RTÉ has announced two new initiatives to develop new drama and comedy series for younger audiences.
Launched in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, both initiatives are designed to develop emerging creative Irish talent and have the potential to showcase Irish talent on the global stage.
Dee Forbes, DG, RTÉ said:
“We are delighted to partner with Screen Ireland and launch this initiative to further develop the rich vein of creative talent that runs through this country and produce something distinctive and special for our younger audiences. Encouraging and developing creatives across the sector is at the core of why RTÉ exists and this initiative will also give Irish talent a platform to connect with audiences in Ireland and beyond”.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“Screen Ireland is delighted to collaborate with RTÉ on their new initiative. We are deeply committed to the development of new, emerging, and diverse voices alongside established industry growth, and look forward to the creative focus on high-end TV drama and comedy for younger audiences.”
From the submission received, up to five dramas will be developed to bible and pilot script stage with a view to commissioning up to two brand new drama series for 2022/23. In scripted comedy, up to ten proposals will be brought through a development phase with the aim of bringing at least two series to screen. Further details at www.rte.ie/commissioning.
Interested producers should register and submit via RTÉ’s commissioning system https://about.rte.ie/commissioning/rte-ecommissioning.
Drama
RTÉ is looking for an early-stage pitch document of no more than two hundred words appealing to a core audience of 25-44 years old on RTÉ2. It should clearly demonstrate a core concept that has an original voice and be contemporaneous and relatable. Further details on www.rte.ie/commissioning.
Comedy
For comedy, we are seeking new proposals for half-hour scripted comedy series that appeal to a core audience of 25 - 44 years, as well as, a broader audience. At this stage, we are looking for an early-stage pitch document that gets to the heart of the idea quickly and is clearly defined as a comedy, highlighting a core of well-drawn characters and the word they inhabit.
Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland is the national development agency for the screen sector investing in Talent, Creativity, and Enterprise. The agency supports and promotes the Irish film, television, and animation sector and the use of Ireland as a location for international production.
As part of the recently announced €3 million July Stimulus Support Package for Television Drama, Screen Ireland has allocated funding to support this initiative and ensure the development and growth of the Television Drama & Scripted Sector.
