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Commissioning Briefs Archive: 2020

Previous commissioning opportunities

Commissioning Brief: October 2020

ѿý Northern Ireland is now seeking ideas for programmes for transmission on TV & iPlayer in 2021 and early 2022. This round covers a range of genres, including Factual, Factual Entertainment, Arts and Comedy.

Arts Commissioning Opportunity 2020/21

ѿý Radio Ulster/Foyle provides listeners with a distinctive mix of speech and music content. The Ticket, our weekly Thursday evening Arts/Culture slot is integral to this, offering an exciting engagement with upcoming cultural happenings and offering a platform to exciting artistic talent.

We are offering the opportunity for this programme to become an independent radio production on the basis of an initial one year contract with the option of extension by agreement on an annual basis.

ѿý Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle Station Sound Commissioning Brief

ѿý Radio Ulster & ѿý Radio Foyle want to commission a new Station Sound package of idents, beds and stabs for a wide range of styles to reflect our extensive portfolio of programme genres. We are looking for a fresh, contemporary, new sonic statement that is “unmistakably us”, and of this place, we call home. The successful commission will be on air from April 2021.

ѿý Gaeilge Commissioning Brief August 2020

The current Commissioning priorities for ѿý Gaeilge are set out in August’s brief, including opportunities for 60’ Documentary programmes and Popular Factual Series.

Ulster-Scots Content - Development Opportunity June 2020

Responding to Northern Ireland Screen’s recent call for applications to the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund, ѿý Northern Ireland is offering a limited number of development opportunities for content aimed for 2021, that could benefit from preliminary production resource.

In line with our mainstream commissioning priorities, ideas should appeal to a diverse audience, seeking, as always with our Ulster-Scots slate, to reach in to heartland communities, while also informing and entertaining our wider audience.

We welcome ideas that can speak to younger viewers and that are rooted in community and family.

While this round is primarily for development opportunities, we will consider production funding for any proposals that are time-bound, or specific to a current topic.

Please submit a short outline of your idea to Fiona Keane, Commissioning Executive (Ulster-Scots) on ѿý Pitch before 5pm on Wednesday, 01st July. We will advise the shortlisted applicants, in time for NI Screen’s funding application deadline on 06th July.

Deadline: via ѿý Pitch, 01st July 2020, 1700.

Forbairt Drámaíocht Gaeilge

Scéim Forbartha ILBF/ѿý Gaeilge/TG4 ar Shraith Drámaíochta

Sprioc-am: 10ú Iúil, 5in. Cinntí le fógairt faoi dheireadh mí Iúil.

Tá an Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, TG4 agus ѿý Gaeilge ag reachtáil scéim forbartha drámaíochta agus táimid ag lorg iarratais ó chomhlachtaí físe leis an taithí cuí i bhforbairt agus i léiriú drámaíochta agus i dtaobh oiliúint a chur ar fáil/talann úr a fhorbairt.

Is iad aidhmeanna na scéime seo ná:

  • 4-6 scríbhneoirí Gaeilge nach bhfuil taithí acu ar scríobh don scáileáin a fhorbairt.
  • Sraith drámaíochta úr a fhorbairt.

Táimid ag lorg iarratais do shraith ina bhfuil drámaíocht/scéalaíocht láidir agus samhlaíocht fhísiúil. Sraith chomhaimseartha, éadrom a bheith tarraingteach do lucht féachana leathan atá á lorg, macasamhail ‘Derry Girls’, ‘Fleabag’, ‘Catastrophe’ ‘The Young Offenders’ & ‘This Way Up’.

Táimid fosta ag lorg plean forbartha le 4-6 scríbhneoirí Gaeilge nár scríobh drámaíocht don scáileáin roimhe ach a bhfuil taithí scríbhneoireachta de shaghas éigin acu. Ba chóir go mbeadh cur síos mion sa phlean seo ar aimsiú na scríbhneoirí agus an chinéal oiliúint agus tacaíocht a bheith curtha ar fáil ionas go mbeidh siad in inmhe dréacht scripte do chlár amháin (ar a laghad) den tsraith drámaíochta a scríobh. An oiread agus is féidir ba chóir go mbeadh an oiliúint agus an fhorbairt seo ag tarlú trí mheán na Gaeilge.

