ESB Short Film Award 2027

In 2027, ESB will celebrate it's 100th anniversary, while Dublin International Film Festival will celebrate its 25th. To mark this anniversary, ESB has partnered with DIFF to give young filmmakers (age 18 - 28) the opportunity to pitch a short film to an international panel of industry professionals, an audience of peers, and the general public. The film will be inspired by the following theme: 

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“Powering Possibility: exploring how electricity, energy and innovation enable everyday life, connection, creativity and greater future opportunity - not just through infrastructure, but through people, ideas and communities.” 

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This panel will select one of the projects to receive an €18,000 award to turn their short film script into a finished film, in time to World Premiere at the 25th Dublin International Film Festival between February 18th – 28th 2027. The winning film will also receive up to three mentoring sessions with an experienced industry professional, to help them turn their script into a reality.  

 

Judging & Selection Timeframes 

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The call for scripts opens at 17:30pm on Tuesday, 19th May 2026 and closes at 17:30pm Tuesday 21st July 2026. All script submissions received by 17:30pm on Tuesday 21st July 2026 will be assessed by a selection committee of three industry professionals. Ten scripts will shortlisted for the public pitch. Those whose scripts are shortlisted will be informed no later than Monday 17th August 2026. The full shortlist for the public pitch will be announced on Tuesday 2nd September 2026. All shortlisted projects will have the opportunity to participate in an online pitch training session on Monday 15th September 2026. 

 

Public Pitch 

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The public pitch will take place in early October in Dublin, date and venue to be confirmed. A maximum of two representatives from each project will present their film pitch in front of a panel of international and national industry representatives, as well as an audience of industry peers and the general public. The panel will assess each project in terms of narrative potential, engagement with the theme of the pitch and vision for completion of the project within the allotted timeframe. Each shortlisted project will have to present a budget proposal based on the effective use of the €18,000 award.  

 

Delivery of the Film 

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The successful project will be informed and announced as the winner of the award by mid-October. They will then have 14 weeks to deliver a rough cut of the film by Friday 15th January 2027. The film will then have a further fortnight to complete production for a delivery date to the Dublin International Film Festival of Friday 29th January 2027. The completed film will World Premiere at the 25th Dublin International Film Festival as part of an ESB showcase event between 18th – 28th February 2026.   

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