National Talent Academies + Careers in Screen

The Irish screen sector operates a coordinated pipeline of skills-development programmes targeting different career stages — from second-level school students through early-career professionals to senior management. Coordinated by Screen Ireland (Fís Éireann) with multiple delivery partners.

The pipeline:

National Talent Academies

The National Talent Academies (NTAs) are a Screen Ireland programme partnering with regional + sectoral academies to deliver targeted skills development. Each NTA focuses on a particular discipline or region:

• Animation / VFX
• Documentary
• Drama
• Screenwriting
• Regional academies (Cork, Limerick, Galway, etc.)

NTAs operate with named NTA Managers who are themselves referenced in the Tab F skills-development plan (Skills Development Plan (Tab F) Section 3.3 — "Engagement with NTA Managers" is a tick-box additionality option on the Section 487A Tab F).

NTAs run their own programme calendars; calls are published on screenireland.ie/skills.

Careers in Screen

Careers in Screen is a coordinated early-career-pathway initiative — designed to introduce second-level students and early-career workers to the range of roles in the screen sector. Partners with the Careers Portal, secondary-school career services, and Higher Education Institutions.

The initiative produces:

• Career-profile materials covering each major screen-sector role
• Open days + sector showcases
• Resources for second-level career-guidance teachers

Young Irish Film Makers (YIFM)

Galway-based programme delivering filmmaking education + production opportunities to young people. Operates summer camps + term-time courses for second-level students. Known for producing original short films with the students as crew.

screendatabase.ie

The screendatabase.ie crew + production directory is Screen Ireland's online database of:

• Crew members — searchable by role, department, region, career level
• Productions — searchable by year, type, country, format
• Companies — production companies, post-production houses, service providers

Crew can self-list (free) to be discoverable by producers building crew lists. Productions can self-list to be discoverable.

For producers building crew on a new project, screendatabase.ie is the first port of call for Irish-based crew sourcing. The database integrates with the SI Competency Framework career levels — crew profiles are tagged with their competency framework level + department.

Passport to Production

Passport to Production is a TU Dublin Level 6 programme (10 ECTS) introducing new entrants to the screen industry. Format: 6 days in-person + 3 weeks paid placement. Free for ROI-resident participants.

Specifically targeted at career-changers + new entrants without prior screen-sector experience. Operates several intakes per year.

GORM Wideshot Programme

Community-development pipeline for 18–30-year-olds from underrepresented backgrounds. Multimedia storytelling focus. Operates regionally with partner community organisations.

Animation/VFX/Games Graduate Traineeship

Paid 10–12-week traineeship placements at Irish animation, VFX, and games studios — coordinated by Screen Ireland through the Creative Capability and Industry Support (CCIS) mechanism. New graduates working with established studios on production projects.

Production Accounting pair

Two coordinated programmes delivered by Lucy Drake (specialist tutor):

Both are CCIS-subsidised.

Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Producing

TU Dublin Level 9 programme — 9-month hybrid delivery, Springboard+ 90% subsidised. Led by John McDonnell. Targets mid-career producers progressing toward senior production company leadership.

Puttnam Scholars Programme

All-island flagship for early-career writer / director / producer scholarship — Screen Ireland + Northern Ireland Screen + Atticus Education partnership. Includes 6 online sessions + in-person + a Berlinale European Film Market placement. Free + €1,000 scholarship + travel bursary.

Mentoring Scheme

Screen Ireland Mentoring Scheme matches early-career applicants with experienced industry mentors. 3+ years experience minimum, three track choices (Business / Creative / Technical). 20 hours of mentoring over 12 months. Mentor fees covered by Screen Ireland. 25 mentees per annual call.

Mandatory courses

Three online courses are mandatory for Screen Ireland-funded productions — see Mandatory online courses — Bullying, Bystander, Unconscious Bias. These sit at the foundational layer of the skills pipeline — everyone in the sector should have these on file.

How Togra supports this

Tab F (Skills Development Plan) integrates with the screendatabase.ie pattern for participant identification. The SI Competency Framework underpins ILP goal-setting. The mandatory-course completion tracking covers the Safe to Create modules. The Skills hub surfaces NTA-relevant skills-priority areas for producers building Tab F plans.