News

Applications open as Screen Stories returns for 3rd iteration in 2026

Published

11 May 2026

Contributor

Tilting the Lens

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We are in a room with walls covered in movie posters. The 3 writers sit at the head of a large table with 9 others seated around the table. Everyone is looking at their scripts while one of the actors reads. — At the Screen Stories 2025 table read, the work of programme writers Alan Carrigan, Leah Moore and Ronan Nugent was performed.

At Tilting the Lens, we believe in storytelling that reflects the full diversity of our communities, and in creating meaningful opportunities for employment and career progression for Disabled people.

We’re delighted to be continuing our script mentoring scheme partnership with the National Talent Academies, as part of the work we do to make the film and TV industry more inclusive. The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán. This initiative drives emerging Irish creative talent from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.

For the third year we will partner on Screen Stories: Getting Disabled Writers in the Room, an initiative aimed at amplifying the work of Disabled writers in Irish film.

The programme will support up to three emerging writers or writer-directors who identify as Disabled. Aimed at those at an early stage of their careers, Screen Stories offers a tailored and flexible experience built around each participant’s individual needs, goals and creative ambitions.

Screen Stories 2026 seeks live-action fiction short films

This year’s programme is aimed at Disabled writers who are eager to grow their careers as screenwriters of live-action fiction short films only, not animation or documentary. It will be shaped around the needs and goals of those selected, with tailored workshops, mentoring, talks and events to help develop the writer’s voices, stories, and creative work.

A group portrait of Leah Moore, Alan Carrigan and Ronan Nugent in a room with walls covered in movie posters. — Screen Stories 2025 writers: Leah Moore, Alan Carrigan and Ronan Nugent

Programme details

Running for 5 months from July to November 2026, the programme aims to develop participants’ screenwriting and networking skills, with a focus on strengthening their scripts and developing their idea, rather than finishing and polishing a final draft.

This programme offers tailored support, delivered online and/or in person depending on participants’ access needs. It includes training, peer networking, workshops, talks, Q&A sessions with leading industry professionals, and one-to-one mentorship. Support will be provided by creatives both within and outside the film and TV industries, including Disabled and non-Disabled experts.

The session will run twice a month on Wednesday, in the early afternoon. Outside of these sessions, writers will work on their scripts and work with their mentors.

A bursary paid in installments will support participants through the programme and cover associated costs with developing their scripts.

While most of the sessions will be hosted online, the programme will end with a table read event in-person. This will take place in Dublin city in November 2026, where the most recent drafts of the scripts will be read out by professional actors.

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama and Tilting the Lens will meet the access requirements of the selected applicants, while adjusting the programme accordingly, and cover the associated costs.

“From the get-go, Screen Stories was a game-changer for me as a screenwriter, but it also opened up my eyes to the possibility of becoming a director. Having people in your corner is always a treat, but between Tilting the Lens and the National Talent Academies, they encouraged me to aim for more. I spent so long fighting to get my foot in the door of the film industry, but by expanding my skillset through the workshops and building on my confidence with my mentor, I eventually found myself inside the room.”
Louise Bruton, Screen Stories Participant.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Identify as Disabled, including physical, sensory, neurological, neurodevelopmental, mental health or medical conditions,
Be aged 18 or over,
Not be in full-time education,
Be resident on the island of Ireland, or an Irish applicant living abroad who can attend sessions scheduled in GMT.

Applicants should demonstrate an interest or engagement in creative writing across any form, including film, theatre, literature or other creative disciplines.

Applications are open to both individuals and co-writing teams, provided the project is centred around a Disabled creative.

Apply for 2026

Applications are open from now until Tuesday, 9 June 2026 at 12 noon.

The application process has been carefully designed to be as accessible and equitable as possible. If you are a Disabled writer, or part of a co-writing team led by a Disabled creative, with a vision for a fiction short film, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Together with the National Talent Academies, we are committed to continuing this work: dismantling barriers, investing in talent, and amplifying Disabled creatives to tell the stories only they can.

For more information and to apply, visit the National Talent Academy website: Screen Stories Course Information