03/04/2007

The MEDIA programme has launched three calls of proposals, with a total budget of €12.7m, aimed at supporting the television broadcast of European audiovisual projects and the organization of European film festivals, and assuring better promotion and distribution of European content in pilot projects using new technologies of information and communication.

A total of €9.5m is targeted for the funding of TV projects under 50 minutes and to documentaries and animation programmes under 25 minutes. Such projects must be developed by independent production companies and should have backing from three broadcasters from different countries.

The deadlines to submit projects are June 1 and November 2, 2007. Projects must be submitted at least six months prior to beginning principal photography.

Film festivals organised between November 1, 2007 and April 30, 2008 may be eligible for €1.2m of allocated funds if at least 70% of their programming comprises European works from at least 10 countries. This deadline is May 11.

Furthermore, pilot projects using new information and communication technologies will be able to benefit from €2m. The goal is to aid new forms of distribution and promotion of European content via non-linear services, to contribute to the development of database networks aiming to expand and foster access to catalogues, and to maintain support to projects that have previously benefited from this type of funding. Projects must be submitted by at least four countries with three different official languages from the European Union.

Directive lines and forms can be found here and here.

The call for pilot projects is not yet available online.

(Translated from Spanish)