Based in Galway city, and working in the west of Ireland and beyond, Ardán fosters screen talent in the AV industry; those who want to build a career in film, TV, games, or animation.
As a not-for-profit organisation, they provide funding, training, mentorships, shadowing, and networking opportunities for entry, emerging, and established screen creatives.
Within its screen talent development remit, Ardán manages the Galway UNESCO City of Film designation and annual programme, the National Talent Academy Film & TV, the WRAP Commission, the FÍS TV and Games Summits, Screen West, and Ardán is the Chair of the Western AV Forum, a collective of 55+ organisations in the West and Northwest.
The National Talent Academy for Film & TV is a Screen Ireland initiative managed by Ardán. It is one of six Academies, collectively supporting a wide range of careers, from crew roles to animation and VFX. The NTA for Film & TV supports writers, directors and producers from all walks of life as they develop and progress their careers in the screen industry.
NTA programmes are open to those who are no longer in full-time education, making them ideal for school leavers who have not yet attended college, as well as graduates looking to take their next steps into the industry. Find out more at [email protected].
Ardán also co-manages other funding and training opportunities including the Science on Screen Documentary and Animation Commission with Rinn Medical Devices, the RTÉ Short Film Commission, Screen Ireland’s national Digital Games Portfolio with Imirt, the Interreg NPA - Innovation Through Gamification Solutions (InnoGS ) project, and more.
The latest Ardán/RTÉ Short Film Commission – ‘The Dead House’ by Martin Beanz Warde from Tuam – was selected to screen at Cork International Film Festival. Two recent Science on Screen Research Documentaries aired on RTÉ One in October including ‘Imperfect Days’; directed and produced by Galway filmmakers David and Laura Qualter. One new documentary on STEM as Gaeilge and five animations are soon to be announced.
Through the Digital Games Portfolio, the Irish Games Talent Incubator have begun, and there are more talent development programmes to come like Sparks: Game Changers.
It's also been a busy year with the Galway City of Film annual programme, supporting two Ceantar Scannán Short Doc Bursaries, the Little Cinema/Galway City of Film 48 Hour Challenge (the 48 Hour winner will screen at the 2027 Film Fleadh ), an international Animation Exchange with Stiúideo Fia and Frame Fest, Misleór Festival, the Cities of Film Subnetwork Meeting where we hosted 22 delegates in Galway, and more.
The next FÍS TV Summit conference will take place on February 4, 2027, and FÍS Games Summit will take place on April 9, 2027. Anyone who is over 18 can register to attend these free screen industry events for TV and Games sector professionals. Volunteers are also welcome to support these events.
Find out more at [email protected].
