The need to co-produce

If they are to realise the full potential of artistic films, producers need to participate in international co-productions and become part of larger networks and broader distribution channels, including international film festivals. They need to keep abreast of the creative developments that are happening in the wider world. This happens all too rarely, partly because of the lack of international thinking; and partly because the money available in the Netherlands is too limited to interest foreign partners. There needs to be more money for international co-production. As a result, the Fund plans, depending on the quality of the projects, to set aside an extra €300,000 for this purpose. Additionally, the Fund plans actively to stimulate international co-production, whether by direct financial means or by other forms of encouragement.

The Fund's policy on co-production rests on three pillars: international agreements; reciprocity; and artistic quality.

International agreements
The Film Fund is extending its co-operation with such organisations as Eurimages, the Flemish Audiovisual Fund and the German regional funds. The arrangement with Flanders ideally suits both parties: producers learn to work together and to co-produce better through Eurimages. A particular advantage is that the arrangement doesn't depend directly on reciprocity. It is anticipated that documentaries and animation will, in addition to features, soon become part of the agreement with Flanders, which is expected to see two films per Fund supported each year. It is to be hoped that, when more money becomes available, similar agreements can be reached with other partners.

Reciprocity
The Fund is eager to encourage minority co-productions, but this can only happen if it works both ways: when financial support for Dutch co-productions comes from abroad as well. In the past, too much money has flowed outwards by comparison with what has come in. With some countries, the balance has been in the Netherlands' favour, with others not. For the Fund, reciprocity should never become an aim in itself, but is something which must always be kept in mind.

Artistic quality
In addition to international organisations, the Film Fund is always open to the possibility of participating in artistically interesting projects with less obvious partners, for example the Hubert Bals Fund, especially when these result in producers making valuable contacts.

New frontiers

The Film Fund plans to extend its foreign co-operation to South Africa, Australia, more German regional funds, French-speaking Belgium and Luxembourg. Dutch producers see possibilities in these countries, and the Fund will establish contacts wherever the greatest potential for co-operation exists. Young producers will be encouraged to explore these options through participation in European programmes.

Economic Fund
To make the Netherlands more attractive to foreign producers, an economic fund needs to be set up. Countries all around us - Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the UK, France, Spain and Sweden - have similar funds to bring in foreign productions. Such funds not only encourage the setting up of international co-productions, but also potentially set a trend for Dutch productions to go abroad, with corresponding loss of economic activity for the Dutch film industry at home.

Boosting foreign sales
The sale of Dutch films to foreign markets is on the increase. Producers and the Film Fund both agree that such exports can only be developed through a more carefully structured approach: with better developed data and more collaboration.

The Netherlands Film Fund is headed by Doreen Boonekamp, CEO.
For information on international coproductions please contact mr Ger Bouma, phone: +31205707673 or g.bouma@filmfonds.nl
For general information please contact mr Jonathan Mees, communication and press officer, + 31205707681 or j.mees@filmfonds.nl
A comprehensive overview in English is our annual publication Film facts and figures of the Netherlands. The printed version can be ordered at the below address. The latest electronic version is available here. 

International distribution and dubbing support can be applied for here.

The Netherlands Film Fund
Jan Luijkenstraat 2
1071 CM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone +31(0)205707676
Fax +31 (0)205707689
E-mail info@filmfonds.nl

European co-production regulations

The Netherlands has been a signatory to the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production since the 1st of August 1995. The Netherlands Film Fund is the competent authority in The Netherlands and is responsible for issuing provisional and final co-production approval. This treaty is intended to encourage multi-lateral film co-productions between three or more signatory countries, but also allows for bilateral co-productions where no bi-lateral treaty exists. The convention is limited to films intended for theatrical distribution.

Please ensure you review the convention, which is downloadable, prior to making an application. For a full listing of EU member states that are signatories to the convention, or a list of all competent authorities, visit the Council of Europe website

Countries

At the moment we offer information about the following countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, United kingdom,   Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.
 

Information compiled by Split Screen Data Ltd.

Eurimages

Address: Council of Europe, Agora Building, Allée des Droits de l'Homme, 67075 Strasbourg, France
Tel: (33) 3 88 41 26 40
Fax: (33) 3 88 41 27 60
e-mail: eurimages@coe.int
website: Eurimages

Contributing bodies: Member states (see below):. Principal executives: Jobst Plog, president; Roberto Olla, executive director; Isabel Castro, deputy executive director Other staff members: Licia Eminenti, Iris Cadoux, Anton Calleja, Vadim Lysikov, Francine Raveney, Alessia Sonaglioni, project managers.

