The Galway Junior Film Fleadh script competition

The Galway Junior Film Fleadh is Ireland's longest-running youth film festival. It screens films for and by young people along with workshops on things like screen acting, TV presenting, Special FX and animation.

This year the Junior Fleadh has a strong selection of young filmmaker shorts. Although, for every young filmmaker in the programme, there are (roughly) ten people who want to make a film but don't have a clue where to start.

Ideas and technical prowess are two sides of the same coin. And even if you have a great idea, it can still be hard to get your film made without the know-how of how to make it happen. Well, just throw in the towel why don't you? But Au Contraire. This is where the script competition comes in.

The script competition is an outlet for anyone 18* and under to pitch an idea for a film, web series, video game, animation or mixed media project. Taking part is easy. Write a 500 word pitch in English or Irish, give it a polish, and send it off. 500 words is roughly one typed page.

The Junior Film Fleadh recommend you “Draft your idea and practice in front of family and friends”. Because if your idea is shortlisted, you will get the opportunity to present it to an audience at this year's Galway Junior Film Fleadh in November.

The winner gets a free place on a film or animation course which is a great step in getting your project made. And win or lose, having a pitch in your back pocket on why your project is worth making is half the battle won.

Closing date for entries is Friday 18th October

*For anyone that is feeling very old right now, there also is a pitching competition in July's main festival in where you can walk away with €3000. For more info www.galwayfilmfleadh.com