Selective Scheme

Current call: 30/2011

Deadlines:

01 Dec 2011applications must be submitted by 11am UK time  expired
30 Mar 2012applications must be submitted by 11am UK time  expired
29 Jun 2012applications must be submitted by 11am UK time  

This scheme is designed to facilitate the transnational distribution of European films. It aims to encourage distributors to release films that might be a challenge were they to be supported by market forces alone. As a result of this support European audiences should gain access to a wider range of films.

Amount and nature of support 

The maximum financial contribution which can be granted is €150,000 per distributor per film distributed. Digital distribution can also be supported as long as it is of minimum quality (1.3 K). The financial contribution awarded will in no event exceed 50% of the distribution budget. The support is in the form of a subsidy.

Which companies can apply?

European distribution companies are eligible.

'European' means registered in one of the countries participating in the MEDIA Programme and owned, whether directly or by majority participation, by nationals from these countries.

A distribution company is a company that fulfils the following criteria:

  • It is the holder of the theatrical distribution rights for a film in the territory concerned
  • It carries out the theatrical distribution of the film in the territory (determines the release date; plans, controls and executes the distribution and promotion campaign)
  • It pays the associated distribution costs.

What films are eligible?

  • Recent (first copyright established during or after 2008) with a minimum duration of 60 minutes

  • European - the work is European when it has been majority produced by companies established in one or more countries participating in the MEDIA Programme and it has a significant participation by professionals who are citizens/residents of the countries participating in the MEDIA Programme.

Please read the Guidelines and key details documents before completing the application documents.

Submission process

Distributors and group co-ordinators must now apply using the electronic application form (e-form). The relevant declaration on honour (see below list) must be attached to the e-form. Distributors and group co-ordinators will also need to send a paper copy of their application, plus additional attachments, to Brussels on or before the deadline.

Electronic application form (scroll down the page for MEDIA Distribution)

All applicants must send to Brussels:

1. the relevant declaration on honour (see above: either co-ordinator or distributor)
2. a print out of the completed e-form
3. ackowledgement of the e-form

Co-ordinators must also send:

4. a DVD of the film
5. a synopsis of the film (two pages maximum)
6. a production cost report and corresponding financing plan for the film

Distributors must also send:

4. a completed MEDIA budget form
5. Company Form 2012 (if it has not already been submitted this year)
6. a distribution agreement for each territory.

How can distributors apply?

Distributors wishing to distribute one or more non-national European films must form a grouping, co-ordinated by the film's sales agent or the producer, which will set out to release the film in several European territories.

New Grouping (for films not yet supported by MEDIA)

  • Films with a production budget under €3 million

At least five distributors operating in different national territories which propose to distribute one or more recent non-national (originating from the territory different from that of the distributor) European films.

The theatrical release of the film shall take place in the territories concerned at the earliest on the same day as the relevant deadline for submission of the Call for Proposals, and at the latest within 18 months of this date.

The films will be selected for support according to the following point scoring criteria:

Category Points
Number of eligible distributors in the grouping (minimum five) 1 per distributor

Number of eligible distributors that have generated a potential fund under the last Automatic scheme

 0.5 per distributor
Bonus for groupings of 10 or more distributors 2
Film produced in France or UK 0
Film produced in Germany, Spain or Italy 1
Film produced in a country with a low audiovisual production capacity 2
Film produced in a new Member State of the European Union 3
First or second feature film of the director 2
Documentary 2
Animation film 1
Film for children 1
The co-ordinator of the grouping is the sales agent / producer of the film (+1 if the sales agent is from a different country than the film) 2
  •  Films with a production budget above €3 million

At least seven distributors operating in different national territories which propose to distribute one or more recent non-national (originating from the territory different from that of the distributor) European films.

The theatrical release of the film shall take place in the territories concerned at the earliest on the same day as the relevant deadline for submission of the Call for Proposals, and at the latest within 18 months of this date.

Category                                                                            
Points
Number of eligible distributors in the grouping (minimum seven)  1 per distributor
Number of eligible distributors that have generated a potential fund under the last Automatic scheme  0.5 per distributor
Film with a production budget of €3 - 5 million  1
Film with a production budget of €5 - 15 million  0
Film produced in France or UK  0
Film produced in Spain, Germany or Italy
  1
Film produced in a country with a low audiovisual production capacity
  2
Film produced in a new Member State of the European Union  3
First or second feature film of the director  2
Documentary  2
Animation film  1
Film for children  1
The co-ordinator of the grouping is the sales agent/producer of the film (+ 1 if the sales agent is from a different country than the film)

2

 

Films with a production budget over €15 million are not eligible.

Existing Grouping

One or more distributors may join an existing grouping already supported by the Selective Scheme (in the previous two deadlines for the scheme), for the distribution of the same film.

Within the limits of 10% of the budgetary resources at each session, selection of existing groupings is automatic (subject to eligibility).

Previous calls for this scheme

Call number Deadlines
04/2007 16 Apr 2007, 10 Jul 2007, 01 Dec 2007
28/2007 01 Apr 2008, 01 Jul 2008
22/2008 01 Dec 2008, 01 Apr 2009, 01 Jul 2009
19/2009 01 Dec 2009, 07 Apr 2010, 01 Jul 2010
29/2010 01 Dec 2010, 01 Apr 2011, 01 Jul 2011

Summary information

UK total: € 269,000
European total: € 3,222,200
UK % of European total: 8.35%

Previous recipients for this call

Deadline Recipient Film / project title Amount received (€)
30 Mar 2012 Either the results for this deadline have not been announced or there were no UK beneficiaries.
29 Jun 2012 Either the results for this deadline have not been announced or there were no UK beneficiaries.
01 Dec 2011 Artificial Eye Alpeis (Alps) 25,000
01 Dec 2011 Artificial Eye Elles 60,000
01 Dec 2011 Dogwoof Tambien la lluvia (Even the Rain) 4,000
01 Dec 2011 Soda Pictures 7 dias en la Habana (7 Days in Havana) 50,000
01 Dec 2011 Soda Pictures Habemus Papam (We Have a Pope) 27,000
01 Dec 2011 Miracle Communications Chrzest 3,000
01 Dec 2011 Network Distributing 2 Days in New York 100,000
Publications
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