Director/producer Shadowing Trainee

THE SCHEME:

• The purpose of the scheme is to enable short film directors and producers to ‘step up’ from short films to longer form projects.
• The scheme will be open on a rolling basis.
• Potential applicants are asked to apply to the scheme only when they meet the eligibility criteria.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate how they meet the eligibility criteria in their application.
• If accepted onto the scheme, eligible applicants will be put forward for placements as either Assistants to the Director(s) or Producer(s) on Northern Ireland Screen funded productions.
• Being accepted onto the scheme does not guarantee that you will be either shortlisted or hired as a Director’s Assistant or Producer’s Assistant. 
• Applicants who receive placements on productions will be employed by Northern Ireland Screen for the duration of the placement. 
• Placements will be paid at Real Living Wage. 

THE SECTORS 
The priority sectors covered by the scheme are: 

• Children’s TV Drama
• Daytime Continuing TV Drama
• Comedy 
• Independent Film 
• Network TV Drama
• Large Scale Production 

WHERE IS IT BASED?
The roles will be on Northern Ireland Screen funded productions filming in various locations normally within Northern Ireland.
For the avoidance of doubt, Northern Ireland needs to be your primary residence for tax purposes. 

PLACEMENT DURATION: 
Each participant will be given no more than two placement opportunities per sector.
Where possible each placement opportunity will comprise of no less than a cumulative total of 30 days on set experience.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
You are eligible to apply if you can answer YES to these four eligibility questions:

• Are you eligible to work in the UK?
• Do you currently reside in Northern Ireland?
• Are you available to participate in the scheme from May 2026?
• Are you over 18 and not in full-time education? 

If you cannot answer YES to these four questions, please do not apply. In-eligible applications will be automatically discarded.

HOW WILL APPLICATIONS BE ASSESSED?

• Representatives of Northern Ireland Screen will assess your application based on the scheme criteria.
• Those who meet the criteria will be put forward for placements on Northern Ireland Screen funded productions.
• The productions will shortlist from the list of eligible candidates and the production’s representatives will interview the shortlisted candidates.
• The production representatives will make the final decision on who they wish to hire.

Please note: If you are accepted onto the scheme by Northern Ireland Screen it means that your application has met the criteria. Being accepted onto the scheme does not guarantee that you will be either shortlisted or hired as a Director’s Assistant or Producer’s Assistant. The final decision on placements will be made by the production’s representatives.