Education and Training for the
Irish Film & TV Industry

IFTN’s Guide for students and young professionals on some of the top colleges in the Ireland to help you acquire the practical skills necessary for a successful career in the film and TV business

Following another landmark year, the Irish industry can confidently stand alone as one of the strongest and most vibrant years of solid high quality production. Record revenues of €195 million reported by the Irish Film Board as well as broader and enhanced Section 481 guidelines cementing the Government’s faith in the industry point to a sector which is building a powerful resource of film and TV professionals across business, creative and craft, that continues to punch above its weight on the world stage.

The past 12 months of production reinforce this, as from low to high budget there is an abundance of quality offerings for audiences of all tastes. Films such as John Michael McDonagh’s ‘Calvary’ and Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Frank’ have been well-received internationally both at the box office and with critics while Irish animated feature ‘Song of the Sea’ and Northern Irish short film ‘Boogaloo and Graham’ were both nominated for Oscars. Other Oscar nominated films such as ‘The Theory of Everything’, ‘Leviathan’ and the ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ contains key Irish crew members. Many other Irish features look set to make waves in 2015 including ‘Glassland’, ‘Patrick’s Day’, ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Strangerland’. Of an equally superb standard is the brilliantly entertaining television drama being produced and filmed in Ireland for global audiences such as ‘Ripper Street’, ‘The Fall’, ‘Vikings’, ‘Game of Thrones’, Love/Hate’ and ‘Moone Boy’. All have key Irish HODs across their productions, with Irish craftspeople winning recognition and awards for their work both at home and abroad.

The appetite for high quality content has never been greater and as to be expected, Irish graduates are rising to this challenge. The proliferation of talented film and TV graduates emerging from the country’s top colleges each year attest to the growth of an industry that now commands serious international attention. A myriad of courses are available in Ireland in Directing, Production Design, Editing, Animation, Model-building, Make up and Special effects – to barely scratch the surface. Prospective students have a dizzying array of options. What course to choose and where to begin?

As your guide to the Irish film and TV industry, IFTN provides a comprehensive overview to the colleges and institutions that consistently nurture untapped potential into proven talent.