Belfast-based TV production company, Conker Pictures Northern Ireland (part of Banijay UK), is looking for up-and-coming writers from Northern Ireland for their new, year-long Writer In Residence scheme.
The scheme, which runs from January-December 2025, is being launched to help nurture the next generation of showrunners from Northern Ireland.
It is being aimed at emerging and established writers who can represent the culture of Northern Ireland with authenticity – for example they may be from, or have lived or worked in, Northern Ireland. They will need to have had one script produced in either theatre, TV, radio or film, but ideally no more than one produced credit in film or TV.
The chosen writer will have access to development meetings, writers’ rooms, feedback on ideas and scripts, invitations to industry events and mentoring workshops with leading industry creative talent. The scheme will culminate in a guaranteed in-house script commission that will be pitched to broadcasters with a view to getting the idea on TV.
Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin, Conker Pictures CEOs, said: “We’re delighted to be launching this writer in residence scheme out of our new Northern Irish base for Conker Pictures. Northern Ireland has such a long history of talented creatives from screenwriters, authors, playwrights and poets. We’re really thrilled to be nurturing the next generation of screenwriting talent from the region and can’t wait to get started.”
Agents or writers should email info@conkerpictures.com with a bio and a writing sample that they would like to put forward for the scheme. The closing date for applications is Friday 18th October. The recipient of the writer in residence scheme will be announced during the week of the Belfast Media Festival (w/c 11th November).
Conker launched its base in Northern Ireland in June.
In line with Banijay Entertainment’s commitment to championing new voices with creative ambition, this scheme is supported by the company’s Scripted Fund. Available to producers across the group’s footprint, the fund enhances the scope of projects, allowing creatives to fully realise their vision. Other recent scripted initiatives include Banijay Bootcamp, which paired in-house development executives from five different countries with emerging writers in a dynamic residency.
Pippa Considine
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