RTÉ Religion

RTÉ Religious Programming

RTÉ Religion & Society – Commissioning Brief 2026

Religion & Society

RTÉ Religion & Society is committed to content rooted in belief that reflects a changing Ireland. We are interested in bold, intelligent, and emotionally resonant content that explores how people live, celebrate, mourn, belong, and search for meaning in a society where faith, identity and tradition are evolving.

Recent commissions include Sunday Worship (52 x 45’ x 3 years, Scratch Films), Festival Shorts (10 x 10’ in progress), The Lion, The Witch and The Ulsterman (NEP Media), A Ring and A Prayer (Esras Films 6 x 30’), The Last Priests / Nuns of Ireland (2 x 50’, Scratch Films).

The slate will commemorate, celebrate, and mark significant stories, anniversaries, and social events with entertaining, creative, and thought-provoking content for a mainstream RTÉ One and RTÉ Player audience.

We are also seeking new forward-looking proposals driven by story and access which focus on every aspect of Religion & Society in Ireland today. Stories that engage with a range of social, ethical, cultural and human issues being faced now and into the future.

We are interested in individual narratives, stories that explore issues of faith, diversity, inclusion, and beliefs for one-off documentaries or for multi-part series. We ask that producers think beyond traditional religious narratives, to include ethical conundrums and broader societal questions.

The slate is also keen on short run series that deal with aspects of that same thread, either pre or post watershed, particularly where strong social and online support content can be provided.

Co‑Funding & Partnerships

RTÉ Religion and Society will always consider fully funded proposals. But proposals that are multi-funded, potential co-productions or productions that can attract multi-agency funding are especially attractive.

Producers are also asked to consider potential co-funding with ARTE, a relationship that has, over a number of years, proved fruitful to both parties.

Following programme submission via RTE eCommissioning, where third‑party funding is being explored, producers should contact John McMahon, Religion & Society Commissioning Executive prior to external approaches.

 

 

 

Submission Process

Producers should submit proposals via RTÉ eCommissioning, Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) under the programme category: Specialist Factual, Religion & Society

Please note:

  • Initial discussions do not constitute commitment to commission.
  • Decisions depend on editorial need, scheduling demands and budget.
  • Previously rejected projects should not be resubmitted unless significantly re‑conceived.
  • This programme brief will operate on a rolling basis during 2026

 

 

Published 20 March 2026

 

RTÉ / ARTE G.E.I.E. Co-production Fund

Information

History of the Fund

In November 2016, RTÉ and ARTE G.E.I.E., the Strasbourg branch of the Franco-German public broadcaster ARTE, joined forces to develop and co-fund exceptional documentary projects, aiming to bring more Irish content to European audiences. Since then, ARTE G.E.I.E. and RTÉ have invested in a diverse range of Irish documentaries covering factual topics, current affairs, history, and the arts. The collaboration between ARTE commissioning editors and Irish production companies has flourished, creating numerous opportunities for Irish creative talent.

Full Brief

Practical Information

The fund operates on a rolling basis, with projects being developed and funded continuously. We seek standout single documentaries that have secured development or broadcast commitments from an RTÉ Commissioning Editor, which can then be pitched to ARTE’s specific documentary strands. Most documentaries for ARTE are 52 minutes long and do not include commercial breaks. The RTÉ version of the programme should be a 50 minute duration with two commercial breaks as agreed with the RTÉ Commissioning Editor.

RTÉ and ARTE welcome ideas from all genres, including Factual, Specialist Factual, Science and Natural Science, History, Archaeology and Human Endeavour, Current Affairs/Geopolitics, and Arts, Culture, and Music. We are particularly interested in compelling Irish stories with international appeal, whether they focus on ancient or contemporary history, arts, or society/current affairs. Ambitious factual, specialist factual, and arts documentaries that resonate with both Irish and European audiences are highly valued.

Given that ARTE documentaries are broadcast in multiple territories, projects led by voiceovers that can be revoiced in several languages are preferred. Presenter-led documentaries or series are generally not suitable for ARTE, except in rare cases where the presenter is a global icon, such as Angelica Huston on Joyce by Blueprint Films.

Completed projects must be delivered to ARTE 6-8 weeks before the broadcast date to allow time for translation, subtitling, and revoicing in French and German, as well as Polish, Spanish, and Italian for on-demand services. The costs for revoicing and subtitling are covered by ARTE and should not be included in the programme production budgets.

How To Apply

Production companies interested in submitting a programme proposal for the fund should initially submit their proposal through RTÉ’s e-Commissioning system Login | RTE (rtegroup.ie) . Indicate that the idea is suitable for co-production with ARTE and provide information on any other third-party funders if applicable. If the proposal is approved for further consideration, Sarah Ryder, RTÉ’s ARTE lead, will present it to the relevant ARTE commissioning executives.

Further information

For more details on the RTÉ / ARTE G.E.I.E. co-production fund, please contact Sarah Ryder at sarah.ryder@rte.ie.

Please note: The discussion of, or initial interest in, a proposal does not represent a commitment to commission by RTÉ and should not be understood as such. Commissioning decisions will reflect the quality of proposals received and the scheduling priorities operating at the time. RTÉ's financial position will also be a factor. Any proposals previously submitted to RTÉ in categories listed here, and which were rejected on a first reading in a previous Round, should not be re-submitted and will not be reconsidered.