Brief description and outline of funding activities

Set up by the Council of Europe - not the European Union - in 1988 as a fund for the co-production, distribution and exhibition of European cinema, Eurimages currently has 35 member states. The 35 member states consist of all the EU countries minus Malta and the UK (which withdrew in the 1990s), plus Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey. Just under 90% of its annual resources - amounting to around €20 million (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, depending on production calendars) - go into European co-productions, leaving €800,000 for distribution support and around €1 million for aid to cinemas. Since 2010, European 'origin' has no longer been a prerequisite, but European 'character' - as defined by the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production, which operates on a points system - remains a requirement.

Russia became part of the scheme in March 2011, and projects involving a co-producer from Russia can now be submitted. Since Russia does not have access to the support mechanisms of the MEDIA Programme, distributors from Russia can also apply for support, and Russian exhibitors will also be eligible for the Eurimages programmes of support for theatres.

The fund's primary criterion is cultural but economic criteria, notably the need for a stable European film industry, are also taken into account in funding decisions. To be eligible, projects must have co-producers in at least two members states, with the majority co-producer not putting in more than 80% of the total for bilateral co-productions (70% for multilateral ones); the minimum amount that the minority co-producer or co-producers must contribute is 20% for bilateral co-productions and 10% for multilateral ones. However, for bilateral co-productions budgeted at over €5 million, a majority share of 90% is allowable.

At least 50% of the budget must be locked in before an application will be considered, with a bank guarantee not sufficient but deferrals acceptable. The upper funding limit is €700,000 or 15% of the budget, whichever is the lower. For films costing under €1.5 million, the maximum is 20%. Full details of the requirements for making an application are available on the Eurimages website.

Funding is given along French 'avance sur recettes' lines, and is reimbursable from the first euro of revenue in proportion to Eurimages' investment in the production.

Cine-Regio

Filmbyen 23, 1. sal, 8000 Århus C, Denmark, Denmark
Tel: (45) 8713 2504
info@cineregio.org
www.cineregio.org

Chairman: Philippe Raynært
Secretary general: Charlotte Appelgren

Member organisations: BLS Südtirol-Alto Adige (Austria), Centre Images (France), City of Belgrade Film Fund (Serbia), Consejería de Culture Andalusia (Spain), Consorcio Audiovisual de Galicia (Spain), CCRAV - Région Nord-Pas de Calais (France), Filas Audiovisual Fund (Italy), Film Agency for Wales (UK), Filmfondet Fuzz (Norway), Film i Skåne (Sweden), Film i Väst (Sweden), Film London (UK), Film3 (Norway), Filmcamp (Norway), Filmfonds Wien (Austria), FilmFyn (Denmark) Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg (Germany), Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (Germany), Filmkraft Rogaland (Norway), Filmpool Nord (Sweden), Filmregion Stockholm-Mälardalen (Sweden), Fondo Audiovisio FVG (Italy), Fondazione Apulia Film Commission and Fund (Italy), Institut Català de les Indústries Culturals (Spain), Krakow Regional Fund (Poland), Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (Germany), PACA - Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (France), POEM (Finland), Région Île-de-France (France), Rhône-Alpes Cinéma (France), Rotterdam Media Fund (Netherlands), Screen South (UK), Southern Transdanubia Film Fund (Hungary), Den Vestdanske Filmpulje (Denmark), Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds (Belgium), Wallimage (Belgium), Zürcher Filmstiftung (Switzerland)

Based since January 2010 at Danish regional funder the Vestdanske Filmpulje (West Denmark Film Fund) in Århus, Cine-Regio is a knowledge-sharing network of 37 regional film funds from 15 states (12 EU members plus Norway, Serbia and Switzerland). The organisation has no film-support funds of its own.

Cine-Regio's aims are to share knowledge and information; to promote and lobby decision-making organisations in the respective countries; and to promote co-production and the sharing of technical information. The organisation's rationale is that film production (and above all co-production) benefits from a pan-European financial focus and generally works better if different funds are more aware of the options, both nationally and internationally.

Cine-Regio's website includes a number of detailed co-production case studies and a list of 'networking partners' designed to encourage cross-border co-operation.

Media Desk

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... more

The MEDIA 2007 Programme comprises a series of support measures for the European audiovisual industry focusing on:

■training professionals
■developing production projects
■distributing films and audiovisual programmes
■promoting films and audiovisual programmes
■supporting film festivals

The MEDIA programme is jointly run by the Education and Media Directorate General
under the authority of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou and the
Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency.

MEDIA DESK Netherlands
Contact: Dominique van Ratingen
Jan Luijkenstraat 2
1071 CM Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel: (31) 20 305 30 40
Fax: (31) 20 675 28 78
mailto:info@mediadesknederland.eu
www.mediadesknederland.eu