Amlíne na scéime

  • Iarratais ó chomhlachtaí ar an tsraith drámaíochta & plean forbartha do scríbhneoirí úra - lár mhí Iúil.
  • Cinntí déanta deireadh mhí Iúil.
  • Aimsiú na scríbhneoirí agus tús le ceardlanna scríbhneoireachta, stiúradh, léiriú, eagarthóireacht srl. - Lúnasa/Méan Fómhair.
  • Seomra scríbhneoireachta le heagarthóir scripte/stiúrthóir scripte – Deireadh Fómhair - Nollaig.
  • An chéad dréacht de 6 chlár – Nollaig 2020.
  • Dara dréacht de 6 chlár – Feabhra 2021.
  • Iarratas léiriúcháin le bheith réidh do bhabhta maoinithe an CCG i mí Márta 2021.

Riachtanais an Iarratais

  • Ceannlíne (suas le 25 focal) agus Achoimre Ghairid (suas le leath-leathanach A4)
  • Nótaí an Léiritheora faoin tionscnamh (uasmhéid 1 leathanach)
  • Sonraí maidir leis an chroí-fhoireann chruthaitheach - léiritheoir, stiúrthóir, eagarthóir scripte/té a bheith i mbun an tseomra scríbhneoireachta (uasmhéid 1 leathanach, uile le chéile)
  • Plean forbartha le scríbhneoirí Gaeilge úra a aimsiú agus a fhorbairt
  • Buiséad don fhorbairt (uasmhéid 1 leathanach)
  • Fianaise go bhfuil úinéireacht ar chearta.

éú

Iarratas do mhaoniú léiriúchain istigh do bhabhta an CCG i mí Márta 2021.

Buiséad thart fá £1 milliúin don léiriúcháin.

Cé atá i dteideal cur isteach ar an scéim?

Tá an scéim oscailte do chomhlachtaí chlosamharc, atá bunaithe I dTuaisceart Éireann a bhfuil taithí cuí acu agus atá in ann a chruthú go bhfuil cearta soiléire acu ar gach cuid den ábhar atáthar ag forbairt don léiriúchán.

Tabharfar tosaíocht do chomhlachtaí léirithe:

  • a bhfuil polasaí soiléir acu an Ghaeilge a fhorbairt mar theanga oibre léiriúcháin
  • a bhfuil sé mar aidhm thábhachtach acu cothromaíocht inscne a bhaint amach san fhoireann chruthaitheach a roghnaíonn siad.

Na critéir cháilitheachta

  • Is scéim í seo d’fhorbairt sraith drámaíochta (6 x 25”).
  • Script scríofa i nGaeilge
  • Is gá go mbeadh an tsraith ar a laghad 75% i nGaeilge agus go mbeidh teanga na gcarachtar inchreidte i gcomhthéacs na sraithe.
  • Ní ceadmhach don léiritheoir a bheith mar stiúrthóir ar an tionscnamh freisin.
  • Moltar ábhar comhaimseartha a léiríonn saol Éireannach an lae inniu.
  • Téamaí a thrasnóidh lucht féachana leathan (gan a bheith ró- ‘niche’.)
  • Forbairt scríbhneoirí agus talann úr (ar an dá thaobh den cheamara).
  • Níl aon srian ar stíl scéalaíochta, ar ábhar, ná ar eilimintí eile sa script/scéal.
  • Níor cheart do na buiséid léiriúcháin do na tionscnamh dul thar £1,000,000 agus tiocfaidh an maoiniú ó TG4, ѿý Gaeilge & an CCG.

Cén chaoi le hiarratas a dhéanamh

  • An sprioc-am le haghaidh iarratais ná Dé hAoine 10 Iúil ag a 5 in. Ní ghlacfar le hiarratais atá mall, nó easnamhach agus caithfidh na comhlachtaí iad féin déanamh cinnte gur seachadadh na hiarratais in am.
  • Caithfear na hiarratais a chur isteach go leictreonach, i nGaeilge trí

Tuilleadh eolais

Le cruinniú a shocrú, nó má ta aon cheisteanna agat maidir le haon chuid den scéim seo, cuir r-phost chuig Áine Walsh, Ceannasaí an CCG, aine@northernirelandscreen.co.uk

Sprioc-am: 10ú Iúil, 5in.

 

ILBF/ѿý Gaeilge/TG4 Development Scheme for Drama Series

Deadline: July 10th, 5pm. Decisions will be announced before the end of July.

The Irish Language Broadcasting Fund, TG4 and ѿý Gaeilge are running a drama development scheme and are looking for applications from production companies who have relevant experience in the development and production of drama and who can develop and provide training to new talent.

The aims of this scheme are:

  • To develop 4-6 Irish language writers who do not have experience writing for screen.
  • To develop a new drama series.

