Six months after awarding 75 percent of its production loans to women directors, the Irish Film Board has unveiled another plan to bolster gender equality in Ireland’s film industry. Scannain reports that the Irish Film Board (IFB) has launched a bevy of new programs “specifically targeted at incentivizing female writers, directors, and producers in order to directly increase female representation in the Irish film, television, and animation industry.”

The IFB introduced these initiatives as part of its ongoing “Six Point Gender Plan,” which aims to reach 50/50 gender parity in its funding by 2018. Despite the gains made by the plan, female writers and directors are still less likely than their male counterparts to apply for IFB funding. “Therefore, the IFB will roll out a number of ground-breaking funding initiatives focused on increased production and development funding for female led projects,” Scannain writes, in an effort “to develop Irish female talent.”

Among the IFB’s new initiatives are low budget production programs for up and coming female writers and directors, an updated screenplay development scheme for writers, writing teams, and writer-director teams, and the Gender Equality and Diversity Subcommittee, which will revamp the IFB’s funding application and delivery process beginning in September.

“We are of the view that whilst a lot has been achieved in developing the careers of female writers and directors, not enough has been achieved in relation to increasing the actual funding applications received by the IFB, with female talent attached,” explained Dr. Annie Doona, chair of IFB. “I believe these direct funding initiatives will incentivize an increased number of applications from female led talent and will support, empower, and elevate Irish female talent working within the industry. 50/50 parity of funding remains our goal.”

More details about the IFB gender parity initiatives will be announced in the coming months. Keep an eye on the Irish Film Board’s website to find out more.

The new IFB programs and plans are listed below. Descriptions adapted from Scannain.

• Low Budget Film Production & Training Scheme: IFB will launch a new low budget production program aimed exclusively at emerging and established female writers and directors. Following tailored workshops, mentorship, and training, talent will have the opportunity to apply for support to produce a feature film with a budget of up to €400,000 ($459,000 USD) fully funded by IFB and S481.
• Enhanced Production Funding: Increased support of up to €100,000 ($114, 800 USD) — subject to meeting IFB prescribed criteria — will be made available for projects under IFB’s Fiction: Irish Production; Funding for feature films that are creatively led by Irish female writer(s), director(s) or writer/director, effective September 2017.
• Establishment of the Gender Equality and Diversity Subcommittee: A new subcommittee will be appointed by the IFB board, who will consult with external bodies, effective September 2017. The subcommittee will establish ongoing policies and guidelines in relation to the application process and funding arrangements, and will be responsible for their implementation and delivery.
• Development focus for female initiated feature films.
• An amended Screenplay Development scheme for writers, writing teams, and writer-director teams. All efforts to ensure gender parity across funding awards will occur. In addition, the IFB plans to pilot one round annually for female applicants only.
• Introduction of a supplemental funding award for feature films originated and written by Irish female writers, effective September 2017.
• Across all other IFB funding and development schemes, gender parity across all creative roles will be monitored and encouraged within any applications for support.
• Promotion and dialogue focused on female talent.