Interested in a career in film?

If so, the Irish Film Board (IFB) website www.irishfilmboard.ie is a great resource for finding out what’s going on in Irish film.

The IFB is the national film agency whose aim is to help filmmakers get Irish films produced. The IFB provide production and development loans for feature films, television, animation, documentaries and short films and also help to promote films once they are finished.

The website is jam -packed with useful information and links for those starting out in the industry:

• Keep up to date on what's happening in Irish film at home and abroad with the news section and the newsfeed.
• The IFB is now on twitter so you can now follow and receive regular updates, headlines and news - just search for Irish Film Board.
• Sign up to receive regular newsletters and alerts directly to your inbox
• Check out what's doing well at the Irish Box Office this week
• See if there are any film festivals happening near you soon... There are numerous great film festivals happening all over the country at different times of the year. Check out the Irish Film Festival section
• Learn about international film festivals which one day may screen your film
• Read about Irish filmmakers experiences at the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival in their online blogs.
• Find out about the Irish features, short films and documentaries which the IFB have funded in the Film Directory and current film projects in the Funding Decisions section
• View trailers of recent Irish film releases and download podcasts of IFB Panel Discussions such as Low Budget filmmaking and Short Film Schemes in the Media Hub

Interested in getting some practical hands-on training?
Check out these organisations which specifically provide training for new entrants to the film and television industry.
• Filmbase in Temple Bar offers support to independent film and video makers with training and development, facilities hire and information services. Staff in Filmbase are on hand to advise and inform on all aspects of filmmaking and the film industry. It also publishes the bi-monthly cultural magazine Film Ireland which will keep you on the pulse of what is going on in the industry. http://www.filmbase.ie/
• The Galway Film Centre provides equipment, practical hands-on training for all levels, information and offers production equipment at non-commercial rates to independent filmmakers. Their aim is to help emerging filmmakers to get the skills and experience needed to make films or programmes. http://www.galwayfilmcentre.ie/

Have a short film and want to get it made?
Filmbase administers a number of film and documentary production awards schemes, while the Galway Film Centre has a number of different awards designed to support and promote filmmakers with innovative ideas but limited financial resources. Directors with some experience can apply for a wide range of IFB funded short films schemes varying from fiction to documentaries and digital.

The Irish Film Board are proud to sponsor the Film Script of the Year Award at the Student Media Awards. To find out more about the Irish Film Board see www.irishfilmboard.ie or find them on Twitter www.twitter.com (search Irish Film Board).