The “Centre du Cinéma et de l’Audiovisuel” (CCA) supports the distribution of audiovisual works, notably those of French-speaking Belgian initiative .

The purpose of the grant provided to film distributors is to support the efforts of distributors that advocate a policy of cinema variety and awareness in Belgium.

The yearly grant must be at least 5 000 € and no more than 100 000 €.

The grant is provided in the form of an agreement that lasts for two or four years.

The project leader must state the length of the agreement he or she intends to request from the Commission.

The Commission, on the other hand, reserves the right to requalify a 4-year agreement application based on the elements submitted in the application.

The Film Commission’s secretariat, which is run by the CCA, receives applications for film distribution grants. The secretariat reviews the applications, determines their admissibility, and forwards them to the Film Commission members for consideration.

In order to be able to submit an application for funding to the Commission, the distributor of audiovisual works must

• have its headquarters or permanent branch in Wallonia or Brussels
• be a legal entity.
• have as its main purpose the broadcasting and promotion of Belgian French-language audiovisual works in an effort to enhance the plurality of expressions
• be committed to cultural diversity
• have distributed a minimum of 5 feature films in the year prior to the application. Their first release must have taken place in Belgian theaters
• have distributed a minimum of 50% of arthouse audiovisual works out of the total number of films distributed in the year prior to the application.

 

Netherlands  

When Dutch feature films, full-length animation films, and documentaries (majority and minority co-productions) are distributed internationally, they may be eligible for grants.

A film distributor must have continually distributed films in Dutch cinemas for at least two years before the application can be eligible.

Alternatively, a production company in collaboration with a film marketing or publicity agency or film distributor can be eligible, provided that the cinema release and non-theatrical release aimed at the specific target group is demonstrably guaranteed.

A maximum of 15% of the budget for prints and advertising may be spent on (hired) employees and film distributor overheads. The applicant must fund at least 20% of the budgeted costs for marketing, printing, and advertising.

The “nederlands filmfonds” can grant:

A maximum of € 25,000 for a majority film co-production in the category feature film, full-length animation film or documentary. For a children’s or youth feature film (including a full-length animation film), the maximum is € 40,000.

A maximum of €10,000 for a minority co-production feature film or documentary. If the minority co-production has been selected as a part of an international A-festival, a contribution of a maximum of € 25,000 can be requested.

A short film that is screened as a prequel to a main film with a cinema release may qualify for a contribution to be determined at a later date.

A maximum of 15% of the budget for prints & advertising may be spent on (hired) staff and overheads of the film distributor. At least 20% of the budgeted costs for marketing, prints & advertising must be demonstrably covered by the applicant. The Fund’s grants do not have to be repaid from operating income.

Applications can be made at least six weeks before the theatrical and non-theatrical release for which a grant is being requested The release date must be set.

 

Germany

Under certain conditions, you can benefit from a grant if you acquire distribution rights to feature-length German cinema films in Germany and release them overseas.

The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM, Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medie) assists you with distribution for German cinema films and co-productions with German participation that begin or are implemented before August 31, 2022.

The funds can be used for the following purposes:

• coverage of preliminary costs,
• development of barrier-free versions
• extraordinary or exemplary advertising campaigns
• additional costs for the selling of children’s films
• expansion of current and establishment of new film sales markets
• contractually agreed-upon collaboration to increase sales

The provided funding is received as a grant.

Distribution companies can receive a grant amounting up to 25% of some eligible expenses, up to a maximum of EUR 600,000 per distribution measure.

Distribution companies can receive a grant amounting up  to 50% of some other eligible expenses, up to a maximum of EUR 50,000 per distribution measure. You can apply for an increase  to 70% for films that are predicted to have tough sales.

Application must be submitted to the Filmförderungsanstalt’s  (FFA) online funding portal prior to the start of your distribution.

 

L’Italy

Aid to film distribution in Italy

Companies whose revenue-generating  activity is the international distribution of cinematographic and audiovisual works and that have achieved revenues over a two-year period from the afore-mentioned activity are eligible to apply for an international film distribution grant to the Italian  ministry of Culture.

Ministerial Decree No. 190 enacted on May 24th, 2021 allocates an amount of €3,000,000 for the year 2021 to support Italian film and audiovisual distribution companies in distributing their content internationally.

