Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Animation Ireland are delighted to announce, with the support of Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet & Eirmersive, that applications are now open for the 2024 Animation Innovation and Immersive Development Fund. Since the fund was initially launched in 2021, Screen Ireland has supported the development of 30 innovative, high-concept projects across areas such as immersive storytelling, VR, augmented reality and app development.
This year’s €430,000 fund aims to encourage experimentation and prototyping, supporting projects across a wide range of genres and formats. The fund continues Screen Ireland’s ambition to highlight Ireland as a centre of excellence in animation and investing in a diverse range of skills, talent, genres and formats, fuelled by artistry and storytelling. It is designed to allow the sector to explore new opportunities offered by emerging technologies, as well as support the development of IP and new, innovative ways of storytelling.
Animation Innovation and Immersive Development can include the preparation of new hybrid formats; introduction of new storytelling workflows; extending genre ambitions outside the current workflow; and targeting new areas of artistic and creative endeavour (such as Gaming & Immersive Technologies). The projects and new workflows selected for last year’s Animation Innovation Fund included the use of motion capture to deliver accessible, entertaining sign language to deaf and hard-of-hearing children; immersive theatre/documentary projects; and the exploration of new methodologies for hand-drawn animation.
Producers and industry creatives can apply for a project investment of up to a maximum of €75,000 in total. Each proposal will be assessed on criteria measuring the quality and level of innovation involved in the project, and its appeal to the market.
The deadline for applications to the Animation Innovation and Immersive Development Fund is 1pm, Friday 27th of September 2024.