YMVC 2025 is the 10th annual Youth Music Video Competition. YMVC is Ireland’s unique mentorship programme for emerging directors and is one of First Cut Youth Film Festival’s flagship programmes. Ten talented filmmakers will be selected to make a music video for an up-and-coming Irish act. The mentorship programme mirrors the process a professional filmmaker goes through to make a music video.

This mentorship will take place from April 2025. Please read carefully through the details of the YMVC programme below before entering.

The YMVC – Youth Music Video Competition is open to filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 25 working in any style, be it narrative or experimental, live action or animation, or any combination of these.

Ten filmmakers (or pairs of filmmakers) will be selected by the YMVC mentors to participate and create a music video.

Using his extensive knowledge of the Irish music scene and network of musicians, mentor Brendan Canty, working with a team of top-tier industry professional mentors, will carefully pair a track from an up-and-coming musical artist to a participating director based on their filmmaking style. Briefs are tailor-made for each director, with input from the artists.

The stellar team of filmmaker mentors also includes Bob Gallagher, Kate Dolan, Tara O’Callaghan and Ellius Grace.

The programme mirrors the industry process a professional filmmaker goes through to make a music video. Each filmmaker is paired with a track, given a brief, and then submits a treatment explaining their idea. With ongoing mentoring and support, they direct their music video. The musicians then decide if they want to use it as the official video for their track. Each director gains experience, develops their skillset and gets high-quality material for their reel.

YMVC culminates in a screening at First Cut Youth Film Festival in 2026 where all the videos are premiered. The Award for Best YMVC Music Video, selected by a panel of industry expert judges, is announced and presented at this special event.

Mentorship includes:

• A two-day in-person workshop in Cork
• Online workshops
• One-to-one mentorship as needed
• Each director/team will receive a €1000 stipend for production expenses.
• The competition winner will be awarded €5000 to help kickstart their career

To Enter:

The deadline for YMVC 2025 entries is 5pm on Friday February 21st 2025

 To enter, please fill in this form.

Included in this form, you are required to:

• Write 200 words telling us about you, your background, and why you want to be a filmmaker.
• Send us a link to your best piece of work to date. We’re looking for your unique voice as a director – submit something that best represents your style and a clear vision.

Criteria:

You must be:

• Aged between 18 and 25 at the time of application (It’s okay if you turn 26 during the programme)
• Based in Ireland
• Available to attend the following workshops: in-person workshops with mentors in Cork City on the weekend of April 19th/20th and online workshops (dates TBA)
• Able to attend the YMVC screening at First Cut Youth Film Festival at the Regal Cinema, Youghal, Co.Cork in March 2026

If applying as a duo, please select one person to be the main contact and to make the application.

Questions? Contact firstcutymvc@gmail.com

YMVC is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Fís Éireann and Cork County Council.