Netherlands Film Production Incentive

The aim of the Netherlands Film Production Incentive is to increase the attractiveness of the Dutch film sector for both majority and minority film productions. The Fund wants to use it to increase the production activity of creative and technical film professionals and film companies in the Netherlands.

It also wants to use the Incentive to promote the development of film talent in the Netherlands and to encourage the diversity, quality and spread of film productions.

The scheme provides a financial benefit of up to 35% (cash rebate) of the qualifying production costs of national and international film productions that have demonstrably been spent in the Netherlands. Projects that may be of value to the Dutch film sector and that encourage collaboration with Dutch businesses are eligible.

The grant contribution is awarded on the basis of strict financial, legal and business criteria. Applications are assessed using an automatic points system and the independence test (read more under What do we look for when assessing your application?, Procedure and Rules and regulations).

High-end TV series may also be eligible for a grant contribution from the Production Incentive.

The Film Production Incentive for Film Productions is for Dutch producers of feature films, long documentaries and long animated films and in particular for producers wanting to collaborate with international producers on a project basis to exchange creativity and activity. The scheme is also designed to encourage the development of talent, diversity, quality and broad visibility in multiple countries.

An application for the Film Production Incentive for Film Productions can be made by an independent production company (a legal entity, so not a one-man business or general partnership) that has been based for at least two years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and that produces and exploits films and other audiovisual productions on a continuing basis.

The production company will be represented by a producer who, in the seven calendar years prior to the application, has had main responsibility for realising a minimum of one majority film production (reference film) with a production budget of at least 500,000 euros and a cinema release in the Netherlands.

*Only applicants from the Netherlands, including Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, can apply for the Film Production Incentive.

Applications can be made to the Netherlands Film Production Incentive for film productions for the following grant contribution:

• A maximum of 3 million euros per year per applicant production company.

The grant contribution is a maximum of 35% (cash rebate) of the demonstrably spent qualifying Dutch production costs. See the Regulations for the Netherlands Film Production Incentive – Annex 1 for the costs that are not eligible for this grant.

The annual budget for 2025 is 19.5 million euros for film productions (four rounds). You will find further information about the grant cap here.

To be eligible for the Netherlands Production Incentive for Film Productions, the following conditions must be met:

• The producer is independent. This means that as a legal entity the applicant is independent of end operators and has overriding decision-making powers as regards content, production and execution.

• The applicant submits the independence test with the application, which shows that the film production for which it is applying is an independent film production.

• The cinema release in the Netherlands (with a window of not less than 12 weeks) is guaranteed. For Dutch minority co-productions a guaranteed cinema release in the country of origin with a non-theatrical release in the Netherlands also qualifies.

• For a feature film or long animated film the production costs must come to a minimum of
  1,000,000 euros and the qualifying costs a minimum of 150,000 euros.

• For a long documentary the production costs must come to a minimum of 250,000 euros and the qualifying costs a minimum of 100,000 euros.

• The production costs have been budgeted realistically in line with the market and are directly connected to the realisation of the film production.

• At the time of application at least 50% of the production budget has been unconditionally and demonstrably promised in writing by third parties (no guarantees or deferments).

• Only applications obtaining a minimum of 75 points - including points for not less than two main functions – are eligible. For international (co-)productions with a minority share in the financing from the Netherlands that spend one million euros or more qualifying production costs in the Netherlands, one main function is sufficient and points can be attributed for other functions if they are responsible for the execution of the production in the Netherlands. Given that it is an incentive, the starting point in this regard is that the functions in the crew/cast are separate from the team of (co-)producer(s).

• at least two financiers not affiliated to each other contribute to the financing of the production. In addition, broad public access and visibility through multiple end operators are guaranteed in advance.

• The applicant is obliged to realise the film production according to the details submitted with the application, including the number of points laid down in the decision.

• The film production must be fully financed within six months of the date of the decision and not later than the start of the shooting, after which the Fund’s implementation agreement is drawn up.

• A grant contribution is awarded on condition that an implementation agreement is concluded that includes detailed grant obligations.

• The film production must be finished and released within 24 months of the conclusion of the implementation agreement.

• If the application is rejected, it can be submitted once more in a subsequent application round.

Are you also thinking about applying for a selective grant contribution from the Fund? Then, given the link with spending under the Netherlands Film Production Incentive, it is important that the selective application options are used first.* Only with a positive Phase 2 decision can an application be submitted to the Film Production Incentive.

Click here for further information about the conditions for the applicant and the application.

*No application can be submitted for the Netherlands Film Production Incentive if the Fund still has to make a decision on a submitted application for the same film production under another Fund scheme.

An application for this scheme can be submitted up to the deadline date by 5:00pm CET.

Unlike the selective support provided by the Film Fund, an application for the Film Production Incentive is assessed automatically on the basis of strict financial, legal and business criteria and using an automatic points system. This points system classifies the applications received in each application round. The Fund’s opinion is of overriding importance in this regard. For 2025 the minimum number of points per application has been set to 75. The minimum number of points of the independence test must also be met.

Production/business

The head of the Film Production Incentive and production managers assess the production and business aspects of an application, after which the director decides on the application. The outcome usually follows within eight to ten weeks.

Level of the contribution

The level of the grant contribution is calculated by multiplying the qualifying production costs by 35%. The Regulations for the Netherlands Film Production Incentive – Annex 1 includes a list of non-qualifying costs. When determining the level of the grant, the qualifying production costs are included from the point at which all the development phases are concluded, but production (shooting period) has yet to start. This applies to films and TV series for which an Incentive grant is awarded from 1 January 2025. Cost centres 1000 and 1100 are excluded from this.. Since it is customary for film productions for a transfer of rights to take place at the start of the shooting period, these costs qualify as laid down in their agreement and to a maximum of 50% of the total payment to scriptwriters.

The final level of the grant contribution awarded is determined and then paid afterwards, on the basis of the production spending actually incurred and qualifying. The grant contribution can never be higher than the maximum amount referred to in the decision +10%.

• Points system

• Independence test

• Script

• Notes on the content-related Annexes

• Synopsis

• CVs

• Filming and exploitation rights

• Production planning

• Style guide (for long animation only)

• Production budget

• Financing plan

• Financing allocations

• distribution agreement

• Notes on the content-related annexes

• Co-production agreement (if applicable)

• List of intra-group relations (if applicable)

• Chamber of Commerce extract

• Declaration by any (co-)producers (if applicable)

Regulations

• Regulations for the Netherlands Film Production Incentive
• General Regulations

Protocols

• Financial and Production Protocol Production Incentive
• Financial Accounting Manual

Budget models and cost report

• Budget Model Standard & Production Incentive Animation (Excel)
• Budget Model Standard & Production Incentive (Excel)
• Budget Model Template (Movie Magic)*
• Checklist for financial accounts

Independency test and Points System

• Independency Test Film Production and High-end Series
• Points System Feature Film
• Points System Documentary
• Points System Animation Film

* The Standard Budget Model (Movie Magic) is provided as a .bin file. If you have any difficulties opening .bin files, use a program such as Daemon Tools. Would you like to receive the Standard Budget Model (Movie Magic) file (.mbd) by email? Then please email [email protected]. 

Applications for production support can be submitted on application dates by the Dutch producer (click here).