Essential application documents

To download the guidelines click here.

To download the annex to the guidelines click here.

To download the application form click here.

To download the detailed project development budget form (Excel version) click here.

To download the explanatory notes for the financial information click here.

Optional documents to help with your application

Direct Line to Brussels seminar PowerPoint (tips and advice on applying)

Evaluation Guide (how your application will be assessed by experts)

Slate Funding is aimed at medium-sized companies which already have experience at an international level and have the financial capacity to contemplate the simultaneous development of several projects. 
 
Eligible companies
 
Applications are accepted from European independent production companies with a track record, which hold a minimum of 50% of the rights in the projects. The companies must be registered for at least 36 months to be eligible for Slate Funding.
 
What projects are eligible?
 
* Fiction (one-off and series, minimum duration 50 minutes)
* Creative documentary (one-off and series, minimum duration 25 minutes)
* Animation (minimum duration 24 minutes)
 
All projects must demonstrate a European dimension, namely they need to have the potential to find audiences and distribution markets in Europe.
 
Amount and nature of support
 
Slate Funding funds from three to six projects on the basis of one application.  Each project can receive from €10,000 to €60,000. The total amount of support per slate is from €70,000 to €190,000.
 
As with single project development up to 50% of the development budget for each project can be supported, with matching funds (in cash) being the responsibility of the applicant.
 
Eligible development costs
 
* The acquisition of rights
* Research (including archive research)
* All script writing up to and including the final draft (provided that it is paid before first day of principal photography or pre-production)
* Storyboards
* Identification of the key cast and crew
* Preparation of the production budget and schedule
* Preparation of financing plan
* Identification of industry partners, co-producers and financiers
* Initial marketing and sales plans (attending markets and attracting buyers).
 
Other eligible costs
 
* For drama and creative documentary: trailer / video treatment
* For animation: graphics research and production of a pilot 
 
Period of eligibility of costs:
 
* Writing related - 12 months prior to the date of the application
* All other costs - from submission - if requested, or from the signature of the contract with the Commisison.
* All costs eligibility ends 24 months after the signature of the agreement with the Commission or at first day of principal photography whichever is the earlier.

Required track record
 
Within five years leading to the submission date, the company must have produced as a majority producer two projects in a similar eligible category and these projects must have had international distribution within the same period.
 
Slate Funding Second Stage is only available to companies who currently have an active slate funding contract.  Recipients of Slate Funding please contact MEDIA Desk or Antenna for further details.
 
If the company does not have the required track record
 
Track record of the individuals involved
If the company is not eligible for funding because of the lack of the company's track record, then the individual track record of professionals who are part of the company can be used even if they produced the previous work for other companies or worked on a freelance basis.  In this case the individual must at the time of submission be a shareholder or CEO/MD of the company or have been on the company's payroll for the last 12 months.  On a previous (qualifying) production they must have a producer's, executive producer's or delegate producer's credit

A track record in the same categories of projects is what gives access to MEDIA funding.  Please pay special attention to the minimum duration requirement and note that shorts do not give access to MEDIA funding.