Funding

Platform

Platform is an accelerator programme for video game companies in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen is seeking teams that are passionate about video games and are motivated to establish/grow their company. We support teams that can bring fresh ideas to video game development with the goal of self-publishing a game based on an original IP within 12 months.

Working out of The Pixel Mill based in Ormeau Baths, Belfast, companies will have access to facilities, mentors, training and funding as well as the opportunity to attend markets to build their business network and meet consumers. As part of Platform, companies will receive:

• Up to £60,000 in development funding per company across 3 stages;
• Up to 12 Months Office Space and access to meeting space;
• Market Attendance – Gamescom and EGX;
• Access to mentors covering game design, marketing and production; and

Platform 2021 is currently closed.

Platform 2021

• InfoSoft NI
• Silverstream
• Pigs in Blankets

Previous participants

• Coffee Box Games (2020)
• Out of Tune (2020)
• Far Few Giants (2020)

Project Development Funding

Project development funding is available to companies working in the interactive content sector for the development of games, e-learning, web and mobile projects for international markets and distribution.

How much is it?

• 90% of project budget for projects with a budget up to £10,000
• 75% of project budget for projects with a budget of over £10,000 and less than £20,000
• 50% of project budget for projects with a budget of over £20,000 up to a maximum of £100,000

All development awards are recoupable loans.

Who can apply?

Project development funding is available to independent production companies based in Northern Ireland and European production companies which have an office and staff based in Northern Ireland.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying to the Northern Ireland Screen Fund, we ask that you start by contacting funding@northernirelandscreen.co.uk.

Project Production Funding

Northern Ireland Screen offers production funding in the form of a recoupable loan. The fund is intended to assist in completing budgets on productions which are almost fully financed. Northern Ireland Screen will not consider a production with less than 65% of its funding already in place.

Northern Ireland Screen is looking for productions which contribute to building a sustainable digital content industry in Northern Ireland and which can show a direct economic benefit to the region.

Projects must be commercially viable and able to demonstrate clear possibilities for commercial exploitation. In the case of games, the attachment of an experienced publisher will be an asset, as will domestic or USA distribution.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and therefore the UK video games film tax breaks apply.

How much is it?

The Northern Ireland Screen Fund for digital content production funding, can invest a maximum of £500,000, up to a ceiling of 25% of the overall project budget.

Who can apply?

The Northern Ireland Screen Fund is open to all legally incorporated companies who can fulfill the British Cultural Criteria and the project criteria outlined above.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying to the Northern Ireland Screen Fund, we ask that you start by contacting our Funding Department to discuss the project. If we decide the project could be eligible to receive support, you will be requested to submit further details through an expression of interest form, available when you have spoken to us.

Tranzfuser

Tranzfuser is a UK-wide search for the future creative leaders of the video game industry.

Organised by UK Games Talent and Finance CIC (UKGTF) and funded by the UK Government, Tranzfuser is aimed at graduates looking to break into the games development industry, with a strong focus on getting their game to market.

Northern Ireland Screen acts as a regional hub for Tranzfuser in Northern Ireland, offering an inspirational central space and focal point for Tranzfuser teams to locate in or meet periodically whilst working elsewhere; providing a dynamic learning environment that cultivates this diverse community, acting as a hot house for innovative games IP development and resulting in high level of achievement over a short period of time.

Teams of talented graduates are invited to apply to take part in the summer-long competition to work collaboratively on turning their game ideas in to actual working projects.

At the end of development, teams will showcase their prototype games at a prestigious consumer games show where they will pitch for a grant of up to £25,000 from the UK Games Fund.

Successful applicants will be awarded a £5,000 budget to allocate as they choose throughout the competition. Further information can be found here.