Media Programme 2007 - 2013

Overview

MEDIA is the EU support programme for the European audiovisual industry. MEDIA co-finances training initiatives for audiovisual industry professionals, the development of production projects (feature films, television drama, documentaries, animation and new media), as well as the promotion of European audiovisual works. Deadlines run throughout the whole year.

MEDIA 2007 runs from January 2007 until 31 December 2013. With a budget of €755 million (around £500 million) MEDIA 2007 supports professional training (screenwriting, business and new technologies), project development (single/slate), and the distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works.

What does MEDIA offer?
Independent production and distribution companies can apply for development or distribution funding in the form of non-repayable grants. Financial assistance is available for training providers and organisers of markets and festivals. Individuals may also benefit from subsidised places on training courses and international markets.

The MEDIA Programme offers European companies active in the audiovisual sector a range of support schemes upstream and downstream production.

Particular areas of support, each with a range of dedicated schemes, are:

• Training
• Project development
• Transnational distribution
• Promotion Digital technologies (pilot projects)
• Access to finance (i2i)

More information on Pilot Projects call

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/newtech/pilot/index_en.htm

Training

MEDIA 2007 offers two training schemes aimed at different trainees:

• Initial Training - This scheme is for networking of European film schools and the target trainees are the students who can apply for funding to encourage them to go on mobilities to a partner institution across other European countries.
• Continuous Training - Funding is available for training providers to deliver continuous vocational training activities for film and television industry professionals.

Both schemes support training in the areas of new technologies, economic, financial and commercial management and scriptwriting. Applicants can apply for a non-repayable grant of up to 50% towards the costs of the training activity (in some cases for 75%).

Promotion
The MEDIA Programme supports a wide range of festivals, markets and initiatives that promote European films and television programmes and encourage the networking of professionals across borders throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

• Audiovisual Festivals
  Will be funded under this activity. Currently you can apply for festivals starting between 1 November 2011 and 30 April 2012. Applicants are offered an opportunity to apply for a one-year contract or for established, stable projects, a three year framework partnership agreement with the Commission.

Distribution
The MEDIA Programme supports trans-national distribution of European films and TV programmes. European distributors can get support for releasing theatrically European films originating from territories other than their own (non-national). There is also support for European sales agents and DVD/video publishers. Producers can apply for support for TV distribution. Finally there is support for networks of cinemas programming significant amount of European non-national films (Europa Cinemas).

Producers

The MEDIA Programme offers three schemes for independent producers:

• Development Funding
• TV Broadcasting
• i2i Audiovisual (access to finance)

Development Funding

The MEDIA Programme offers support to cover the costs of development of European films, TV programmes and multimedia in the following categories:

• Fiction with mnimum duration of 50 minutes
• Creative Documentary with minimum duration of 25 minutes
• Animation with minimum duration of 24 minutes (one-off or series)
• Interactive Works

Interactive Projects
This scheme is aimed at independent European companies wishing to develop online and off-line interactive projects intended for European and international markets, including projects developed for computers, consoles, handheld consoles and mobile handsets.

Single Project or Slate Funding?

• Single Project is aimed at companies with limited financial capacity registered for at least 12 months and wishing to invest in the development of just one project.
• Slate Funding is aimed as a company development grant for medium-sized companies with previous experience at an international level and the financial capacity to develop several projects simultaneously. The company must have been registered for at least 36 months
• Slate Funding Second Stage is only available to companies who currently have an active slate funding contract.

Interactive Works is a new support aimed at independent European games developers. Grants from €10,000 - 100,000 are available including production of playable prototoypes. One company can apply for up to two projects in one Call for Proposals. Previous track record is required.

TV Broadcasting
This supports independent producers in producing TV programmes with involvement of several European broadcasters.

I2I Audiovisual
The i2i scheme supports production companies which use bank financing and/or completion bonds to finance their films. The i2i Audiovisual scheme supports production companies that bear the costs of bank financing and/or associated insurance and completion bonds costs. It offers subsidy to cover up to 50% of the following costs, capped at €50,000:

• Insurance costs associated with the bank loan agreement
• Completion guarantee costs
• Financial costs (the interest on the loan)

Access to Markets
This scheme supports organisations that propose events and activities (including computer-based information tools) designed to promote European audiovisual works and facilitate access to markets for European professionals.

Media International

The preparatory action MEDIA International aims to reinforce cooperation between EU and non-European professionals from the audiovisual industry on a basis of mutual benefit.

MEDIA International offers financial support for the following initiatives, proposed by consortia consisting of an EU coordinator and partners from EU and non-European countries:

1. Training of audiovisual professionals/students/trainers in the areas of production, co-production, distribution and promotion
2. Promotion at the development or production stage to help audiovisual/cinematographic works access the international market
3. Distribution of cinematographic works by encouraging long-term cooperation between European and non-European professionals (distributors and/or sales agents and/or producers etc)
4. Screening of cinematographic works in cinemas.
5. Improving and increasing potential audiences for audiovisual/cinematographic works and supporting film literacy events.

Allied to the Distribution call

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/newtech/vod_dcc/index_en.htm