.: AUDIOVISUAL FESTIVAL SUPPORT:.

The MEDIA programme supports Audiovisual Festivals which promote European projects. These audiovisual festivals MUST be held within a country participating in the MEDIA Programme. Ireland is included in this list, the full listing can be found here.

Support for festivals in countries NOT participating in the MEDIA Programme (Known previously as “Third Countries”) has ceased.

Details of the current call for submissions can be found below:

.:Support for Audiovisual Festivals Call Number: 18/2008:.

The MEDIA Plus Programme's Festivals funding aims to support innovative European audiovisual festivals that take place in countries participating in the MEDIA Plus Programme, which promote and screen significant proportions of European works to audiovisual professionals and the general public, and which work in partnership with other European audiovisual festivals.

The support scheme is open to festivals featuring creative films (e.g. feature, documentaries, cartoons - shorts or full length) or festivals devoted to new types of image technology (e.g. advanced creative techniques in the field of animation, computer graphics, multimedia presentation or video). There are now two types of support available to applicants: 1) a Single Grant Agreement for an Action (SGA) or, 2) a Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA). The guidelines are common but the application forms are different. Should an application for a FPA be unsuccessful, it will be rerouted and assessed as an application for a "Single Grant Agreement for an Action".

*Single Grant Agreement for an Action
Applicants may request a MEDIA support for the festival edition that will start within the eligibility period of this Call for Proposals.
The submission procedure is detailed under Section 13 of these Guidelines.
In case of selection, applicants will sign a "Single Grant Agreement for an Action" with the Agency.
Support for future editions will have to be requested by applying under the Calls for Proposals published annually.

*Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA)
The FPA is aimed at applicants that are committed to implementing annual actions over a period of 4 years. It lays out the conditions for simplified annual selection and contracting procedures.
The submission process is detailed under Section 13 of these Guidelines.
In case of selection, applicants will sign with the agency a FPA, to which the submitted Global Action Plan will be attached.
At the same time, a specific agreement, laying out the conditions and level of funding for the next festival edition, will be signed by the Agency and the beneficiary.

Instead of applying under the Calls for Proposals that are published annually, the FPA beneficiaries will submit after the supported festival edition, a simplified grant application for the next edition. It will be possible for the Agency to increase or decrease the level of support, on the basis of the grant application, the previous edition's final report and the available budget. Any request by the applicant for increased support will have to be fully justified.

The deadlines for this call are:
31 October 2008 : for projects which start between 1st May 2009 and 31st October 2009
30 April 2009: for projects which start between 1st November 2009 and 30th April 2010

Grants of up to 50% of the costs actually incurred for the following categories:
- communication and advertising
- equipment hire
- sub-titling and translation
- transportation of prints
The grant amount may be up to 60% for projects that contribute to the enhancement of European linguistic and cultural diversity.
The beneficiary must provide the remaining funds.

The Commission is encouraging European Audiovisual Festivals which:

- place strong emphasis on European works within their event, in particular works from countries of low capacity production,

- demonstrate progress in the proportions of festival programming devoted to non-national European programming and progress in the diversity of this non-national programming,

- implement actions to secure non-national European professional attendance

- develop actions to secure the attendance of young audiences,

- demonstrate progress in overall audience impact,

- demonstrate concrete, realistic and strategic development in artistic, organisational and financial terms.

The festival will have to be carried out in partnership with other European festivals, either through the network of festivals from at least 10 MEDIA Programme member States, or through co-operation agreements with festivals from at least 3 MEDIA Programme member states.

The applicant festival must screen a minimum of 70% European films in their total festival programme, representing at least 10 MEDIA Programme member states.

Applications will only be accepted by completion of the official documents published by the European Commission. These documents are available to download at the bottom of this page. Please read all documents carefully.

We strongly advise that you contact us for additional support and advice, before applying for funding and to ensure you submit the best possible application.

Documents available for Support For Audiovisual Festivals:
Guidelines (.doc)
Application Form Partnership (.doc)
Application Form Single (.doc)
Budget Forms (.xls)

Links
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media/festiv/index_en.htm