Applications for this course are currently closed. 

Course Description

Practically and creatively led, our Level 8, one-year Top-Up BA in Film & Television Production is delivered in conjunction with and accredited by the University of Wolverhampton (UK). An intensive industry-led programme, the course is taught by academic tutors and industry professionals and is also supported by guest lectures from leaders in the various fields within the Irish Film and Television industry.

Students benefit from the expertise of film directors, producers and professional crew in the areas of development, camera and sound, documentary and factual production, editing, sound design, production management and production design amongst others, as well as a connection to Irish Film and TV industry bodies and organisations.

We have engaged with the Film & TV sector to ensure that course content reflects industry requirements and modules are designed to replicate real-world conditions. There are six modules on the programme, four of which focus on learners leading and collaborating in the production of two short films (live-action and documentary) from screenplay/proposal to the screen, in a creative and professional way. While developing industry standard technical skills, learners also develop digital skills, management and leadership skills. The remaining 2 modules are an employability and a content analysis module, which develops critical and innovative thinking.

We have made connections with production and post-production companies to provide students with the opportunity of work placements on set or location of large-scale film and TV productions shooting in Ireland and in the post-production environment.

 

Structure of the course

 12 hours of structured contact time with tutors per week in the form of lectures, workshops and tutorials over three evenings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The students can access editing and production facilities outside those hours to carry out necessary project work on their own and with their teams.

The year is short, consisting of two 12-week semesters. The course is intense and self-directed; full commitment and attendance from participants is crucial to achieve the academic standard and to produce quality work that can be shown at the Light House cinema at the end of the year and can compete at festivals.

This programme is offered as part of our evening and part-time self-financing education provision. Learners will not qualify for a regular government grant but they can qualify for other funding supports and social welfare allowances. The cost of the programme will be €3,500 Euro, to be paid in instalments.

 

Course Content

• Pre-Production – of an original live-action or documentary short (the Major Project) as director or/and producer.
• Film Cuts, Cults and Classics: Screening Spectacular Cinema. Film analysis module with input from programmers and Irish crew working in spectacular genre projects in Ireland.
• Documentary and Factual Production. Production of second shorter documentary short.
• Opportunity, Entrepreneurship & Employability in the Creative Industries. Knowledge and preparation for the industry, including the opportunity for work placements.
• Major Project. Production of the main short developed in Pre-production as director or/and producer, leading a crew from the class.
• Collaborative video and Film Production. The students undertake two main crew roles in two Major Projects other than their own.

 

Staff

Directors and producers from the industry, academic tutors and crew.

Katie Killane 

Katie Killane is a Television Producer/Director with extensive experience across factual and entertainment programming, as well as one-off documentaries. She produced the Royal Television Society award-winning BBC series The Estate We’re In, as well as Hook in Haiti (RTÉ documentary), Off The Rails (RTÉ series), Dirty Old Towns (RTÉ series), The Model Agent (RTE series), Do The Right Thing (RTE series) Operation Transformation (RTÉ series), and Battle of the Food Trucks (RTÉ / RTÉ Player).

Her Directing credits include The Consumer Show (RTÉ series) and Getaways (BBC series).

Katie holds a BA in Cultural and Media Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Television, A Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing, and an MA in Producing and Directing. She has recently completed CPD qualifications in Neurodiversity for the Screen Industry and Wellbeing in the Screen Industry.

Alongside lecturing, Katie is the Administrator for Raising Films Ireland, a not-for-profit organisation supporting parents and carers working within the Irish screen industries.

Nico Marzano

Nico Marzano is a film curator, producer and lecturer with over 20 years’ experience championing independent cinema. He led the ICA’s film department in London for ten years, overseeing the UK & Irish release of award-winning films including RaMell Ross’s Hale County This Morning, This Evening (Oscar-nominated, 2019).

He is part of the Rome Film Festival programming team and has served on juries at Sundance, Venice, BFI London, CPH:DOX and Cinéma du Réel. Nico currently teaches film theory and film programming at several universities and film schools between Ireland, the UK and Cuba.

Nico has delivered workshops for the Cannes Film Festival and at other leading institutional venues around the world.

Tom Johnson

Tom Johnson is an award-winning director with over 30 years’ experience in the Irish TV and film industries. His work has spanned a wide range of genres, including documentary, factual, children’s and drama.

He received an IFTA Best Director nomination for his Áine Lawlor: Facing Cancer documentary, and his film A Bedouin Dream has been broadcast in Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Serbia and screened at festivals on four continents, picking up numerous accolades including a Jury Award at the Cinemagic Film Festival.

Tom holds Post Graduate Diplomas in Science Education (TCD) and Education, Learning & Development (GCD) and has been lecturing to media students since 2021.

Certification

BA (Honours) from the University of Wolverhampton, Level 8 on the NFQ.

Entry Requirements*

A relevant BTEC HND with grades adding up to a minimum of 16 points (Merit =1 point; Distinction=2 points) or an equivalent or higher national or non-Irish qualification. Applicants who have a relevant QQI Level 6 will be considered if their work meets the criteria and standard of a HND, they have other relevant qualifications and they have relevant media experience. Applicants over 21 with a relevant portfolio and work experience will be considered.

Relevant qualifications can be in the areas of media (film, TV, online content) but also arts, design, photography, English, journalism, social sciences, sound and music and drama.

All applicants must provide their latest qualification results and a link to an online showcase of work prior to their interview. The showcase should be curated to present only a small selection of the strongest audio-visual work and can also include screenwriting samples (not full-length scripts), other short development work, photography, art, design and any other relevant material.

An employer’s/college reference is essential, preferably one of each.

All applicants must show an aptitude and commitment to the subject matter and to an intense independently-led year of work and study.

Applications will be assessed based on grades, the showcase provided, references
and interview.

 

Duration

1 Year.

 

Course Fees

The cost of the programme will be €3,500 Euro**, to be paid in 3 instalments or by arranging of funding supports, if available that year.

Application Process

Applications for this course are currently closed. 

Entry to the Top-Up degree is a competitive process. Places are open to prospective students from inside and outside the college.

• February/March: online applications open
• April/May: interviews for applicants that meet the minimum requirements.
• End of May: HND results collated for current students. Offers made based on results and interview.
• By end of June: successful applicants to secure their place with €1,000 deposit, if funding supports are not available that year.
• July/August if places are still available, new interviews and offers may be made in order of suitability.
• Mid-September : course starts

 

*This course is run under the colleges part-time provision and will form subject to numbers enrolled on the course.
**The cost of this course may change.

Student Work

Check out this teaser for “Blurred Vision” – a mockumentary by Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education/University of Wolverhampton Film BA students Joe Reilly & Cathal Shortt.