Science gets cinematic as CÚRAM reveals €70k budget to back two films

9 Feb 2016

The CÚRAM project fits with Galway's remit as UNESCO City of Film

The SFI medical device research centre at NUI Galway, CÚRAM, has joined forces with the Galway Film Centre to invite filmmakers to compete to make two science films that have a budget of €35,000 apiece.

The Science on Screen project will fund two 26-minute science films that incorporate areas of research currently taking place in CÚRAM.

“There are a great many stories to tell that originate or are influenced by what happens in the laboratory and we look forward to working with filmmakers to bring them to the fore,” explained Prof Abhay Pandit, scientific director of CÚRAM

Filmmakers are invited to apply for the funding by submitting a treatment to Galway Film Centre by Friday 25 March.

science-screen-launch-CÚRAM

Pictured at the launch of the project with President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins are Claire Riordan, Scientific Engagement Associate in CÚRAM, Professor Rhodri Ceredig, Investigator in CÚRAM and Declan Gibbons, Manager of Galway Film Centre. Image via CÚRAM

The project aims to provide two experienced filmmakers with funding and access to leading scientists and laboratories within CÚRAM, as well as to patient groups, to explore methods of scientific storytelling that incorporate aspects of current research being carried out by CÚRAM.

“The research that is being done in CÚRAM is at the cutting edge of modern science and we hope that this work will inspire filmmakers to make films that are informative, creative and the start of a whole new wave of film and science projects,” explained Declan Gibbons, manager of Galway Film Centre.

“It also fits perfectly with our remit as UNESCO City of Film, a core aim of which is to promote educational film projects.”

Interested producers are invited to register their interest by contacting scienceonscreen@galwayfilmcentre.ie and are invited to attend an information day at CÚRAM on Saturday 27 February from 10am to 1pm.

Filmmaking image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com