Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar teamed up with Virgin Media Ireland today to launch their brand new short film competition, Virgin Media Discovers.
Entrants are invited to submit scripts by Friday 26thth July for a proposed 10 minute short film which, if chosen, will feature in next year’s Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival schedule, alongside other local and international filmmakers, and will debut on national television on Virgin Media Television.
The winner will also receive €35,000 from Virgin Media and a TV production crew to support them in making their short film.
Virgin Media wants Ireland to stay a frontrunner in the film sector where people at home and around the world can enjoy Ireland’s world-class artistic and cultural output.
The judging panel comprises of film industry experts, actor Adrian Dunbar, Director Neasa Hardiman, Director of Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival Grainne Humphreys, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television Bill Malone, and Director of the Screen Directors Guild Birch Hamilton.
Adrian Dunbar, the BAFTA nominated actor best known for Blood (2019), The Crying Game and Line of Duty, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and it’s great to see Virgin Media playing a leading role supporting creative work which is crucial to a thriving production industry in Ireland and abroad.”
“We’re looking for innovative, fearless filmmakers to submit clever and thought-provoking scripts. The Virgin Media Discovers entries could be about lifestyle, relationships, goals, social problems, oddities or just a new way of looking at something we already know about.”
“Whatever your point of difference is, we’d like to hear about it. The film duration must be no longer than ten minutes so it’s tight! A shortlist will take place at the beginning of August and the winning film will go into production in September 2019.”
Bill Malone, Director of Content at Virgin Media Television, said, “Virgin Media is taking a strategic approach towards the creative industries as a key driver of economic growth. We want to challenge, inspire, and generate conversation.”
“This is only the beginning, we want to build on this first step and make the competition even more ambitious over time. That’s what lies at the heart of this competition. We see so much potential in this sector where our creative industries show our country at its best and we’re looking forward to seeing what our entrants will submit.”
For more information visit www.virginmedia.ie/
