1.10.2008   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 249/17


CALL FOR PROPOSALS — EACEA/22/08

Support for the transnational distribution of European films

Networking of European distributors — System of ‘selective’ support

(2008/C 249/08)

1.   Objectives and description

This call for proposals is based on the decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a single pluriannual programme for Community actions in the audiovisual field for the period 2007-2013 (MEDIA 2007).

The objectives of the MEDIA 2007 programme for the distribution sector are as follows:

(a)

strengthening European distribution by encouraging distributors to invest in the co-production, acquisition and promotion of non-national European films and to set up coordinated marketing strategies; and

(b)

to promote broader transnational dissemination of European films, particularly by encouraging distributors to invest in the suitable promotion and distribution of non-national European films.

2.   Eligible applicants

This notice is aimed at European companies specialising in the international distribution of European cinema films.

Applicants must be based in one of the following countries:

the 27 countries of the European Union,

the EFTA and EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,

the candidate countries: Croatia,

Switzerland.

3.   Eligible actions

This call for proposals is aimed at European companies whose activities contribute to the circulation of European cinema films, in particular cinema distribution companies.

The duration of the project and the period of eligibility of the costs may not exceed 16 months. The release of the film in cinemas within the territories in question must take place no earlier than the final date for the submission of proposals and no later than 18 months after the final date for submission on which the initial grouping of supported distributors submitted its application for support.

4.   Award Criteria

Support shall be granted for the distribution of films with a maximum production budget of EUR 15 million to groupings of at least five distributors in the case of films for which the budget is under EUR 3 million and at least seven distributors in the case of films for which the budget is between EUR 3 million and EUR 15 million.

The award criteria for support shall be as follows: film origin and genre, number of eligible distributors, and first or second work by the director.

Particular attention shall be paid to the development of potential in countries where there is weak production capacity and/or a linguistic/geographical area having a limited coverage.

5.   Budget

The maximum budget available under this call for proposals is EUR 12 250 000, subject to the availability of funds for the 2009 financial year.

The financial aid may not exceed 50 % of the total eligible costs.

The Agency reserves the right not to allocate all the available funds.

6.   Submission deadline

The deadline for sending applications is 1 December 2008, 1 April 2009 and 1 July 2009. Applications must be sent to the following address:

Agence Exécutive «Éducation, Audiovisuel et Culture»

Programme MEDIA

Appel de propositions EACEA/22/08

Att. M. Constantin Daskalakis

BOUR 03/30

Avenue du Bourget 1

B-1040 Bruxelles

Only applications presented on the appropriate form, duly completed, dated, and signed by the person authorised to enter into legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant body will be accepted.

Applications sent by fax or e-mail will not be accepted.

7.   Full information

The full text of the call for proposals and the application forms can be found at the following address: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/media. Applications must comply with the provisions of the full text and be submitted using the form provided and contain all the annexes and information requested.