Screen Scotland is once again working in partnership with the Edinburgh TV Festival to offer bursaries and passes to (a) Scottish TV production companies and (b) writers based in Scotland with viable TV prospects. Please find below the two separate sections and click on the appropriate link to apply.
Please note that Screen Scotland's support for attending the Edinburgh International TV Festival is only available through these funded bursaries. Separate applications to the Market & Festival Attendance Fund will not be considered.
If you are unsuccessful with your bursary application, indies and freelancers may still avail of a substantial discount on direct purchases of a TV Festival pass.
Production Companies
Screen Scotland is offering ten bursaries to independent production companies based in Scotland - this comprises a delegate pass and three nights’ accommodation (if required, for successful applicants not based in Edinburgh).
The bursary offer will provide:
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Delegate access for 25-28 August, providing entry to over 70 Festival talks, sessions and workshops in Edinburgh
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Access to ConnectED Speed Meetings and Meet-Ups, where you can meet decision makers 1-on-1
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Access to official Festival receptions and networking events
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3 nights’ accommodation in Edinburgh City Centre
Before submitting your application, please note:
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This offer is open to Scotland-based producers and independent production companies only, with at least two recent broadcast credits
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There is a limit of one bursary per production company
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Applicants should hold a key leadership/creative executive role within the company
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Consider what projects you currently have and if they are at an appropriate stage for engaging with TV Festival participants, as well as your strategy for who you seek to connect with
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Passes may be particularly relevant for production companies who are currently engaged in development with Screen Scotland through our Broadcast Content Fund
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Larger TV companies (in terms of headcount, turnover) will need to make a stronger rationale for public funding support
Key dates
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 9 July 2026.
Successful applicants will be informed by Thursday 16 July 2026.
How to apply
To apply, please complete our online form by the deadline date above.
Writers
In addition to offering bursaries to independent production companies in Scotland, we are offering five passes to Scotland-based writers with viable TV prospects.
The Festival pass will provide:
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Delegate access for 25-28 August, providing entry to over 70 Festival talks, sessions and workshops in Edinburgh
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Access to official Festival receptions and networking events
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Access to ConnectED Speed Meetings and Meet-Ups, where you can meet decision makers 1-on-1
Please note: If additional accommodation becomes available, this will be offered to those who require it, but cannot be guaranteed at this time.
To be eligible for a pass, applicants must be a Scotland-based writer who can demonstrate at least one of the following:
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Written a professionally produced theatre play
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Had a short film produced through competitive and editorially rigorous funding programme (which does not include crowdfunding)
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A project in development with a broadcaster
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At least one hour of broadcast TV credits
Before submitting your application:
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Consider what projects you currently have and if they are at an appropriate stage for engaging with TV Festival participants, as well as your strategy for who you would seek to connect with
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Please note that passes may be considered more appropriate for writers who are currently engaged in development with Screen Scotland through one of our funds or partners
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If you have received a TV Festival pass from us in previous years, your submission should indicate how attendance materially affected your TV projects or prospects.
Key dates
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 9 July 2026.
Successful applicants will be informed by Thursday 16 July 2026.
How to apply
To apply, please complete our online form by the deadline date above.
Application details
Creative Scotland (CS) requires some personal information about you to consider your application. Without this information CS will be unable to provide you with a delegate pass. If you would like to see a breakdown of the personal information CS requires, why it is required, what CS does with that information and how long CS keeps it, please refer to CS’s Privacy Notice.