TG4 Looking the next Malcolm or Aifric

TG4 are looking for a new youth drama comedy. The series will be co-funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann and the Western Region Audiovisual Producers (WRAP) Fund. The series aims to be six to eight 30 minute episodes, with a budget of €1.2million. 3 projects will be selected for development with one going forward as a full series, with developmental funing of €25,000 each. Closing date for entries is the 16th of August, 2019, with the successful applicants announced in September.

TG4 are looking for a new young peoples' Drama series, following from their 2000s series Aifric, available on the TG4 player. The series will be co-funded by the BAI, Screen Ireland and the WRAP fund. They are looking for a compelling drama which would appeal to younger viewers and family viewers.

A scheme has been set up by TG4 in collaboration with the BAI, Screen Ireland and the WRAP fund, to develop a drama series of between six and eight half hour episodes, in Irish, for Young People. The target audience is from eight years and upwards and it will also have family appeal.

A budget of up to €1.2 million will be made available to the project, which will be produced for and broadcast on TG4. The cast will consist predominantly of young people, complemented by older, engaging characters, to appeal to a broad family demographic.

A panel of adjudicators from TG4, the Wrap fund, BAI & Screen Ireland/Fís Éireann will first choose three projects for development. The successful companies will be given funding to develop their ideas and a budget of up to €25,000 will be made available to each project for this.

At the end of the development phase, one project will be chosen and an application for financial support will be made for that to the next appropriate round of the BAI Sound & Vision funding strand.

TG4 Commissioning Manager, Mary Ellen Ní Chualáin, says: “We really do need more drama for Young People and we in TG4 are very excited that an entertaining series, with a strong cast and top quality episodes will emerge from this scheme. We are extremely grateful to our funding partners who are so supportive of this new endeavour”.

Commenting, BAI chief executive, Michael O’Keeffe said: “This is a great initiative to stimulate new Irish language programming for young people. The BAI is excited to be involved in this partnership to develop quality programming in Irish as part of our commitment to promote diverse, culturally relevant content for Irish audiences. We look forward to seeing the final proposal that is submitted to the BAI’s Sound and Vision Scheme.”

James Hickey, Chief Executive, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland said, “Ensuring children have access to Irish language drama made specifically for them is hugely important and allows young people to engage with the Irish language in a way that reflects their stories and their generation on screen. We are delighted to support this new scheme with our partners, which will also encourage production activity, creating employment across the West of Ireland.”

WRAP Development Manager Sarah Dillon adds, “WRAP is delighted to give talented, local people a platform on which to tell their stories to Young People, in Irish. This is also a great example of a unique collaboration between TG4, WRAP, Screen Ireland and the BAI. WRAP is focussed on driving the growth and development of the screen industry in the West, through strategic, targeted, supports with help from our stakeholder partners, the Western Development Commission, Galway Film Centre, all seven local authorities and Údarás na Gaeltachta”.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 16th August, 2019, at 3pm. Decisions will be announced by September 2nd.