Creative Animation Application Call Now Open

About the Open Call

Northern Ireland Screen’s Creative Animation Scheme is designed to develop Northern Ireland resident junior creators/animators through the production of animated short films. The scheme provides junior level creators/animators with the opportunity to develop their own ideas with support from established animation companies. It is Northern Ireland Screen’s ambition that completed short films would be submitted to accredited film festivals and could have a successful festival run after delivery of the film. The scheme is supported via funding from the Screen Fund and BFI NETWORK. Northern Ireland Screen will support the production of up to two animated short films through funding awarded in the financial year 2025-26. The scheme is currently open for applications with a deadline of Friday 19th September 2025. Max Budget per film: £40,000 Duration: 5 – 10 minutes Delivery by: 28 November 2026. Required Deliverables: ProRes 4:2:2 HQ File on Hard drive; MEG4 HD h.264 viewing file created from the master file. The file should be set for streaming at 5Mb/s; An unencrypted DCP file on hard drive or pen drive; 1 online viewing link (password protected); At least 5 colour print quality stills in jpeg format (minimum 300 dpi); A written publicity pack to include one synopsis of approximately 250 words and a 160-character logline, flyers and other publicity material, full credits list, biographies of individual producer(s), director(s), writer(s) and key crew, and production information; A PDF copy of the final script; Closing reports on templates provided by Northern Ireland Screen.

What is Offered

Northern Ireland Screen will support the production of up to two animated short films through funding awarded in the financial year 2025-26. Max Budget per film: £40,000. Support and guidance from established animation companies.

Requirements

The scheme is open to Northern Ireland based animation companies which have identified Northern Ireland resident emerging talent that could be supported through this funding to develop and create animated short films. The identified individual (creator/animator) should not be a principal of the company and should not currently be working in IP generation. The applicant animation company must have a substantive base, including: Long term premises in Northern Ireland; At least 5 full time employees which can include people on short term contracts; The facilities to produce and deliver an animated short film.

How to Apply

Please contact Christine Morrow, Talent Executive, (christine@northernirelandscreen.co.uk) to discuss a potential application before applying. After this discussion a link to the online application form will be sent out. Alongside the general supporting documentation, the following items are also required: A CV for the creator/animator; Story outline, treatment including concept art and a script for the project; A provisional schedule for the project. Download full guidelines.