Future Leaders of Screen: Screen Careers for TY Students 2026

Dates of activity:

One small-group mentoring session for each school (with an industry professional) will also take place during the same timeframe as respective seminars. Convenient times/days will be agreed with schools for these sessions closer to the time.

The in-person event at University College Cork will be held on Monday 11th May 2026 from 12:00 – 15:00.

Duration:

• Welcome seminar is 60 minutes
• Online seminars with David Puttnam are 90 minutes.
• Mentoring sessions are 60 minutes.
• A half-day event will also take place at University College Cork.

Venue:

• Online / University College Cork.

Cost:

• Free.
• An AV kit (webcam and microphone) will be sent to each participating school.
• Please note: travel expenses for 4 students + teacher and/or principal from each school to UCC not covered.

Students who display a keen interest and passion for film, and a curiosity in global affairs.

Every effort will also be made to ensure selected participants are from a range of backgrounds and meet Screen Ireland’s strategic goals around diversity, ethnicity and inclusion.

Each school should appoint a teacher (or TY coordinator) to lead the programme at school level – this person will be the “designated coordinator”.

The designated coordinator is responsible for:

• all communication with Atticus Education team
• the selection of four participating students
• ensuring all tech requirements are met
• convening the students in a quiet room for each seminar
• attending each seminar with students
• gathering feedback from students
• attending the in-person event at UCC

The school principal, school guidance counsellors, other relevant teachers, and parents are invited to attend the in-person event with the students if they wish.

If you are interested in applying to participate in this programme please please email [email protected] for an application form or simply complete this online form – Application form 2026

Please send any questions or queries about your schools’ viability for the programme to [email protected].

A webinar will be held for interested schools Tuesday 7th October at 16:00 and will be available on the website afterwards. You can register for the webinar here.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday 7th November 2025 by 5pm.

Atticus Education will select twelve schools for the programme. Selection will be based on the schools/students’ previous (proven) interest and enthusiasm for the creative industries, and/or global affairs; schools/students’ demonstrable interest in the cross over between different subjects, especially between creativity and technology; a demonstrable interest in encouraging students to help the wider community; an interest amongst students in film / gaming / new media; a lack of access to film education or local training opportunities locally.

Successful schools will be notified by Friday 8th January 2026.

Designated coordinators from successful schools will have a video call with David Puttnam in early February 2026.

The successful schools will then be given a template application form to give to all TY students.

Interested students should fill out the application form and the school should select the four students it believes to be most well suited for the programme.

Names of participating students (and their application forms) should be sent to Atticus Education by Monday 16th February 2026.

1. An appointed teacher for the programme. This person will need time to distribute student application forms and then select the successful students. Time will also be needed to attend some preparatory calls with Atticus Education. This person should also attend one introductory session with the Atticus Team, all six 90 minute online seminars with David Puttnam, and one 60 minute mentoring sessions with the class (total 11 hours). This person will also accompany the four students to the in-person day at UCC. Other teachers / principals / parents can also attend the event if they wish
2. Online seminars will take place on the school premises during the school day, so that students may access the necessary facilities. A quiet classroom with a stable internet connection on a computer (even better if this on a large screen) where the students can congregate for the seminars.
3. Transport to University College Cork for teacher and four students for the in-person event on Monday 11th May.

The teachers and students involved in the programme will be invited to University College Cork for a special event that will include an informal graduation ceremony from the programme, and an opportunity to meet and network with David Puttnam and local film professionals over lunch.

The event will also include a welcome address from Professor John O’Halloran (President, UCC) and a reflection on the programme from David Puttnam.

Students will record their responses to the programme on camera.

This event will take place on Monday 11th May from 12:00 – 15:00.

• Students will be issued an exclusive handbook to accompany the sessions. The handbook will include ideas and questions about each seminar.
• Each student will be issued a special certificate of completion when the programme ends.