INFORMATION: VAD | Certified Unreal Engine & Production Design | 2025/2026

Dietary Requirements & Travel Plans

Please complete the following updated Dietary Requirements & Travel Plans Form BEFORE COB Monday 16th Feb.
VP Cohort | Belfast | Wed Feb 24th – Fri Feb 27th | Dietary Requirements & Travel Plans  – Fill in form –

THIS FORM IS NOW CLOSED.
If you are driving and have not supplied your Car Make & Reg, please email barbara.henkes@nationaltalentacademies.ie directly.

Schedule

ADDITIONAL REMOTE CLASS
Attendees: Both Unreal Engine & Prod Design Cohorts
Date: Thursday February 19th
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
Zoom Link

IN PERSON WORKSHOPS
Hardware: Bring Laptops if possible

Unreal Engine & Production Design Cohorts (Workshops at CoStar 9.30am – 5pm. Bus pick up from Ramada at 9am)
Travel to Belfast Tuesday Feb 24th. Workshop Wed Feb 25th, Thurs 26th & Fri 27th.

UPDATED DAILY SCHEDULE 23/02/2026

Project Prep for CoStar Wall

Update: Email From Graham 13/02/2026

Studio Ulster have requested that all projects for the wall are submitted by Wednesday 18th i.e. next week.  This is so they can check them over and make sure they will run on the wall as efficiently as possible, and give time for any final revisions.

I apologise as this is sooner than I had expected and previously communicated however as I’ve just received this information I’m passing it on as soon as possible.

Here is a link to a Dropbox for your project unload: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jlhvn0xoe9g9408n56fep/AHxHrs_WOAe02AkGOhOe2lc?rlkey=rq29dfop9pdb5lkpm3zdhd6ov&st=6d9dwx8f&dl=0

If you are pushed for time you can just zip your project, upload and email me your main levels name, however, for best results follow the steps below.

To prepare your project 

• I would recommend you clone your entire project and rename it. This will help us stay organized on stage e.g change it from VAD_PD_Create_02 to Myname_VAD_01
  (Here is a tutorial to help you achieve this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzQhO8nxeI8)
• In your newly cloned project Open it and remove any unnecessary files / assets / levels so that you have a nice clean project to transfer. 

To prepare your final level 
The simplest thing to do is to edit my setup in the project:- 

1. Open the level called SL_PortalCliff_VP3 
2. Replace everything in that level with your assets (if unsure how to do this follow the steps below)
3. Delete everything in the Outliner so it’s the scene is empty
4. Open the level you were working in select all, copy (Ctl+A Ctl C)
5. Open the SL_PortalCliff_VP3 level and paste (Ctl+V) if you get a crash just try again
6. Save All and close unreal.
7. Zip the project  ( I recommend 7 zip ) 
8. Upload zip to dropbox via link above.
9. Drop me (Graham) an email subject line – VAD FOR STAGE confirming your project name, your final Level name (should be as above or if not what your level name is), and tell me the name of your sequence if you are using one.

Finally if you have any concerns about this deadline please drop me a note and I will do my best to help.

Training Location:

Remote & CoStar Lab at Studio Ulster
9 Gullivers Drive, Belfast, BT3 9HW
See on Google Maps

Social Media

Please feel free to take photos & videos to post across SM channels but please restrict any such content to the training spaces only and not the Studio Ulster Lot or other areas in the building or on any SU tour due to ongoing productions in the facility.

We ask that you tag the following accounts when posting about training:
– National Talent Academy
– Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet
– Screen Ireland
– Studio Ulster

Accommodation

Ramada Check-in time:
From 3pm.

All rooms have been individually allocated, so simply give your name at check in. No booking reference required.
Fran Keavney (CCIS) & Barbara Henkes (VFX NTA) will be at the hotel from 6.30pm if you run into any issues.

All Participants: A B&B room has been reserved for you at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast on Feb 24th, 25th & 26th. You are invited to an informal buffet dinner in the hotel at 8pm on Tuesday 24th Feb. Alcohol must be purchased individually.

Outside of Tues 24th you will be responsible for your own evening meals.

Lunch will be provided by Loaf catering at Studio Ulster. Please complete the dietary requirements form below before COB Monday 16th Feb 2026.
Dietary Requirements & Travel Information – CLOSED. SEE ABOVE

Other Restaurant Suggestions:
Dumpling Library (Beside Ramada)
2Taps – Tapas Bar (5 mins from Ramada)
Berts Bar (Jazz Club)

Travel

Transport is provided to Studio Ulster and back to the hotel on all dates (9am pick up, 5pm collection) with the exception of checkout day when the coach will go straight to the Train Station.

If you are driving and wish to park at Studio Ulster, please let us know and provide your car registration number in the above linked form.

Link to Irish Rail | Dublin – Belfast

Parking

For parking at Ramada Hotel Belfast, you have several options:

• Public council-run car parking is available and pricing can be found here.
• Q Park Victoria Square: Located a short walk from the hotel, this city centre car park provides convenient access.
• Saint Anne’s Square Car Park:  This is a nearby pay-and-display parking area which is free from 6pm – 8am and all day Sundays.
• Multi-storey Car Park: There is a multi-storey car park just behind the hotel, with a charge.
• Free Parking: There is a free parking area directly across the street, but finding a space may depend on availability.

Ramada is unable to validate parking.

Weather

Met Éireann – The Irish Meteorological Service for updates.
Weather Forecast for: Tuesday 24th Feb – No excessive rain / No high winds.

Note: Heavy rain has in the past, disrupted rail service between Dublin and Belfast, so please check before travelling.

VFX NTA Travel Reimbursement

Transport: An application to the VFX NTA for reimbursement for all public transport costs to/from Belfast can be made post training (please keep all receipts). We encourage you to use public transport as part of our sustainability drive. As such, private car travel & parking will not be reimbursed.
Transport to/From Hotel, To/From Studio Ulster for ROI participants will be provided.

Please find Reimbursement Guidelines here
Please find your VFX NTA Invoice Template here

If you have any queries or difficulty accessing these forms, please contact Barbara.henkes@nationaltalentacademies.ie

Important Notes:
You may only claim reimbursement for public transport (e.g, train or bus – Standard Fares)
Private car travel & parking costs will not be reimbursed.
Transport to/from hotel and to/from Studio Ulster will be provided – so no need to claim these.

You will need to attach copies of all relevant public transport receipts (.pdf) to your application, so retain qualifying receipts.

If you have any queries about any of the above information, please contact:
barbara.henkes@nationaltalentacademies.ie, frankeaveney@furthr.ie
or susantalbot@furthr.ie

See you soon!