Screen Ireland Opens Focus Shorts 2027 Funding, Offering Up to €70,000 for Short Films

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland opened applications for Focus Shorts 2027 on 11 November 2026, offering up to €70,000 in production funding for experienced filmmaking teams producing live-action fiction shorts.

Applications close on Friday, 29 January 2027 at 1pm Irish time. Eligible films must run no longer than ten minutes and may be made in English or Irish.

Who can apply?

The scheme is intended for filmmakers with an established track record. Directors must have directed at least one live-action short, while producers must have produced at least one. High-quality commercials may contribute towards a producer’s eligibility.

Every application requires a writer, director and producer; the director and producer cannot be the same person. Eligible filmmakers resident in the Republic of Ireland should creatively lead projects using a company registered there. Irish citizens temporarily abroad may be considered if willing to return for production. Full-time students are not eligible.

Production funding rules

Focus Shorts provides up to €70,000 to support professionally produced short films intended for cinematic exhibition. The published guidelines do not allow outside financing to be added to the funding offer.

Screen Ireland retains approval rights over key production elements, including script, schedule, budget, casting, department heads and rough cut. Applicants should confirm that their proposal meets these requirements.

Application materials

A complete package includes a logline, synopsis, screenplay, director’s statement, producer’s notes, euro-denominated budget, creative-team CVs and links to completed previous work.

Assessors must be able to watch full previous films, rather than just trailers or IMDb pages. Projects based on other works must show evidence that they can license and budget for the necessary adaptation rights.

Festival strategy and creative development

The scheme also supports post-production, including conversations about festival strategy and a potentially separate allowance for festival submission costs. Production companies retain their underlying rights, subject to Screen Ireland’s specified non-exclusive promotional and media rights.

Alumni of the scheme include filmmakers who subsequently established feature-film careers, illustrating the value of well-supported shorts as part of longer-term professional development.

Deadline and next steps

Applications must reach Screen Ireland’s online portal before 1pm Irish time on 29 January 2027. Late email submissions are not accepted.

Filmmakers should check all team and residency requirements before preparing materials. Full guidance is available at Screen Ireland’s Focus Shorts page.