Tourism Ireland Opens International Programming Fund

Tourism Ireland has unveiled details for applications for its 2023 International Programming Ireland Fund, supporting projects that feature or are made on the island of Ireland.

Producers of high-quality international programming are being invited to submit proposals for evaluation by March 17, 2023.

The fund is designed to attract and support new, original, innovative and commercially viable programming that can potentially be completed by December 2023. Targeted at the U.K., U.S. and Europe as key markets in 2023, projects with a confirmed European broadcaster attached are of keen interest, particularly in Germany, France, but also Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the Nordics.

Genres with a destination focus—including documentary, factual entertainment, cultural and specialist factual—as well as sustainable themes in social, economic as well as environmental sustainability are welcome to apply. Other reality genres, such as adventure, are welcome, provided they meet the brief.

Yvonne Pilkington, former format sales and production chief at NBCUniversal International Studios, has been appointed to oversee this year’s fund management and pre-selection.

A total of €1,386,000 has been allocated for 2023. Tourism Ireland expects to invest in 10 to 12 projects that have already secured international broadcaster and/or distributor support. Funding will be allocated to a varying level according to the project, with Tourism Ireland’s investment capped at €200,000 per project and up to 50 percent of the production budget.

Emma Gorman, publicity and brand partnerships manager for Tourism Ireland, said: “The last few years of running the Programming Fund have proven that there is a wealth of creativity and innovation in the market. This success has inspired us to continue offering the Fund, and we are excited to hear the many stories about the island of Ireland still to be told.”

Pilkington said: “It’s an honor to have this invaluable access into contemporary Irish stories and have the privilege to breathe life into them through the fund. I spent many years understanding what does and doesn’t work creatively and commercially for international platforms so being able to further contribute to the incredible work this fund has already supported in such a short period of time is an exciting prospect.”