Virgin Media, in association with Screen Ireland, are committed to discovering different voices in film, and we are calling for ideas that bring diverse tales, voices and stories to life. This year, we have a total prize fund of €150,000 to share among 10 shortlisted projects, with two overall winners scooping €30,000 worth of investment each to go towards the production of their scripts.

This year, our judging panel includes award-winning director and screenwriter Lenny Abrahamson, known for directing such acclaimed independent films as Adam & Paul, Garage, What Richard Did and Room; Derry Girls creator and screenwriter of The Deceived, Lisa McGee; Mullingar-born actor Niamh Algar who stars in Ridley Scott’s major new HBO Max series, Raised by Wolves; Screenwriter and Executive Producer Ursula Rani Sarma whose work includes Delicious and Red Rock, joined by representatives from Virgin Media Television, Screen Ireland and the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival.

The Virgin Media Discovers Short Film Competition is open to all aspiring filmmakers, whether it’s your first time or propels you onto a national platform. Deadline for submissions is midnight 30th November 2020. For further information check out www.virginmedia.ie/discovers