The purpose of Reel Art is to provide film artists with the opportunity to make highly creative, imaginative and experimental documentaries on an artistic theme for cinema exhibition. At least two films will be supported in 2023. A total fund of up to €135,000 will be made available to each of the successful applicants (to include a production budget of €120,000 and further exhibition support of €15,000). Only films that can be made within this budget will be considered. The films must be completed to premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival, our exhibition partner, in February 2025. Applicants will be notified in July 2023 if they have been shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to discuss the details of their proposals with the selection panel, expected to be convened in July 2023.

The Arts Council’s purpose in offering Reel Art is to support film artists to make documentary art films that would not otherwise get made. The award offers film artists a unique opportunity to make artistic film works on arts subjects. Film artists should have a passion for their subject and be able to transpose this to the screen.

Projects should be conceived for theatrical exhibition at film festivals and in arthouse/cultural-cinema settings. Only proposals for original, imaginative and aesthetically driven treatments of arts subjects will be considered, while proposals that offer visually engaging, creative and experimental approaches to their subject will be prioritised.

A Reel Art film is not a television documentary. Subjects and treatments that are televisual rather than filmic will not be considered. Proposals for biographic treatments of artists will only be considered in exceptional cases where the proposed approach is particularly unique.

A key aim of Reel Art is to complement, rather than duplicate, the documentary and other funding programmes offered by the Arts Council, broadcasters and funding agencies in Ireland.

Successful projects will be required to complete at least one Digital Cinema Print (DCP) for deposit at the IFI Archive as part of the delivery requirements for Reel Art. Provision for this should be made within the application budget.

Reel Art films must be made within a total maximum budget of €120,000 and must be completed on/before 1 December 2024.