Good Stories From The South: deascéal Launches New Short Film Scheme for Munster Filmmakers

Screen Bodies Unite to Launch €66,000 Short Film Scheme Across Cork City, Cork County, Kerry and Waterford

A major new short film funding and development initiative, deascéal, was officially launched Monday 31st at Millennium Hall, Cork City Hall, before an audience of approximately 100 filmmakers, industry professionals and civic leaders from across Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

The launch marked the formal announcement of the scheme, which will fund four live-action narrative short films in 2026, creating new opportunities for filmmakers based in Cork, Cork City, Kerry and Waterford, and strengthening regional production capacity across the South.

The event was attended by a broad range of representatives from across the regional screen and arts sectors, including representatives from Cork International Film Festival and Kerry International Film Festival, Cork City Arts Officer, Michelle Carew, Cork County Arts Officer Ian McDonagh, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, Head of the Arts Committee Cork City Council, Councillor Dan Boyle, and TD Padraig Rice.

The evening opened with welcoming addresses from Benjamin Rupprecht, Co-Chair of Screen Cork, Flávia Pordominsky, Director of Screen Waterford, and Seán Mulchinock, Film Officer at Screen Kerry, before Scheme Director Jamie Hooper announced the full details of the initiative to an engaged audience. A lively question and answer session followed, reflecting the significant appetite among the region's filmmaking community for the opportunities deascéal presents.

Speaking at the launch, Scheme Director Jamie Hooper said: "In Irish it means, literally, good story. And at the heart of any good film, is a good story. This initiative represents a significant collaborative investment in storytelling and screen talent in the South of Munster. It's an incredible opportunity for local filmmakers to upskill and develop, but crucially to tell stories that reflect the region's distinctive voices."

Spearheaded by Screen Cork in partnership with Screen Kerry and Screen Waterford, deascéal is supported by Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Kerry County Council, Waterford City and County Council, and RTÉ, in association with Cork International Film Festival.

Each selected project will receive a production bursary of €14,000, supporting the creation of original short films between 8 and 15 minutes in length. One film will be produced in each participating region, with all projects shot entirely within their respective counties or city areas.

More than a funding scheme, deascéal is a development-led programme, offering shortlisted teams structured mentorship, script development, and live pitch training. Projects will be selected through a two-stage process, beginning with open script submissions and culminating in an in-person pitching round before an industry panel.

Completed films will be delivered in early 2027, with Cork International Film Festival offering direct consideration to the films for their internationally acclaimed programme, and RTÉ retaining broadcast rights following an initial festival window.

Alongside the scheme, a regional training initiative supported by Screen Ireland will provide skills development opportunities for emerging and established filmmakers and crew across Cork, Cork City, Kerry and Waterford.

Script submissions open on Sunday, 12 April. Full guidelines and eligibility criteria are available at www.deasceal.com.