Ardán and Galway City of Film are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the Ceantar Scannán Short Documentary Bursary 2026, the annual documentary funding and mentorship scheme for filmmakers in Galway City and County, or making a film about Galway City or County.
Tá an-áthas ar Ardán agus ar Chathair Scannán na Gaillimhe a fhógairt go bhfuiltear ag glacadh le hiarratais anois do Sparánacht Gearrscannán Faisnéise Ceantar Scannán 2026, an scéim bhliantúil maoinithe agus meantóireachta faisnéise do dhéantóirí scannán i gCathair agus i gContae na Gaillimhe.
We are looking for up-and-coming filmmakers to apply for this bursary to help them make one of their first steps in their filmmaking career.
Táimid ag lorg scannánóirí atá ag teacht chun cinn agus molaimid dóibh iarratas a dhéanamh ar an sparánacht seo a chabhróidh leo céim chun cinn a ghlacadh agus iad i dtús a ngairme sa scannánaíocht.
Successful applicants will be given a bursary of €3,000 to help them make a short documentary of between five and fifteen minutes in duration.
Tabharfar sparánacht €3,000 do na hiarratasóirí a n-éireoidh leo chun cabhrú leo clár faisnéise gairid a dhéanamh a bheidh idir cúig nóiméad agus cúig nóiméad déag ar fad.
Previous recipients of this bursary have gone on to have their films screened at the Galway Film Fleadh, as well as other local, national and international film festivals.
Chuaigh na daoine ar bronnadh an sparánacht seo orthu roimhe seo ar aghaidh chun a gcuid scannán a thaispeáint ag Fleadh Scannán na Gaillimhe, agus ag féilte scannán áitiúla, náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta eile.
Read more about last year’s participants here: Ceantar Scannán Short Doc Bursary Recipients Announced for 2025! | Ardán
About the mentorship/ Eolas maidir leis an meantóireacht:
The selected filmmakers will be mentored by Galway-based documentary filmmaker Donal Haughey of Hawkeye Films.
Déanfaidh an scannánóir faisnéise as Gaillimh, Donal Haughey as Hawkeye Films, meantóireacht ar na scannánóirí a roghnófar.
Donal Haughey has produced and/or directed 30+ documentaries both for his own company, Hawkeye Films and as a freelancer. His projects have been involved in both national and international stories, consisting of feature-length, one-hour, half-hour and short form docs. For 20 years Donal was the documentary tutor on GMIT’s (ATU’s) Film & Documentary course – honours, Level 8.
Tá 30+ clár faisnéise léirithe agus/nó stiúrtha ag Donal Haughey dá chomhlacht féin, Hawkeye Films agus mar shaoroibrí. Bhí baint ag a chuid tionscadal le scéalta náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta araon, agus cláracha faisnéise fad scannáin, cláracha uair an chloig, cláracha leathuair an chloig agus cláracha gearra ina measc. Ba é Donal an teagascóir cláracha faisnéise ar chúrsa Scannán & Cláracha Faisnéise Institiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo (OTA) – céim onóracha, Leibhéal 8.
Donal is presently working on a documentary about Tom Kenny and his Old Galway column, that appears weekly in The Advertiser. Donal is re-visiting “The Grotto”, a short documentary, which he made in 2025. He is also in research/development on a promo, for “The Lady in the Castle”, which looks at Oranmore Castle. The company has also received development funding from TG4 for a documentary, “Bàs in Eireann”.
Tá Donal ag obair faoi láthair ar chlár faisnéise faoi Tom Kenny agus faoina cholún ‘Old Galway’, a fhoilsítear go seachtainiúil in The Advertiser. Tá Donal ag obair ar “The Grotto” arís freisin, clár faisnéise gairid a rinne sé in 2025. Tá sé i mbun taighde/forbartha ar réamhfhógrán freisin, do “The Lady in the Castle” atá bunaithe ar Chaisleán Órán Mór. Tá maoiniú forbartha faighte ag an gcomhlacht ó TG4 freisin don chlár faisnéise, “Bás in Éirinn”.
Read about previous participant – Dina Sragalj’s experience in 2023.
Read about Hazel McGuire and Jenny Roche’s experience here.
#CeantarScannán #GalwayCityofFilm
Information Day/ Lá Eolais:
Ardán will be hosting an Information Day in April for applicants to guide them through the application process.
Beidh Lá Eolais á reáchtáil ag Ardán d’iarratasóirí i mí Aibreáin chun iad a threorú maidir leis an bpróiseas iarratais.
This will take place on Thursday April 30th at 2:00pm in the Training Room in the new CREW Building at CCAM, ATU, Wellpark Road. H91 8K85.
Beidh sé seo ar siúl Déardaoin an 30 Aibreán ag 2:00pm sa Seomra Oiliúna san Fhoirgneamh nua CREW ag Ionad na nEalaíon Cruthaitheach agus na Meán (CCAM), OTA, Bóthar Pháirc an Tobair. H91 8K85.
Please note – info session attendance is not compulsory but recommended.
Registration is free, but required – go to Eventbrite here.