Applicant companies must meet the following requirements:

 

• Have registered headquarters in Italy.
• Have the ATECO code 59.13; (code assigned upon registration, indicating that company undertakes Film, video, and television program distribution activities)
• Achieved, during the previous two years, revenues from international distribution activities which decreased by at least 10%
• participated, during the a two-year, with at least one registered representative, in at least six of the following international markets, or, for companies established after September 30, 2019, in at least two of the following international markets: European Film Market (EFM) – Berlin (DE);Marché du Film – Cannes (FR); Italian Screenings – Itinerant (IT); International Audiovisual Market (MIA) – Rome (IT); American Film Market (AFM) – Los Angeles (US); NATPE – Miami (US); Kidscreen Summit – Miami (US); Filmart – Honk Kong (CH); Miptv – Cannes (FR); MIFA – Annecy (FR); Sunny Side of the Doc – La Rochelle (FR); Venice Production Bridge – Venice (IT); TIFF – Toronto (CA); San Sebastian Film Festival – San Sebastian (ES); Mip Junior – Cannes (FR); Mipcom – Cannes (FR); IDFA – Amsterdam (NL);
• having reserved a space (booth) dedicated to the company, either privately or in consortium, in at least one of the markets aforementioned and bearing the related expenses.
• be in compliance with social security, tax, insurance obligations.
• Have no bankruptcy proceedings.

Absence of conditions preventing contracting with public administrations.

 

Switzerland

In Switzerland, there are several grants for the distribution of Swiss films and co-productions:

The diversity premiums for the distribution of Swiss films are intended to support the theatrical release of Swiss films with more than 2000 cinema admissions.

The selective support for the distribution and broadcasting of Swiss films supports their theatrical distribution and their broadcasting on online on-demand video platforms.

The distribution companies can reinvest the success-related subsidies (Succès Cinéma) in the acquisition of rights or in the promotion of new Swiss films.

Export incentives support the theatrical release and online distribution of Swiss films abroad.

The latter are of particular interest to us. There are two types: export incentives to support distribution or broadcasting in a specific country and export incentives to support theatrical exploitation in at least 5 countries.

Regarding export incentives to support distribution or broadcasting in a specific country:

The company must be based in Switzerland. The application must be submitted to the Federal Office for Culture (OFC) up to 2 months before the start of the exhibition.  The exploitation is restricted to cinemas and video-on-demand platforms.

Funding can be granted to fiction, documentary and animation films whose duration is at least 60 minutes. In addition, the Swiss theatrical release must not be older than 24 months.  The films must have been made as a Swiss film or as part of a legally recognized foreign co-production with a Swiss director and a Swiss line producer. The films must be destined for a first screening in cinemas or for distribution on an online platform and must not have benefited from the distribution support schemes of the European Union’s MEDIA program.

For distribution in Germany, Spain, France, Great Britain and Italy, the maximum grant is CHF 50,000.

For distribution in one of the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden or in one of the following non-European countries: Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, USA, the support cannot exceed 30 000 CHF.

For all other countries not mentioned above, the aid cannot exceed 15 000 CHF.

 

United Kingdom

The UK Global Screen Fund (UKGSF) seeks to strengthen worldwide development, production, distribution, and promotion for the UK’s independent film and audiovisual industry.

The UKGSF, which is financed by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport and administered by the BFI (British Fund Institute), aims to accelerate export of UK cinema and enhance international partnerships with the UK.

The UKGSF focuses on assisting the cinema, namely  drama, documentary, animation, and interactive story gaming industries in their overseas sales. Assistance with the international sales and distribution of one or more UK feature films (drama, documentary, animation)

Specifically, the fund is designed to help develop and produce projects with international appeal, support the worldwide distribution of UK content, , most notably feature films,  and encourage collaboration with international partners, with the goal of increasing the international competitiveness of UK screen content while growing the revenues, reach, and partnerships of domestic independent businesses.

UK Global Screen Fund has raised a total of £21M. This fund was announced on Feb 1, 2022.

The UKGSF is accessible to independent screen sector companies registered and managed in the United Kingdom.The fund is meant to help independent businesses across the UK, guaranteeing a UK-wide benefit and resolving the industry’s regional imbalance. Companies’ locations, project locations, and the extent to which projects promote the culture and talent of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and English regions outside of Greater London will all be taken into account.

Eligible screen material varies depending on the type of assistance requested. Feature-length and episodic fiction, documentary and animation content for cinema and television, as well as interactive digital projects with narrative content, can all be supported by the UKGSF.