Donegal filmmakers encouraged to apply for €3,000 short documentary bursary 

Donegal filmmakers are being encouraged to apply for a film bursary of €3,000 to film a short documentary that will delve into the themes of global justice.

The Donegal Short Documentary Film Bursary is an initiative between ChangeMakers Donegal at Inishowen Development Partnership, the Disappear Here Film Festival and Concern Worldwide.

Applications for the Bursary, which is running in the county for the second year, are now open. Local filmmakers are invited to apply for the funding to create a documentary exploring themes of global justice, aligning with ChangeMakers Donegal and Concern Worldwide’s mission to promote global citizenship. 

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This initiative supports storytelling that connects local and global issues, fostering solidarity, empathy, and meaningful change.

Proceeds from the popular Clonmany-based Disappear Here Film Club have been contributed to a €3,000 Bursary throughout 2024. Concern Worldwide has contributed €2,000 to the Bursary through its Global Citizenship Education Grants Scheme. 

The funding will be used to create a new documentary to be filmed in the county in 2025. The application deadline is Thursday 20 February 2025 at 1pm. 

Disappear Here Film Festival Producer and Film Club promoter, Michael McLaughlin says he believes that this new bursary will help foster talent, creativity, and activity in filmmaking in county Donegal. 

“This is a great opportunity for a filmmaker with a story to tell, to get their work in front of a live audience on the big screen,” says Michael.

“There are so many unique characters with stories waiting to be told in the county, many with global resonance, especially in these turbulent times in the world. 

“We hope this bursary can help people come forward and have these stories captured forever with a new documentary film.”

In 2024, Bundoran-based Caroline Harvey won the Bursary and made a documentary called I’m Grand which premiered at the Disappear Here Film Festival in 2024. It is now set to tour on the film festival circuit. 

Myra McAuliffe, project coordinator at ChangeMakers Donegal said they are grateful to Concern Worldwide for supporting the monthly Film Club in collaboration with the Disappear Here Film Festival. 

“This new bursary will fund a local filmmaker to create a documentary that helps the community understand how global issues are interconnected with their daily lives and explores ways we can take action—both individually and collectively—to build a better world,” said Myra. 

“We look forward to receiving applications and showcasing the new documentary at next year’s festival.”

The combination of arts and community development to raise awareness of social justice is core to ChangeMakers' and Inishowen Development Partnership's work, which is why they work closely with the Disappear Film Festival.

Denise McCool, Team Lead with IDP explained how Concern Worldwide have been a key partner of ChangeMakers over the years. 

“Concern Worldwide saw this collaboration of the Bursary as a great opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of a variety of justice issues and their local and global connections through the medium of ‘film’ and facilitated discussion. 

“The Bursary is a great new element to the work,” added Denise. 

The application deadline is Thursday, February 20 at 1pm. To apply, email: bursary@disappearherefilmfest.com for an application form.