Assessment Process
Applications will be assessed by a panel made up of representatives from:
- Belfast City Council.
- Ulster Screen Academy and CoSTAR Screen Lab.
- Programme partners.
- Independent industry assessors.
How applications will be assessed
- Every application will first be checked against the eligibility criteria set out in Who Can Apply.
- Eligible applications will be scored independently by at least two assessors.
- Scores will then be reviewed and moderated by the full panel to agree a shortlist of up to 14 companies for Stage 1.
- All assessors will declare any conflict of interest and will not assess applications where a conflict exists.
- Stage 1 companies will receive feedback on their application, with advice and guidance on their proposal's next steps.
Our commitment to inclusion
Northern Light aims to reflect the full range of creative talent across Belfast and to open up access to advanced production tools and AI to businesses who might not otherwise have that opportunity. The assessment process has been designed with this in mind:
- We will seek an assessment panel that brings a range of backgrounds, perspectives and experience across film, television, games and animation.
- Assessors will be briefed on the programme's inclusion aims and on recognising and reducing unconscious bias.
- Applications are assessed on the strength of the idea, ambition and potential, not on polished writing or previous access to technology. No prior experience of virtual production or AI tools is required.
- Equality monitoring information is held separately, is not seen by assessors and is not used in scoring. It will be used to understand who is applying and to improve how we reach under-represented groups.
- We particularly welcome applications from companies led by women, people from minority ethnic communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, people from areas of economic disadvantage and people who have not previously accessed business support.
- Reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, including the application, the Stage 1 diagnostic and workshop, and the programme itself.