We are looking for applications for a series with a strong sense of drama/storytelling as well as imaginative visuals. We are seeking a contemporary and light series with a wide audience appeal similar to ‘Derry Girls’, ‘Fleabag’, ‘Catastrophe’, ‘The Young Offenders’ & ‘This Way Up’.

We are also looking for a development plan for 4-6 new Irish language writers who may have some writing experience but who have not written drama for screen before. A plan should be provided detailing how these writers will be found along with the support and training they will give them to ensure that they will be able to write a draft script for at least one episode of the television drama. This training and development should be provided through the medium of Irish as much as is possible.

Timeline of Scheme

  • Applications from production companies for a drama series & development plan for new writers – middle of July
  • Decisions made- end of July
  • Find the writers and begin writing workshops, directing, production, editing etc. – August/September
  • Writing room with script editor/script director – October-December
  • First draft of six episodes – December 2020.
  • Second draft of six episodes – February 2021
  • Production application ready for ILBF funding round in March 2021.

Requirements for Application

  • Headline (up to 25 words) and Short Summary (up to half an A4 page)
  • Producers notes about the project (1 page max)
  • Details about the projects creative team – Producer, Director, Script Editor/whomever will be present in the writing room. (All together 1 page max)
  • Development plan to find and develop new writers with Irish
  • Development Budget (1 page max)
  • Evidence of ownership of rights

Production

  • Application for production funding ready for ILBF Funding Round March 2021.
  • Production budget of around £1 million.

Who is entitled to apply for this scheme?

This scheme is open to audio-visual production companies, who are based in Northern Ireland, who have relevant experience and who can prove they have the rights to every part of the material that they are developing for production.

Preference will be given to production companies:

  • That have a clear policy to develop the Irish language as a working language during production work
  • That have a clear aim to include gender balance in the creative team they choose, and

The Qualifying Criteria

  • This is a scheme for the development of a drama series (6 x 25”).
  • Script written in Irish.
  • At least 75% of the script must be in Irish and the characters language must be credible to the context of the series.
  • The producer may not also be the director of the series.
  • Contemporary subject matter that portrays life in Ireland today.
  • Themes that would appeal to a wide audience (nothing to ‘niche’).
  • Development of writers and new talent (on both sides of the lens).
  • There is no limit on the style of storytelling, on subject matter or other elements of the script/story.
  • The production budget for this project should not exceed £1,000,000 and this funding will come from TG4, ѿý Gaeilge & ILBF.

How to make an application

  • The application deadline is 5pm Friday, July 10th 2020. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted and companies must ensure the application is delivered in time.
  • The applications must be made electronically, in Irish, through the

More Information

To arrange a meeting or if you have any queries in relation to this scheme, email Áine Walsh, Head of the ILBF at aine@northernirelandscreen.co.uk

Deadline: July 10th, 5pm.

Northern Ireland - Youth Content Development Scheme - Factual Entertainment

ѿý Three and ѿý Northern Ireland have partnered with Northern Ireland Screen to champion local companies who want to develop young, creative and innovative formats that can entertain the whole of the UK.

This partnership is focused on enhancing the quality and volume of production supply and developing a talent pipeline for both ѿý Three and ѿý NI.

Once again, we are inviting independent production companies based in Northern Ireland to submit Factual Entertainment ideas that reflect the life experiences of 16-24 year olds.

A key requirement is for ideas to be formatted, with closed episodes. Storytelling needs to be clear, compelling and immersed in the world of young UK audiences.

Topics like food, life improvement and transformation are still of interest. However, at the moment, we are not looking for competition formats nor concepts that cover topics like DIY, dancing, dating, farming or renting.

Following completion of the selection process outlined below, one Indie will be commissioned to produce a Factual Entertainment series for ѿý Three and ѿý NI.

Selection process

If you are interested in being considered, please email ѿýThreeNIapplications@bbc.co.uk, with a short summary (no more than 500 words) outlining your idea (top level details only at this stage), relevant previous work, links to your website, contact details and availability - see dates below.

Previous experience in delivering Factual Entertainment content is required.

Expressions of interest will be accepted from the 26th of May till the 26th of June 2020. The ѿý Three and the ѿý NI team will then shortlist up to eight Indies to share further details of their ideas via ѿý Pitch, prior to entering into a period of paid development and project scoping.

Successful submissions will be notified before the 10th of July 2020 and invited to pitch in front of a team of ѿý NI and ѿý Three commissioners in September 2020.

After the pitching session, two Indies will be shortlisted to receive further funding to produce a broadcast quality pilot of their idea.

