Advanced Certificate in TV and Digital Film Production
Level 6 QQI Award

Duration
This is a Full time one year course
Overview
This course is an excellent upskilling and portfolio course for students who wish to progress to either media or TV/film degrees or employment. Students gain highly practical skills in a range of techniques used in today’s TV and digital film industry. Areas covered include: drama, documentary news packages and single camera interviews. Graduates have received offers of direct entry to second year in the BA in Film and TV in IADT, and offers of both second and third year advanced entry in the BA in Film Broadcasting in DKIT.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
- Relevant Level 5 QQI Award
- Degree Graduates
- Mature applicants with relevant experience are welcome
Course Modules
- Documentary Production
- Scriptwriting for Film and Television Drama
- Editing Practice and Techniques
- Film and Digital Video Production
- Research and Reporting for Digital Media
- Television and Video Studio Production
- Personal and Professional Development
- Communications
Module Information
Advanced Certificate in TV and Digital Film Production
Level 6 QQI Award: Film and Television Production (6M18519)
Course Content (Module Names and Codes)
Film and Digital Video Production (6N5428)
Explore the production techniques and work practices used in the Film and Television industries through hands on film production. This component provides an introduction to film making as a storytelling medium using film and/or digital media, and establishes fundamental technical and administrative competencies across key production crew specialities. A portfolio of work including an individual clip and a group short film will be produced to complete the course.
Assessment: Assignment (40%), Project (60%).
Documentary Production (6N18514)
Explore the creative skills and processes used in the production of documentaries. This component will look at the evolution of the documentary form as well as allowing learners to develop in teams a short documentary piece from concept, proposal, taster, Pitch and Production.
Assessment: Assignment (50%), Project (50%).
Research and Reporting for Digital Media (6N5526)
This module is designed to equip the learner with the knowledge, skill and competence to research and produce news reports for digital media. The learner will explore the importance of research and supporting documentation required in production. To complete the module learners will produce both a news package and a single camera interview using professional, Electronic news gathering and Single camera interview techniques for assessment.
Assessment: Assignment (40%), Project (60%).
Scriptwriting (6N18517)
Every film project needs a script. Luckily during Scriptwriting at level 5 you discovered that this a craft that can be learned. Through writing practice and lively workshops you will grow your knowledge base, and further develop your personal writing style. By the end of the course you will have written your own 10 minute short film script, and have developed and idea for a television series.
Assessment: Project (50%), Portfolio/Collection of Work (50%).
Editing Practice and Techniques (6N5427)
This component is intended to build on level 5 Film & TV Editing. We revisit the basics at the start of the course to ensure every learner is competent on AVID Media Composer. The aim is to further develop the knowledge, skill and competence for film & TV editing. Learners will through observation and practice, further develop their personal edit style using Avid Media Composer (as used in RTE, DIT and IADT amongst other locations), with a focus on Picture Pacing, Audio adjustment and Colour grading.
Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (60%), Project (40%).
Television and Video Studio Production (6N5945)
This module will empower participants to work independently or with others to formulate a range of viable practical or creative solutions for the production of television content. Learners will engage in a range of commonly used recording methods for studio production. A portfolio of studio work will be produced including: a studio insert, an electronic field production insert and a short studio magazine show.
Assessment: Assignment (100%).
Communications (6N1950)
Level 6 Communications builds on the knowledge and skills gained in level 5 Communications. The learner is facilitated to gain the knowledge and skills to exercise personal autonomy in communicating verbally and nonverbally. There is an emphasis on understanding the requirements of the workplace and using excellent communication skills to maximise participation in personal and vocational life.
Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (50%), Skills Demonstration (50%).
Personal and Professional Development (6N1949)
This is not life coaching! However it is an opportunity to take stock and to evaluate your personal and professional goals. Through humorous workshops, lively group discussions and practical exercises we will shine a light on the following techniques: Stress Management, Conflict Management, Managing Change, Decision Making, Goal Setting, Delegation and Team Working.
Assessment: Portfolio/Collection of Work (50%), Skills Demonstration (50%).
Certification
- Level 6 QQI Award Film and Television Production (6M18534)
Special Features
This is a very practical course where the student will develop a personal portfolio of work; structured and produced to television and video industry standards. Students will use professional digital cameras, editing techniques and practice using Avid Media Composer software. This course includes field reporting techniques with group trips to record material for news packages. Past trips have included: Commissioner of Irish Lights, IMMA, The DLR Lexicon and Eirtakon.
Additional Information
Students will have an extensive portfolio from their course work in Television and Film, Scriptwriting. This portfolio may be used for application to the IADT and other Higher Education Institutes and Universities.
Assessment
Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:
- Student Record
- Collection of Work
- Assignments
- Examination (Written)
- Project
- Skills Demonstration
Progression Opportunities
Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme to a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.
Progression Examples
BA in Film and Television Production
Dundalk Institute of Technology
BA in Film Broadcasting
TU Dublin - City Campus (formerly DIT)
BA in Creative Digital Media
TU Dublin - Tallaght Campus
BA in Media Studies
National University of Ireland Maynooth
BA in Film and Television Production - Advanced entry into 2nd Year
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology(National Film School)
BA in TV, Radio and New Media Broadcasting - Advanced entry into 2nd Year
Institute of Technology Tralee
BA in Film and TV Production - Advanced entry into 2nd Year
Institute of Technology Dundalk
Bachelor of Arts, TV, Radio and New Media - Advanced entry into 2nd Year.
Institute of Technology Tralee
Career Paths
Most graduates opt to advance to further studies, while others have gained direct employment with media broadcasters, film and TV companies and web content related employment.
Thank You
we will be in touch shortly

David Toolan
2015 DFEi Graduate. Freelance Film Producer. Clients include Virgin Media, Eir Sports and Macalla Teoranta.
"When I left school I wanted to get into TV. DFEi helped me prepare my portfolio and give me the that leg up. It was a great way to…
David Toolan
2015 DFEi Graduate. Freelance Film Producer. Clients include Virgin Media, Eir Sports and Macalla Teoranta.
"When I left school I wanted to get into TV. DFEi helped me prepare my portfolio and give me the that leg up. It was a great way to get used to all the video editing packages and understand how the industry operates. The lectures were helpful and interesting and teachers very approachable." I graduated from IADT in 2019 and am now (2019) working as a freelance film producer. I have worked for Virgin Media, Eir Sports and Macalla Teoranta and have 3 short films that will be screened in upcoming film festivals.