European support for audiovisual projects

Program description

Creative Europe is the EU's funding program for the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors.  It is the only EU program that explicitly supports the cultural sector.

MEDIA is the funding for the audiovisual industry in Europe under the umbrella of the Creative Europe Program of the European Union. The Creative Europe Desks advise as national contact points on funding opportunities through the Creative Europe Program. With a regional focus, the Creative Europe Desks in Hamburg, Potsdam, Düsseldorf and Munich provide advice on the MEDIA program.

MEDIA supports the development and international distribution of feature films and documentaries, television series, and the development of computer games and interactive immersive applications. Support is also provided to film festivals and markets, as well as to providers of training, film and media education, and to the Europa Cinemas network, which includes over 2800 cinemas around the world.

For the production of cinema films, MEDIA funding is supplemented by Eurimages.

Key priorities of the Creative Europe Program 2021-2027 are the support of European cooperation, the further digitalization of the European media and cultural industry as well as sustainability, inclusion and diversity, which run through the entire program.

The MEDIA subprogram starts with a new structure: the funding calls are divided into three clusters: Content is aimed at producers of films, series and videogames, Business covers the entire business area including training, markets, film distribution.  The Audiences Cluster focuses on the visibility of European works at festivals, streaming platforms and in cinemas.

Producer Support

Creative Europe MEDIA supports the development of cinema, TV, online and interactive narrative (VR/AR) projects and games with European and international co-production and exploitation potential. Independent, European producers can apply for development funding for project packages (slate) or for a co-development project. Up to 22% of the production budget of TV and online projects and series with high international exploitation potential can be funded if at least two European broadcasters or VoD providers are involved. 

Distribution funding

Distribution, world sales, VoD platforms as well as innovative sales strategies for non-national European films can be supported by Creative Europe MEDIA. 

Markets, training and innovative tools

Creative Europe MEDIA supports networking, internationalization and technological development in the audiovisual sector. European markets, networks, further training and new ideas for innovative business models are supported.

Festivals, cinemas, film education and audience development

Creative Europe MEDIA focuses on the audience. MEDIA supports the Europa Cinemas network as well as festivals whose program contains at least 50% European films. European film education and audience development initiatives, especially for young audiences, are supported.

Further funding lines

Further offers are available for so-called cross-sectoral projects at the interface between culture, technology and media. In addition to the interdisciplinary "Creative Innovation Labs," the promotion of independent, diverse and pluralistic journalism in Europe is also new to the program.

Institution

Creative Europe Media - European Commission

The European Commission is the administration of the European Commission. The European Commission has various funding programs that are implemented under the multi-annual financial framework to support EU policies. The EU funding programs are each represented by national contact points.

Creative Europe is the EU's funding program for the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors, and is the only EU program that explicitly supports the cultural sector.

MEDIA is the funding for the audiovisual sector in Europe under the umbrella of the Creative Europe program of the European Union. The Creative Europe Desks advise as national contact points on funding opportunities through the Creative Europe Program. With a regional focus, the Creative Europe Desks in Hamburg, Potsdam; Düsseldorf and Munich advise on the MEDIA program.

Deadline

The current calls and submission deadlines can be found on the Creative Europe Desks website

Topic

Europe

Funding criteria

Depending on the respective funding line.

Eligible companies must be based in one of the MEDIA member countries and majority owned by citizens of a MEDIA member country. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Application type

Registration in advance, electronic application system

Application procedure/documents

For all applications to European funding programs, registration of the company must be done in advance via the FTOP website.

The application process then takes place via electronic application online via the Funding and Tender Oportunities Portal FTOP of the European Commission.

Before applying, we recommend contacting the CED to discuss the project and get advice (and/or information) on the application.

Jury/Decision-making body

The project proposals are evaluated by independent experts.

Assistance/Downloads

The Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg provides advice on all aspects of the EU's Creative Europe Program, in particular on the MEDIA subprogram for the audiovisual sector and on cross-sector funding. Our services are aimed at interested companies and creative professionals from Berlin-Brandenburg and Central Germany. Further MEDIA information offices are located in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Munich.

https://www.medienboard.de/creative-europe-media

Funding area

EU

Funding source of the institution

EU