative event of their choosing, with a view to creating a short film that, by animating a particular theme or event, brings history to new audiences.

Centenary events of note:

1925 - a programme of Archaeological excavations commenced at the Ancient Royal Sites of the Hill of Uisneach under the direction of R.A.S. Macalister (professor of Celtic archaeology at University College Dublin (UCD, 1909–43) and R.L. Praeger (2025 is also the 75th anniversary of Mac Alister’s death).
1925 – three deaths in Athlone when a land mine from Ireland's War of Independence was uncovered and exploded in Custume Barracks.
1925 food shortages countrywide.
1925 The Midland Great Western Railway Company, which had built the line from Dublin to Mullingar and then on to Athlone, ceased to exist and all the railway companies in Ireland were amalgamated into two companies-Great Southern Railways in the Irish Free State and Great Northern Railways in Northern Ireland.

Other anniversaries of significance in 1925 include:

170 years since the Longford-Mullingar Rail line opened.
The 150-year anniversary of the publication of the Southern Cross Newspaper, which was an important publication for emigrants to Argentina, especially those from Longford and Westmeath. The Southern Cross was the first entirely Roman Catholic English language publication in Buenos Aires, the world’s longest-running Irish newspaper produced outside Ireland, and among the oldest of any kind in Argentina and it continues in print to this day.
125 years since James Joyce visited Mullingar.
85 years since the devastating fire in Athlone Woollen Mills.
80th anniversary of the death of world-renowned tenor County John McCormack.
70-year anniversary of the assisted migration of 9 families from Mayo to Kiltoom near Castlepollard in Westmeath.

Key themes identified by the Department for Culture, Communications and Sport can be found HERE.

Who Can Apply:

Applicants must:

Be habitually resident in Ireland.
Be 18 years of age or over.
Be willing and able to participate fully in the scheme and engage in all training opportunities provided. Scheduling of training will be flexible where possible.

Applicants must not:

Be in full-time education.

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.

Application and Selection Process:

Applicants must apply as a team made up of two or more members, which must contain a Writer with a Director and/or Producer, i.e -
- A Writer may apply with a Director.
- A Writer may apply with a Producer.
- A Writer may apply with a Producer and a Director.
One individual can be part of two teams, making two separate applications.
Deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday, 25th of July.

What is Included in the Scheme:

Production insurance will be covered by The National Talent Academy for Animation / Animation Ireland (within reason).
Mentoring for the Writer/Director/Producer
Upon participating in the scheme, the Lead Applicant will enter into a contract with the NTA Animation, which will include an agreed budget, schedule and deliverables.
The opportunity to work with a local historian in Westmeath to bring your story to life.

Things to consider when making your submission…

The short film must take place in Westmeath and must refer to a commemorative event of your choosing.
The animatic for the short film must be delivered by late October 2025.
The NTA Animation is keen to hear from new and diverse voices and teams.
It is highly recommended that a member of your team attend the Information Session on Thursday, the 3rd of July, from 5pm - 6pm. You can register for the Information Session HERE.

Submission Requirements:

The filmmaking team can only submit one project for consideration.
One member of the team must be designated as the Lead Applicant and the NTA Animation will contract directly with them (see further details above “What is Included in the Scheme”).
The Lead Applicant should complete the Application Form.
Submissions must include a logline for the film (maximum 25 words) and a synopsis of the film (maximum 300 words) to be submitted as one document.
Submissions must include a budget (€10,000) for a 3-5 minute short film, a template for which will be provided in the Application Resource Pack.
Scripts:
- Must be submitted in an industry-standard format, templates of which are provided in the Application Resource Pack.
- Can be in the English or Irish language. If the film is in Irish, an English translation of the script must be provided.
Writers must submit a signed declaration of ownership of all materials stating that the screenplay is their original work, a template for which is provided in the Application Resource Pack.
Animation Bible - examples can be found within the resource pack.
Submissions must include Personal Statements from each team member, which can be written or filmed. They must be no more than two pages in written format or no more than three minutes in film format. This statement should outline:
- Your reason for applying;
- Any experience you may have in the animation industry to date;
- The historical event you have selected for your film;
- Your vision for the project;
- How do you hope this initiative will progress your career?
Submissions must include a one-page CV for each team member outlining their relevant experience.
Documentation must be provided in PDF format.
The documentation must be made available via a downloadable link (Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox, etc). There is a specific section for this within the application form.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST:

Each application must include: -

Animation Bible;
Logline and synopsis (as one PDF document);
Script;
Signed Declaration of the Writer;
CV for each team member (one page);
Personal Statement for each team member;
Budget (€10k)

The following additional items are optional: -

Online link to showreel and/or portfolio;
Producer’s notes

(outlining the vision for and planned execution of the script);

Director’s notes

(outlining the vision for and planned execution of the script).

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 Martina Keane at animation@nationaltalentacademies.ie with the subject ‘application supports’ at least fourteen days before the application deadline.

DEADLINE:

Applications close at 5pm on 25th of July 2025.

Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Please address any general queries to animation@nationaltalentacademies.ie or arts@westmeathcoco.ie