Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Boyne Valley, Droichead Arts Centre and filmmaker Frank W. Kelly launch the fourth Boyne Valley International Film Festival which takes place this August. This three day event will feature the best short films from around the country, and the world, with a special focus on films made in the region.
BVIFF are now inviting screenwriters to pitch a short film idea by email, no longer than 2 pages. Four filmmakers will be shortlisted by a panel featuring Clare Monnelly and Naomi Sheridan (Third judge to be announced soon).
Clare Monnelly is an acclaimed actor and writer, nominated for multiple Irish Times Theatre Awards, including Best Actress and Best New Play for Charlie’s a Clepto. She’s performed with Druid, the Abbey, and Livin’ Dred (Bailegangaire), and stars in Fréwaka(Cine4) and The Gone (Keeper Pictures). Her plays include Minefield, The Hare, The Local, and SuperBogger. Her short films Departure and Cat & Mouse premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. A 2025 DIFF Discovery Award winner, she’s part of Screen Ireland’s Perspectives scheme, developing her debut feature Gracewith Rye Films.
Naomi Sheridan is an award-winning screenwriter and director whose early film In America, co-written with her father and sister, earned Oscar, Golden Globe, and WGA nominations, winning the Critics Choice and National Board of Review awards. She has written for Paramount, NBC Universal, Disney, Tribeca Films, and Element Pictures, and developed In America as a series for HBO. A Writers Guild of Ireland Screenplay of the Year winner, she holds a Master’s in Screenwriting from IADT. Naomi’s acclaimed new short film ‘Kiki’ is currently riding high on the festival circuit.
Four shortlisted filmmakers will be awarded a bursary of €500, and each will be invited to present their short film idea to the panel during the festival. One lucky filmmaker will be chosen, and awarded a further bursary of €2,500 to write the script.
We welcome applications from filmmakers whose voices are currently under-represented in the Irish film sector. If you require any access support for this application process, please email jackie.nowell@droichead.com and someone in our team will go through what the application involves and answer questions from any potential candidates directly.
We want to create an environment for filmmakers and audiences to connect, and celebrate film in the historical medieval town of Drogheda, and the Boyne Valley Region.
HOW TO APPLY:
By email, 2 pages max. Deadline Friday 4 July at 5:00pm.
Limited to one entry per person, and applicants must be resident in Ireland and over 18 (Students who are currently in undergraduate or postgraduate education, including those undertaking foundation courses are not eligible to apply). Previously unsuccessful entries are not eligible to re-enter.
Introduction– A brief overview of the film. Include title, logline, genre, and theme of the project.
Synopsis (500 words – include the ending, tell us the full story, we like spoilers.)
Character breakdown
Conclusion (Tell us why you want to write this script.)
Email submissions to info@droichead.com by 4 July by 5:00pm.
Please send in a word and pdf document, and only include your name on the pdf document. The panel will not know the identity of the applicant when shortlisting. The three short listed applicants will be notified and must be available to present their idea live to the panel on the morning of the 10 August (Time to be confirmed). The bursary recipient will be announced as part of the awards ceremony on 10 August at Droichead Arts Centre.
Previous Winners:
2024 Winner: Tony Doyle with “The Distance Between”
2023 Winner: Fionnuala Gygax with “The Island”
Special Mention: Connor McCormick “Bunker Baby”
(Both films have completed production)
2022 Winner: Libby McCormack “The Parting”
Special Mention: Peter Allen “Last Christmas”