The Puttnam Script Award

Introduction

Fastnet Film Festival invites filmmakers to apply for its Puttnam Script Award, which is making €30,000 available to fund production of one live-action drama short film, duration 10-mins maximum, to be made on the Cork Wild Atlantic Way. Our subject/theme this year is: ‘Behind Closed Doors’.
Four finalists will be selected by a panel of industry judges to take part in a public pitching event at FFF 2027 (26th– 30th May), and the winner of the 2027 Puttnam Script Award will be announced at the FFF Awards Ceremony on Sunday 30th May 2027.
The award-winning film will have its premiere screening at the Fastnet Film Festival in May 2028.

Eligibility

The Puttnam Script Award is director driven with entry open to directors who have made at least one short film that has had a festival screening.Full scripts should be original. Where the director is not the writer, the director must supply evidence that he/she owns the screenplay rights in their entirety, free of any third party interests or encumbrances.While submissions will be reviewed and assessed in the first instance on creative criteria, account will also be taken of a filmmaker’s awareness of production and their ability to deliver a completed film on schedule and within budget.

Application Requirements

Submissions must include:
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- Application Form
- Logline
- Synopsis (300 words maximum)
- Full Script.Director’s Note on visual style/tone
- Production Notes – a brief note addressing applicant’s approach to production resources: budget, schedule, location/s, talent/key personnel, etc.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting entries is 12 Noon on Monday, 30th November 2026.

Submission Process

Please submit via our online Application Form and attach your SINGLE .pdf document containing your Script, Director’s Notes and Production Notes. Once received and processed you will receive a confirmation email from puttnamaward@gmail.com.

Timeline

Thursday 1^st Oct 2026: Call for Entries
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Monday 30^th Nov 2026: Deadline for submissions
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Friday 30^th April 2027: Pitching event finalists notified
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Thurs 27^th  May 2027: Public pitching event, FFF 2027
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Sunday 30^th May 2027: Announcement of Puttnam Script Award winner
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Rights

Fastnet Film Festival retains the right to screen the premiere of the successful applicant’s completed film at FFF 2028

FFF will also retain non-exclusive rights in the film in all media in Ireland and non-exclusive promotional rights for the rest of the world. All other distribution rights will remain with the filmmaker.

Health & Safety

It will be the responsibility of the filmmaker to ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation, particularly with all Dept. of Health/NPHET guidelines relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Insurances

The successful applicant will be required to ensure that all appropriate insurances are in place to cover all filming activity and to ensure that Fastnet Film Festival is expressly named and indemnified on all policies.

FAQs: 

• Can I submit additional information regarding my submission after the Application Deadline?
  
  ‍No, we regret that additional information cannot be submitted after the Application Deadline.
• Will I receive subsequent feedback or evaluation regarding my entry?
  
  ‍FFF regrets that we will be unable to supply filmmakers with feedback or evaluation on their entries.
• What do you mean by ‘with a theme reflecting ‘Behind Closed Doors’?
  
  ‍The screenplay should relate, whether directly or indirectly, to our FFF 2027 selected subject/theme of ‘Behind Closed Doors’. It will be at the discretion of the judges to determine if a screenplay satisfies this requirement.
• Can the film be set on the Wild Atlantic Way in County Cork but filmed elsewhere?
  
  ‍No. It is a condition of the Award that the film should be made on the Cork Wild Atlantic Way.  The Cork Wild Atlantic Way covers the coastline route between Kinsale to the Kerry Border.
• Can I submit more than one proposal?
  
  ‍You can enter multiple proposals, however only one entry can potentially be shortlisted if shortlisted as a finalist.  You should use a separate application for each submission.
• Can post-production take place elsewhere?
  
  ‍Yes.
• Should I have a designated producer attached?
  
  ‍It is not a requirement for directors to have a producer attached at the application stage, although having a producer involved may strengthen your submission. You should certainly include a note setting out how you propose to approach key production issues – budget, crewing, talent, location/s, etc.  If your submission is selected as one of the finalists for the pitching event at FFF 2027, we’d strongly recommend that you have a producer as part of your team.
• Is there flexibility as regards duration?
  
  ‍Yes, your film can be any duration provided it does not exceed 10 minutes (including titles/credits).
• Is it possible that a writer/producer submit?
  
  ‍No, this is a director driven competition.
• Can I submit a script for a film other than live action/drama?
  
  ‍No.  Only scripts for live action drama will be accepted.
• How extensive should the outline be?
  
  ‍The outline is a description of what happens in the story and who the main characters are.  Just enough to give a sense of what your script contains is all that is required.
• Can someone outside of Ireland apply?
  
  ‍Yes, applications from outside Ireland are accepted once they adhere to all the conditions and criteria outlined.
• Who owns the completed work?
  
  ‍The completed work is owned by the director and the underlying rights to the material are owned by the writer.  However, FFF has exclusive screening rights to screen the premier which will be at FFF 2028.

• What happens after an application is made?
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  You will be notified by email that your application has been received.  The four projects to make the final pitch will be notified in due course.

• If I make it through to the Pitching Event will my costs be covered by FFF?
  
  ‍No.  Unfortunately the Fastnet Film Festival will not be able to cover or reimburse any costs associated with attending the Pitch Event or the Festival in May 2027.  Filmmakers do so at their own discretion.
• What happens if I am selected as a finalist but am unable to attend FFF 2027?
  
  ‍You may nominate another person, a member of your team, to represent you and participate on your behalf at the pitching event.
• What are the key criteria for assessing entries?
  
  ‍Please refer to our eligibility criteria on the main page.
  There are two main criteria for assessing the quality of a project proposal.
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  1.  Creative and artistic: The script, visual style and how the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ theme is addressed.
  2.  Production: Account will also be taken of an applicant’s familiarity with key aspects of the production process, together with how they will approach making a short film on County Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way.