The ѿý NI and ѿý Three teams will then choose one of the pilots to take through to a 4x30min (estimate) series for the network, to be featured on ѿý iPlayer. The pilot will count as one episode of the series. All commissions will be subject to programme finance committee sign-off before being green lit.

Note dates may be subject to change.

We will use the following selection criteria throughout stages:

  • Fit to Factual Entertainment genre - Light, accessible and engaging formats that reflect the world of Gen Z.
  • Fit to a 16-24 audience – Talent and contributors should be young; treatment and visual style should feel authentic and in line with the world of content this audience consumes.
  • Fit to ѿý Three brand.
  • Creative distinctiveness – Distinctive from ѿý’s portfolio, and the rest of the market.
  • Returnable series format - Narrative should lend itself to more than one season.
  • Digital first format – Should fit a digital narrative with attention to imagery/thumbnails and production of extra assets for social distribution.
  • Execution (towards later stages) - Originality and authenticity of the execution should demonstrate fit to the audience.

ѿý Gaeilge / ILBF Development Funding Round

In light of the current production constraints because of Covid-19 the ILBF in conjunction with ѿý Gaeilge, TG4 and RTÉ is seeking applications from Irish language production companies for projects that can be developed in both the short and long term.

Companies can apply for development funding for one project or for a slate of projects that can be safely researched and developed at this time. We welcome projects that can be developed ahead of the next ILBF funding deadline in September, and for future rounds. Both new projects and previously commissioned returnable series will be considered.

Factual and factually entertaining content would be welcomed and producers should also consider developing content that can be delivered should the current production constraints continue, for example content that is archive driven; contributors that can be recorded using different technologies etc. Applications for repackaging of previously commissioned content would also be considered in this round.

Whilst we expect that the broadcasters would be attached to the majority of the applications, we would also support digital development applications where there is no broadcaster attached.

Deadline for applications for ѿý Gaeilge on ѿý Pitch is Monday, 6th April 2020 at 5pm.

Deadline for applications through the ILBF Flexigrant system is Friday, 10th April 2020.

Producers who intend to apply should discuss the projects in advance with the broadcasters and with the ILBF and where broadcasters are attached a letter of support must be submitted as part of the application process.

Please also note that all successful applications in the most recent ILBF funding round, currently under assessment, will be contracted expediently to ensure cashflow for companies.

Babhta Forbartha ѿý Gaeilge / an CCG

De bharr na srianta léiriúcháin mar gheall ar Covid-19 tá an CCG, i bpáirtíocht le ѿý Gaeilge, TG4 agus RTÉ ag lorg iarratais ó chomhlachtaí léiriúcháin Ghaeilge fá choinne tograí a féidir a fhorbairt sa ghearrthréimhse agus san fhadthréimhse.

Is féidir le chomhlachtaí iarratas a chur isteach le haghaidh togra amháin nó le haghaidh cúpla togra. Ba choir go mbeadh sé sábháilte taighde agus forbairt a dhéanamh ar na tograí seo de réir an chomhairle oifigiúil san am i láthair. Cuirfidh muid fáilte roimh thograí a féidir a fhorbairt roimh chéad babhta eile an CCG i Mí Mhéan Fómhair agus babhtaí eile amach anseo. Cuirfear san áireamh tograí nua agus sraitheanna a raibh coimisiúnaithe cheana féin.

Cuirfear fáilte roimh ábhar faisnéise agus siamsaíocht fhíorasach agus ba chóir do léiritheoirí smaoineamh faoi ábhar a fhorbairt a féidir seachadadh más rud é go leantar leis na srianta léiriúcháin atá i bhfeidhm i láthair na uaire. Mar shampla, ábhar ina bhfuil an cartlann lárnach ann; rannpháirtithe a féidir taifeadadh ag baint úsáid as teicneolaíocht éagsúil srl. Cuirfear san áireamh fosta athphacaistiú ar chláir a bhí maoinithe roimhe sa bhabhta seo.

Cé go mbeadh muid ag súil go mbeidh craoltóirí bainte le tromlach na n-iarratais, bheadh muid sásta fosta tacaíocht a thabhairt d’iarratais fá choinne fhorbairt digiteach agus gan craoltóir bainteach leo.

An spriocdháta d’iarratais do ѿý Gaeilge ar ѿý Pitch ná Dé Luain 6u Aibreán ag 5i.n.

An spriocdháta fá choinne iarratais ná Dé hAoine, 10ú Aibreán ag 5i.n. tríd an chóras Flexigrant.

