MEDIA provides support for independent European producers at the development stage; it supports distribution and circulation of finished films, and access to markets and festivals; it co-finances training schemes for every stage of a film-maker’s career and in every genre, and promotes new technologies. In addition, there are schemes facilitating access to finance for filmmakers. European filmmakers reach out to the world through the MEDIA Mundus programme.

The different funding opportunities include:

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS

Development Funding support is provided for single projects or a slate of three to five projects, and for interactive works developed specifically to complement an audiovisual project.

Support for television broadcasting support for independent European production companies wanting to produce work in cooperation with broadcasters from several MEDIA countries.

DEVELOPMENT - INTERACTIVE WORKS

The MEDIA Programme supports concept development (up to a first playable application) of digital interactive content complementing an audiovisual project (drama, creative documentary or animation).

HELP WITH FINANCE

Access to Finance: i2i Audiovisual subsidises part of the production-related financial costs, such as insurance, financial interest and completion bonds.

MEDIA Production Guarantee Fund: facilitated access to private sources of financing for filmmakers through guarantees for part of their bank loans.

DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF EUROPEAN INDEPENDENTS

Support for Distribution: Financial backing is available as selective or automatic support for distributors, automatic support for sales agents, Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution (VOD-DCD), cinemas through the Europa Cinemas network and digital distribution. MEDIA has also supported digitisation of cinemas.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Pilot projects: ensure that the European audiovisual sector can keep up with the latest developments on the information and communication technology markets.

SUPPORT FOR MARKETS, FESTIVALS AND TRAINING

Markets: MEDIA supports access to most major markets and coproduction forums in Europe in order to foster the diversity and quality, as well as the mobility of professionals. It provides umbrella stands for the industry at Europe’s four largest film and audiovisual markets.

Festivals: Every year the MEDIA programme supports nearly one hundred festivals in Europe.

Training: MEDIA provides international professional training opportunities by co-financing over 60 courses for emerging and established filmmakers. MEDIA also supports networking of film schools and universities.

WORKING BEYOND EUROPE’S BORDERS

MEDIA Mundus: Launched in 2011, MEDIA Mundus strengthens cultural and commercial relations between Europe’s film industry and filmmakers from other countries.

WHAT’S NEXT

Creative Europe: The Commission’s proposal for a Creative Europe programme for the period 2014-2020 will bring the current culture and audiovisual programmes under a single umbrella with distinct identities.