ScreenWorks, funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen and delivered by Into Film, is an exciting scheme to help young people in Northern Ireland aged 14-19 learn more about careers in the screen industries through hands-on work experience opportunities.
Placements with ScreenWorks offer young people unparalleled access to industry professionals on 3-5 day work placement across all five screen sectors - Film, Television, Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects.
Programmes take place throughout the academic year, and include:
- Costume Design
- Virtual Production
- Storyboarding & Concept Art
- Prosthetics
- Location Management
- Visual and Special Effects
- Production Accountancy
- Animation
- Game Design
- Camera Operating
- Music Composition
- Story Development
- and much more!
Young people can apply to their preferred placement by completing an application form below. Participants are encouraged to apply directly, rather than through a teacher or parent.
PLEASE NOTE: ScreenWorks programmes take place during the school day. Please check with your school/college that you can attend before applying.
To check on the status of your application, or to request further information about a programme, please email screenworks@intofilm.org or phone 07936 361786. Northern Ireland Screen cannot advise on the status of applications.
All ScreenWorks programmes are free, and a travel bursary is available to reimburse young people for all public transport costs.
Upcoming Programmes
Visual Effects (VFX)
with Enter Yes
- Placement Details: Visual Effects (VFX) with Enter Yes
- Dates: 6-9 October 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Introduction to software, including industry standard Nuke
- Explaining the production workflow
- Creating work to a brief
- Working on VFX shots
- The importance of a portfolio
Enter Yes™ is Belfast's premium award winning Visual Effects and Animation studio.
The Production Office
with Phillip McGonigle
- Placement Details: The Production Office with Phillip McGonigle
- Dates: 14-16 October 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- How to be a freelancer (holiday pay, pensions etc)
- Roles within the production office, including travel & accommodation coordinators, production coordinators, production assistants
- Insight into preparing for a shoot and the wrap
- Paperwork reporting
- Contract templates
Music Composition
with Score Draw Music
- Placement Details: Music Composition with Score Draw Music
- Dates: 20-23 October 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- An introduction into composing for media
- An introduction to sound design for media
- Experience creating a new bespoke musiccue for a project in film and a project in animation
- Experience creating and editing sounddesign for a piece of animation
- An introduction to editing audio files
The Writers' Room
with Stuart Brennan
- Placement Details: The Writers' Room with Stuart Drennan
- Dates: 27-30 October 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Learning how to create compelling concepts for film and television
- Building proactive and 3D heroes and villains
- Working as a Writer's Room to plot out a television series together
- Writing scenes(dialogue, subtext, action)
Game Design
with Saltstone Studios
- Placement Details: Game Design with Saltstone Studios
- Dates: 27-31 October 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Full details to follow but will include:
- Character Design
- Game Design
- Programming
- Sound Design
- Narrative
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
with Kris Kelly
- Placement Details: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with filmmaker Kris Kelly
- Dates: 11-13 November 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Exploring the positives and negatives of artificial intelligence
- How AI can be used across the screen industries
- What is machine learning?
- How can AI be used to complement existing job roles
- How to use AI tools to create content
Narrative for Games
with HoloMoon Games
- Placement Details: ScreenWorks: Narrative for Games with HoloMoon Games
- Dates: 18-20 November 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Narrative formats and structures in games
- Different types of writing present in games(Barks, Dialogue, World Building, Tutorials)
- Games writing as a collaboration
- The various tools and software used for creating and managing game narratives
- The creation of a short interactive fiction piece
Editing in the Irish Language
with Oonagh Mallon
- Placement Details: ScreenWorks: Editing in the Irish Language with Oonagh Mallon
- Dates: 25-27 November 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- What is an editor?
- Organizing of film footage
- Working with scripts
- Sound & music
- Grading and preparing for exhibition
- Opportunities for careers through the Irish Language Broadcast Fund
Please note: This programme will be led in the Irish language and it is expected that all participants are fluent in Irish.
An English language Editing programme will be taking place in early 2026
3D Content Creation
with Aura Digital
- Placement Details: 3D Content Creation with Aura Digital
- Dates: 2-4 December 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Introduction to 3D modelling
- Introduction to 3D animation
- Real-time rendering and optimisation
- ICVFX (In Camera Visual Effects) for VirtualProduction and its application and use cases
- Introduction to the software Blender
Prosthetic Make-Up
with Clare Ramsey
- Placement Details: Prosthetics with Clare Ramsey
- Dates: 16-18 December 2025
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Introduction to casualty effects (bruising, wounds, burns)
- How to make your own prosthetic gelatine and blood
- Moulding and casting
- Creating characters
- The importance of a portfolio
Editing
with Brian Philip Davis
- Placement Details: ScreenWorks: Editing with Brian Philip Davis
- Dates: 13-15 January 2026
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- What is an editor?
- Organizing of film footage
- Working with scripts
- Sound & music
- Grading and preparing for exhibition
Producing
with Margaret McGoldrick
- Placement Details: Producing with Margaret McGoldrick
- Dates: 20-22 January 2026
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- What is a producer? Breaking down the various roles
- Hierarchy of production. How does a producer work with different parts of a production?
- Breaking down a script for creating a budget
- Pitching and feedback
Intro to Script Editing
with Rebecca Mairs
- Placement Details: Intro to Script Editing with Rebecca Mairs
- Dates: 27-29 January 2026
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- The role of the Script Editor
- From Page to Soundstage: An overview of the development process
- Working with Screenwriters
- Script Coverage VS Feedback
Concept Art
with Dermott Burns
- Placement Details: Concept Art with Dermott Burns
- Dates: 3-5 February 2026
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- Worldbuilding Basics Create believable settings by considering culture,history, and purpose.
- Visual Storytelling Use color, lighting, and composition to tellstories without words.
- Environment as Character Show how places influence mood and narrative.
- PracticalDesign Sketch layouts, mood boards, and simple blockouts todevelop ideas.
Dermott is a Senior3D Environment artist and Concept artist. He's worked in Film, Animationand Video games.
He's used Video game engines like Unreal Engine to create myenvironments and concepts. He'sworked on games like Star Wars Jedi, Vampirethe Masquerade Bloodlines 2 and IPs like Harry Potter.
3D Character Creation
with Michael McDonald
- Placement Details: 3D Character Creation with Michael McDonald
- Dates: 24-26 February 2026
- Ages: 14-19
This ScreenWorks programme will include:
- What are the different ways of creating characters (creating from a blob of digital clay VS using a professionally supplied base mesh. What is industry standard?)
- Creating characters from concept Vs creating your own unique character
- Practical: Taking a base mesh from Reallusion and adjusting it in Zbrush
- Bonus - rig and animate, bring your character to life using Reallusion.
External Evaluations
I loved every minute of the work experience programme, it gave me great insight into the career and I had so much fun along the way. I met great people and learned so much in a week I wish could have went on longer. Would recommend this programme to anyone would has an interest in the film industry.
Participant
These opportunities give our pupils a more realistic idea of roles within the industry as well as contact with professionals who can show them industry standard equipment, software and exemplar work. Through your schemes our pupils have had the opportunity meet other young people with similar interests in addition to being able to network with industry professionals. Currently there are no other opportunities that give our pupils the in-depth and quality experiences that you offer.
Educator