The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (22nd January) announced details of the latest package of recommendations under the Sound & Vision Scheme to have been ratified by the Authority at its meeting on January 21st.
Following a detailed assessment process, funding amounting to €5.248m has been allocated to 99 projects. €4.804m has been allocated to 27 television projects, while 72 radio projects will benefit from funding totalling €444,000. 221 applications were received in this 25th round of the Scheme, seeking funding of €25.7m. Areas covered by applications included documentary, drama, entertainment, education and animation.
Some notable features of the current round include:
• 66 documentaries are included in the package of awards (13 television and 53 radio projects).
• The television package includes four feature documentary projects looking at the lives and legacies of Hugh Lane, Ivor Browne, John Hume and Dolours Price.
• The package of awards includes 15 drama projects, 10 radio and 5 television.
• There are two Irish language drama projects for TG4, including a second series of the well-received ‘An Klondike’, the first series of which is available to a broader audience on Netflix under the title ‘Dominion Creek’.
Speaking about the announcement, Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the BAI said: “This is the third round to be concluded since revisions to the Sound & Vision Scheme were implemented at the start of last year. While we continue to be over-subscribed in each round, the quality of applications remains high due largely to the intense competition for funds. The BAI is very pleased to be in a position to again exceed the indicative allocation by €500k. This has been made possible through the careful management of the fund, which is derived from the television licence fee.
“The BAI is proud of the contribution that Sound & Vision is making to the production of high quality television and radio productions and the provision of funding support to projects such as the Oscar nominated film ‘Brooklyn’. The Scheme is also supporting a range of 1916 commemoration projects including ‘Rebellion’, which has achieved ratings success on RTE1 and EIPIC, a six-part drama series specially addresses a younger audience and has been well received at preview screening in colleges this month.”
The BAI will commence contract negotiations with all successful applications. A full list of the projects being offered funding is available to Download.
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