Ba chóir do léiritheoirí na tograí a phlé ar dtús báire leis na craoltóirí agus an CCG má tá sé ar intinn acu iarratas a chur isteach. Beidh litir tacaíochta de dhíth ó chraoltóir má tá craoltóir luaite leis.

Mar eolas fosta - beidh muid ag dul i dteagmháil, chomh luath agus is féidir, leis na comhlachtaí sin ar éirigh leo sa bhabhta is déanaí de chuid an CCG le sreabhadh airgid na comhlachtaí a chinntiú. Tá na hiarratais uilig faoi mheasúnú i láthair na huaire.

Commissioning Brief: March 2020

ѿý Northern Ireland is now seeking ideas for programmes which can be plausibly and safely developed, or produced, in the context of the emergency measures necessitated by the Coronavirus.

We anticipate two types of proposals:

  1. Work that can be commissioned, contracted and started, in a social distancing or lock-down environment, but delivered at a point in the future, when the emergency measures are lifted, (eg, development phases on new proposals, or initial work of value, on previously commissioned, returnable series), and;
  2. Work that can be started now, but can be completed, delivered and transmitted during a lock-down (eg, archive-driven shows, innovative ideas for programming that can plausibly and safely be made and delivered by teams that are geographically separated, but digitally connected).

Public safety is our primary concern, and we will err on the side of caution in assessing proposals. But we are also mindful of the strong audience need for content which can augment News output, and we want to do what we can, to help protect the health of our content suppliers. During this period, we will be adapting our opt-out schedules on TV & iPlayer in a strategic manner, to respond to these emerging audience needs.

We appreciate the challenges that the sector is facing, and what a worrying time this is, and we want to play a proactive role in helping you manage these challenges. Our starting point is to bring additional flexibility to our normal business practices and procedures - and this round should be seen in this context. It is a normal round, conducted via standard practices and procedures, which have been adapted to work within the unique context of the Coronavirus.

In editorial terms, this will mean that ideas for transmission during the emergency should focus on programmes which can entertain audiences, providing laughter, positivity, escapism, companionship, shared local experiences, warm nostalgia, and a sense of connection to the outside world. And alongside this need for programmes which provide distraction from the Coronavirus, we are also open to ideas which seek to chart this crisis in a safe way.

We are interested in proposals that can serve all audiences, but we are conscious that the social distancing measures will pose particular challenges for older audiences and families who are self-isolating - so proposals that work for these audiences will be of interest. Again, alongside playful and distracting content, we also want to provide viewers with some practical/educational material.

We can be quite flexible on genre, and we will consider any proposal that sits within these broad parameters, and which (crucially) can plausibly, and safely, deliver for transmission during the emergency phase.

Process and assessment

We can adapt our practices to respond to the challenges, for example, we may hold pitches via Skype/Zoom. In addition, we will endeavour to make these decisions, and move to contract, as quickly as possible. But, as with any normal round, this will be quite a competitive, rigorous process.

All ideas and proposals should be submitted via by Friday 3rd April 2020 at 5pm.

Eddie Doyle, Head of Commissioning ѿý Northern Ireland, and the Commissioning Executives are available to offer editorial guidance and answer queries, prior to submission on the phone or via Zoom/Skype. We can outline both the short term editorial priorities for content transmitting during the emergency, and also the longer term strategy, for content transmitting when the emergency measures have been lifted.

To set up a time to chat, or for any other technical query, contact Linda McCarter (linda.mccarter@bbc.co.uk).

Deadline: All ideas and proposals should be submitted via  by Friday, 03rd April 2020 at 1700.

ѿý Rewind Commissioning Brief January 2020

ѿý Rewind is currently developing an archive portal that will allow the public to search thousands of items of video archive reflecting life and events in Northern Ireland since 1952. This exciting and innovative project will open up ѿý Northern Ireland archives in ways previously not possible, enabling audiences to access, browse and enjoy this important slice of shared social history. As part of this project, the Rewind team seek to commission a suite of short-form film content, showcasing gems of newly discovered archive from across the decades.

Submit no more than two A4 pages outlining your pitch to rewind@bbc.co.uk.

Deadline for applications is 10am on Friday, February 14th 2020

ѿý Gaeilge Television Commissioning Brief January 2020

The ѿý Gaeilge Television Commissioning Strategy aims to build a varied portfolio of ambitious, relevant and high-impact programming with high production values. At the heart of our commissioning strategy is the audience, a diverse group with a wide range of interests and levels of ability in the language. Many non-Irish speakers also enjoy subtitled Irish language television content.

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