Application Guidelines/ Treoirlínte maidir le hIarratais:
- This bursary is aimed at entry-level filmmakers who want to take the first steps in their filmmaking career. / Tá an sparánacht seo dírithe ar scannánóirí ar leibhéal iontrála agus iad ag iarraidh na chéad chéimeanna a ghlacadh ina ngairm sa scannánaíocht.
- Of the two successful applicants, one must be from, based or making a film about Galway County, and the other must be from, based or making a film about Galway City. / As an mbeirt iarratasóirí a n-éireoidh leo, caithfidh duine den bheirt a bheith as Contae na Gaillimhe, a bheith lonnaithe ann, nó scannán a dhéanamh faoin gcontae, agus caithfidh an duine eile a bheith as Cathair na Gaillimhe, a bheith lonnaithe inti nó scannán a dhéanamh fúithi.
- Proposed short films will be between 5 and 15 minutes in duration. / Beidh na gearrscannáin a mholfar idir 5 agus 15 nóiméad ar fad.
- A bursary of up to €3,000 is available per film. / Tá sparánacht suas le €3,000 in aghaidh an scannáin ar fáil.
- The participating filmmakers will be mentored by established documentary filmmaker Donal Haughey who has supported projects through English and Irish. / Déanfaidh an scannánóir faisnéise seanbhunaithe Donal Haughey, a bhfuil tacaíocht tugtha aige do thionscadail trí Bhéarla agus trí Ghaeilge, meantóireacht ar na scannánóirí rannpháirteacha.
- Ardán encourages both English and Irish language project applications. Please note the application form and interview process should be made through English. / Fáiltíonn Ardán roimh iarratais ar thionscadail Bhéarla agus ar thionscadail Ghaeilge araon. Tabhair do d’aire gur chóir an fhoirm iarratais agus an próiseas agallaimh a dhéanamh trí Bhéarla.
- Film teams must be prepared to go into production within 2-3 weeks of signing the agreement and aim to submit their first cut by October 2026. / Ní mór d’fhoirne scannán a bheith réidh chun an obair léirithe a thosú laistigh de 2 sheachtain / 3 seachtaine tar éis dóibh an comhaontú a shíniú, agus a gcéad leagan a chur isteach faoi Dheireadh Fómhair 2026.
- Selected projects will need to ensure a healthy gender balance across the filmmaking team. / Beidh ar na tionscadail roghnaithe cothromaíocht mhaith inscne a chinntiú ar fud na foirne scannánaíochta.
- Priority will be given to diverse applicants. If you feel this applies to you, please include a short statement in your application. / Tabharfar tosaíocht d’iarratasóirí ó chúlraí éagsúla. Má bhaineann sé seo leat, cuir ráiteas gairid maidir le do chúlra san áireamh i d’iarratas, le do thoil.
- Any applicant who will be a full-time or part-time student during academic year 2026/2027 may NOT apply. / NÍ GHLACFAR le hiarratas ó iarratasóir ar bith a bheidh ina mhac léinn lánaimseartha nó páirtaimseartha le linn na bliana acadúla 2026/2027.
How to apply/ Conas iarratas a dhéanamh:
Filmmakers submit their application via the Teams form here.
Each application asks for the following information/ Beidh an fhaisnéis seo a leanas á lorg i ngach iarratas:
- 1-page outline of documentary idea, including logline, synopsis and treatment. (PDF) / Imlíne 1 leathanach maidir leis an smaoineamh don chlár faisnéise, lena n-áirítear gearr-achoimre, achoimre agus cóiriú. (PDF)
- 1-page current CV of each applicant filmmaker. (PDF) / CV reatha 1 leathanach do gach scannánóir a bhfuil iarratas á chur isteach acu. (PDF)
- Any relevant links to previous work, if applicable or available. (VIMEO/YouTube/Website) / Naisc ábhartha ar bith chuig saothar a rinne an t-iarratasóir roimhe seo, más infheidhme nó má tá an saothar ar fáil. (VIMEO/YouTube/Suíomh Gréasáin)
- Email/letters of commitment from key contributors. (PDF) / Ríomhphost/litreacha gealltanais ó phríomhrannpháirtithe. (PDF)
If you have any queries on Ardán’s privacy policy you can read it here.
DEADLINE for applications is Monday, May 11th, at 2 pm GMT / Is é an SPRIOCDHÁTA d’iarratais ná Dé Luain, an 11 Bealtaine, ag 2pm GMT
Shortlisted applicants will be called for interview. The interviews will take place at the end of May, so please keep this in mind when applying (note: interview dates will be confirmed closer to the time.)
Tabharfar cuireadh chun agallaimh d’iarratasóirí ar an ngearrliosta. Beidh na hagallaimh ar siúl ag deireadh mhí na Bealtaine. Cuimhnigh air seo agus iarratas á dhéanamh agat (tabhair do d’aire: deimhneofar dátaí an agallaimh níos gaire don am.)
For any further information on this year’s bursary please email/ Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar sparánacht na bliana seo seol ríomhphost chuig: julie@ardan.ie
This bursary is made possible by support from Galway City Council Arts Office, Galway County Council Arts Office, Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
Is mar thoradh ar thacaíocht ó Oifig Ealaíon Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, ó Oifig Ealaíon Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Fís Éireann/Scáileán Éireann agus ón Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt gur féidir linn an sparánacht seo a chur ar fáil.
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