The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has funded seven projects for production through the BAI’s Broadcasting Funding Scheme – Sound and Vision II.
The projects, made up of three television and four radio productions, received €553,200 in funding.
Dublin-based Tile Films received the largest amount of funding for its feature length documentary on the 1916 Rising. €250,000 was awarded to produce ’72 Uair Cinniúnach’ (’72 Hours that Changed the Rising’), which focuses on the battle for Dublin’s Mount Street bridge and King Street in 1916.
IFTA-nominated Keith Farrell (Ireland Nazis) wrote and directed the 90-minute feature, while Dave Farrell (Cromwell in Ireland) produced it and Stephen Rooke (Death on the Railroad) took on the role of executive producer. ’72 Uair Cinniúnach’ is expected to air on TG4 around the 97th anniversary of the 1916 Rising next year.
€60,000 of the total funding was awarded to Dublin-based New Decade TV and Film for its six-part television series called ‘The Science Squad’. Hailed as RTÉ’s version of ‘Tomorrow’s World’; the popular BBC science show which ran for nearly 40 years; ‘The Science Squad’ aims to bring Irish viewers up-to-date with the latest developments in Irish scientific research. It will focus on a wide range of sectors, from intensive care units to laser technology which helps disabled people to play music.
New Decade TV and Film’s founder Ciaran O’Connor will direct the six-part series and Nuala Cunningham will produce the 23 minute-long episodes. The series will be edited by Cara Holmes and Hugo Johnston will be in charge of graphics. ‘The Science Squad’ will be presented by former science teacher and Rose of Tralee Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Jonathan McCrea, and New Decade’s own Kathriona Devereux.
‘The Science Squad’ will air on RTÉ One this summer, in accordance with an international symposium being held in Dublin in July in conjunction with Dublin being chosen as European City of Science 2012.
The final television production to receive funding from BAI’s Sound and Vision Funding Scheme is Igloo Productions, which received €180,000 for animated series ‘BB agus Bella’, based on an Irish-speaking toy teddy bear named Bábógbaby, which will air on TG4.
Galway-born Adrian Devane is the executive producer of ‘BB agus Bella’ and IFTA-winner Kealan O’Rourke (The Boy in the Bubble) is in the director’s chair. Brian Willis (Igloo Films) is producing the 5-minute episodes.
Another round of the BAI’s Broadcasting Funding Scheme – Sound & Vision II will be awarded later this year.
