ESB Short Film Pitch Award

The ESB Short Film Pitch Award is a collaborative initiative between ESB and the Dublin International Film Festival, created to celebrate ESB’s 100th anniversary and the festival’s 25th edition. The program is designed to support emerging filmmakers by providing a structured pathway from script development to completed short film production. The initiative centers on the theme Powering Possibility, which encourages applicants to explore how electricity, energy, and innovation contribute to everyday life, human connection, creativity, and future opportunities. The program emphasizes storytelling that connects infrastructure with people, ideas, and communities, positioning the award as both a creative and industry development opportunity. The primary objective of the award is to identify one outstanding short film project that demonstrates strong narrative potential, meaningful engagement with the theme, and a clear vision for execution. The program is exclusively focused on fiction short films, including animation, and requires that all submitted scripts be original, unproduced, and not previously funded. Applicants may apply either individually or as part of a writer director team, provided all participants meet the eligibility requirements. These include being between the ages of 18 and 28 at the time of the application deadline and holding an Irish passport or legal residency in Ireland. The funding component of the program consists of a single production award of 18000 euros, which is allocated to the selected project to support the full development of the short film from script to final production. Shortlisted applicants are required to present a detailed budget proposal demonstrating how the funding will be used effectively and creatively. In addition to financial support, the winning filmmaker or team will receive up to three mentoring sessions with an experienced industry professional. These sessions are intended to guide the development and production process, helping ensure that the project can be successfully completed within the defined timeline. There is no indication of any cost sharing or matching requirement associated with the award. The application process is structured and requires strict adherence to submission guidelines. Applicants must submit their scripts electronically via email in PDF format, ensuring that the scripts follow industry standard screenplay formatting, including the use of 12 point Courier font and numbered pages. Submissions must include proof of age in the form of official identification. Each applicant is permitted to submit a maximum of two scripts. Only scripts written in English or Irish are eligible, and no additional supporting documentation will be considered during the evaluation process. All submissions must be received by the stated deadline, and late submissions are not eligible for review. The evaluation process is conducted in multiple stages. After the submission deadline, all eligible scripts are reviewed by a selection committee composed of three industry professionals. From these submissions, ten projects are shortlisted to participate in a public pitch event. Shortlisted applicants are notified in mid August, with the full shortlist announced in early September. These applicants are required to attend an online pitch training session prior to the public pitch. During the pitch event, up to two representatives from each project present their proposal to a panel of national and international industry professionals as well as a public audience. Projects are assessed based on narrative strength, engagement with the theme, and the feasibility of completing the film within the allotted timeframe. The program timeline is clearly defined. The call for scripts opens on May 19 2026 and closes on July 21 2026. Shortlisted applicants are notified by August 17 2026, with the shortlist publicly announced on September 2 2026. A pitch training session takes place on September 15 2026, followed by the public pitch event in early October 2026. The winning project is announced by mid October 2026. The selected team then enters production and is required to deliver a rough cut within 14 weeks by January 15 2027, followed by a final completed version by January 29 2027. The completed film will premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival between February 18 and February 28 2027 as part of a dedicated showcase event. The award does not indicate any recurring cycle and appears to be a one time opportunity tied to the anniversary celebrations of the partner organizations. All applicants must agree to terms that allow the festival to share submitted scripts internally and use selected projects for promotional purposes. However, all intellectual property rights remain with the original creators. Submissions are handled through a dedicated email address, and selected filmmakers must enter into a formal agreement outlining production, delivery, and promotional expectations. Overall, the program provides a comprehensive opportunity combining funding, mentorship, and industry exposure for emerging filmmakers in Ireland.

Ensure strong narrative quality clear alignment with theme and realistic production plan as these are core evaluation criteria