Applications for IGNITE-Docs are now open, and will be accepted until Friday, September
20th 2024 at 5pm. Successful projects will be announced in mid-October.
IGNITE-Docs is a talent development programme directed towards emerging Irish and
Northern Irish documentary filmmakers embarking on their first or second non-fiction
feature film. This cross-border partnership aims to foster a new generation of documentary
filmmakers, and is an innovative collaboration between the island’s first and newest film
festivals, Cork International Film Festival and Docs Ireland.
Applications are accepted in English and as Gaeilge, with a particular interest in Irish
language projects:
● ENGLISH FORM (+ Diversity Form)
● FOIRM IARRATAIS (+ Foirm Éagsúlachta)
● Application Guidelines IGNITE-Docs 5 (+ Treorlinte IGNITE-Docs 5)
Year Five of the IGNITE-Docs Documentary Talent Development Programme follows the
success of the previous four editions, through which feature documentary projects from
emerging filmmakers were developed through training, workshops and one-to-one
mentoring.
This is a project-led scheme, which supports the progression of the selected projects and
their teams through training focused on the development process of documentary from
inception to exhibition. The scheme fosters a new generation of creative nonfiction talent
from all over Ireland to pursue their first or second feature, and to provide them with a
platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge required to succeed as a feature
documentary filmmaker on an international level.
During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of
project development. They will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry,
learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and an expansive
understanding of the sector. The programme will include workshops, masterclasses, and in
person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales agents,
and other industry professionals. All training will take place in a relaxed learning
environment to allow for maximum learning potential and the opportunity to network and
foster new relationships.
The IGNITE-Docs programme will provide a long-term engagement, comprising:
● Training days at Cork International Film Festival in November 2024, and Docs Ireland
in June 2025.
● Regular online training days from November 2024 – June 2025.
● The opportunity to attend Sheffield Doc Fest as a delegation in June 2025.
The IGNITE-Docs Documentary Talent Development programme is supported by TG4, the
Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Screen Skillnet,
Northern Ireland Screen and Arts & Business NI.
For further information, and to apply, please visit corkfilmfest.org/ignite/ or
docsireland.ie/industry/ignite-talent-development/
CORK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Cork International Film Festival is Ireland’s largest and longest-running film festival and
celebrates its 69th anniversary edition in November 2024. The Festival is proudly supported
by Principal Funder the Arts Council, along with Cork City Council, Fís Éireann/Screen
Ireland, Creative Europe MEDIA, Coimisiún na Meán, ESB Energy for Generations Fund,
Future Planet, Murphy’s and UCC. Media Partners are RTÉ Supporting the Arts and the Irish
Examiner. Cork International Film Festival is a member of the Cultural Cinema Partnership
which includes the Irish Film Institute, Galway Film Fleadh, Dublin International Film Festival
and access>CINEMA.
For full details, visit corkfilmfest.org, or see:
Facebook: @CorkInternationalFilmFestival
X: @CorkFilmFest
Instagram: @CorkFilmFest
LinkedIn: Cork International Film Festival
TikTok: @CorkFilmFestival
DOCS IRELAND
Docs Ireland is an annual industry focussed, all Ireland International Documentary Festival,
which incorporates a marketplace, pitching sessions, masterclasses, new talent focus and
funding information events.
Docs Ireland is proudly supported by principal funders NI Screen, Department Of
Communities, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, alongside TG4, Arts &
Business NI, Belfast City Council, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN, Yellowmoon, Belfast Media, Screen
Producers Ireland and Creative Europe Media.
For full details, visit docsireland.ie or see:
Facebook: @DocsIreland1
X: @DocsIreland
Instagram: @docsireland
LinkedIn: Docs.Ireland
MORE ABOUT IGNITE-Docs
Created in collaboration between Cork International Film Festival (Ireland’s first and largest
film festival and destination for cinematic documentary) and Docs Ireland (the all-Ireland
documentary focused festival from Belfast Film Festival), this cross-border partnership
seeks to foster a new generation of Irish documentary filmmakers from the north and south
of Ireland.
Feature documentary in Ireland has developed exponentially over the past decade, with
countless award-winning non-fiction films gaining traction and being showcased both
nationally, and on an international level; through festivals, cinema releases, television
broadcast and VOD. The aim of IGNITE-Docs is to aid in the long term sustainable growth
and artistry of talent in the Irish documentary film community, through training and skills
development, mentorship and drawing from the resources and expertise of both festivals.
The scheme is project-led, and supports the progression of the selected projects and their
teams, through training that focuses on the development process of documentary, from
inception to exhibition. The scheme aims to foster a new generation of non-fiction creative
documentary talent from all over the island of Ireland to pursue their first or second feature,
and to provide them with a platform to develop the spectrum of skills and knowledge
required to succeed as a feature documentary filmmaker on an international level.
During this comprehensive training initiative, participants will gain a grounding in all facets of
developing their project, and will acquire market knowledge of the documentary industry,
learning about the current trends in non-fiction film production, and giving them an
expansive understanding of the sector. The programme includes workshops, masterclasses,
and in person conversations with established documentarians, broadcasters, funders, sales
agents, and other industry professionals. All training takes place in an intimate environment,
which will allow a hands-on approach; facilitating maximum learning potential and the
opportunity to network and foster new relationships.
