The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak strongly impacts the audio-visual industry. National Film and Audio-visual Funds across Europe have been fully mobilised to take all necessary measures to mitigate the negative consequences for everybody working in the sector.
- Not only they adjusted regulations, paid aid in advance, launched new support schemes, relaxed some requirements (deadlines, documents) but they also negotiated and managed emergency or recovery funds. They also launched a series of initiatives to make sure that works could be easily accessible online during the lockdown (exceptional direct to VoD releases, online film education websites).
- Film & Audiovisual Funds continue to be fully engaged to accompany the sector in the recovery: facilitating resuming of shootings (solving the insurance gap, establishing safety guidelines), bringing back the European audience to reopened theatres, finding additional resources to continue to reinforce their support that is so much needed.
The below summary is regularly updated and completed.
Org. / country |
Summary |
Useful links |
AustriaAustrian Film Institute |
Guarantee Fund -Comeback grant for film and TV productions (June 2020)
Funding support
Administration and procedures
|
Comeback - Grant for film and TV productions (Press release of 17 June in German) |
Belgium (Belgium's Flemish Community)Flanders Audiovisual Fund |
Funding support
Administration and procedures
|
Corona measures (Press release, 27 March, in Dutch) |
Belgium (French speaking)
Cinema and audiovisual centre of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation |
Funding support
Access to films
Others
Administration and procedures
|
Resumption of Filming in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation: adoption of a guarantee fund (Press release of 20 June, in French)
Recovery Plan for the audiovisual and cinema sector (Press release of 22 May, in French) New emergency measures for the benefit of the audiovisual sector Emergency Cash Flow Loan for Cultural and Creative Enterprises (Press release of 1 April, in French) "Belgian Cinema at home" (Press release of 25 March, in French) Measures taken in the context of the coronavirus crisis (Press release of the governement of the Wallonia Brussels Federation, 19 March, in French) More flexible rules for filing applications and signing contracts (Press release 16 March, in French)
|
BulgariaBulgarian National Film Centre |
Funding support
Administration and procedures
|
|
CroatiaCroatian Audiovisual Centre |
General
Fundind support
Government “Horizontal” Measures
Administration and procedures
|
Guidelines for the duration of a coronavirus outbreak (Press release of 7 April, in Croatian) |
Czech RepublicCzech Film Fund |
Funding supports
Administration and procedures
|
|
DenmarkDanish Film Institute |
Funding support
|
|
EstoniaEstonian Film Institute |
Funding support
The other measures in the film industry, handled by EFI and the Ministry, are as follows:
1) EFI encourages and supports filmmakers to screen films on online platforms (if the film is suitable), in which case the marketing campaigns would be equivalent to a theatrical marketing campaigns; 2) EFI advises and supports filmmakers' in any cooperation with large-scale platforms; 3) EFI started promoting the EFI Vimeo channel, where the (“Tallinnfilm) archive is assembled; 4) EFI looks for a solution for embedding both the main platform for Estonian films netikino.ee, and the short film Vimeo channel, on YouTube and other international platforms;
1) arranging and storing puppets and decorations accumulated over the years by Nukufilm; 2) preparing the film programme and events for the 50th anniversary of Eesti Joonisfilm in 2021.
1) “The Pearls of Film History” - EFI supports the compilation of an article about 15 films in Estonian and English featuring illustrations – the articles are aimed at readers who are not particularly familiar with the Estonian heritage films; the articles will feature quotations and sources, talk about the authors, contain fascinating facts, touch on the historical context and reception then and today; the length of one article will be 10,000 characters; the first article was publicised at https://issuu.com/eestifilmisihtasutus 2) EFI supports the addition of the directors' audio commentary to 10 films for the purpose of creating study material (compiling, editing and recording a questionnaire); 3) EFI supports the creation of worksheets necessary for 10 movies for study for film literacy purposes in schools; 4) In cooperation with Estonian Year of Digital Culture, EFI announced a new call for making 1-minute films and chose 15 winners - 1000 euros for each film, on the topic of Digital Culture*
1) EFI brought the deadline for the second round of grants for screenplay and feature film development forward by two months - from October 13 to August 18, 2020; 2) if necessary, EFI will extend the deadlines for grant reports; 3) EFI extended the terms for event and training support if the event has been postponed; 4) EFI enabled the submission of reports on the basis of the costs incurred if the event is cancelled.
Instead of paying in three installments, EFI will make payments in two installments: 1) 95% after signing the contract; 2) 5% after the approval of the final report.
To this end, EFI will increase the budget of the second application round for full-length feature and animated film screenplays, as well as feature film development grants in such a way that at least 5 screenplay and 3 feature film development applications will receive support in August.
|
Press release of the Estonian governement of 30 September here |
FinlandFinnish Film Foundation |
Funding support
|
|
FranceNational Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image |
Recovery plan
Funding support
Measures adopted on 1 April
Compensation fund
Access to films
+ Measures adopted on 1 April: Immediate public access to new cinema films will be facilitated. As a reminder, article 17 of the emergency law of 23 March 2020 already allowed the President of the CNC to grant, exceptionally, a four-month reduction in the theatrical release time for a video on demand broadcast on a pay-per-view basis or for a DVD release (see here) of films already released in cinemas on 14 March.
Others
Administration and procedures
|
An unprecedented recovery and modernisation plan for the cinema and audiovisual sector (Press release of 23 September, in French) Recovery Plan: A €2 Billion effort for culture (Press release of 3 September, in French) Doubling the guarantee against COVID-19 for film and series shoots: a pool of French mutual insurers offers an insurance solution in addition to the public fund (Press release of 23 June, in French) Franck Riester, Minister of Culture announces the establishment of the compensation fund for filming (Press release of 29 May, in French, English, German and Spanish) The CNC adopts new emergency measures to enable authors, companies and audiences in the film and audiovisual industries to deal with the health crisis (CNC Press release of 2 April, in French, in German, in English, in Italian, in Spanish) List of films having benefited from an early release authorisation (CNC Press release of 2 April, in French) The Minister of Culture presents a first action plan for artist-authors (Press release of 27 March, in French) All CNC press releases and information related to COVID-19 (in French) here Press release of 18 March - Covid-19: New announcements from the President of the Republic and the French Government in French, in English and in Spanish |
GermanyGerman Federal Film Board |
Guarantee Fund Guarantee Fund of the Federal Government for cinematic works and high-end series announced on 11 September (50M€). See key facts in German and English here Funding support On Thursday 19. March 2020, the executive committee of the FFA decided the following measures to support the industry during the current crisis. Measures are structured in three categories: 1. Flexibilization of funding conditions Theatres - Deferment of reimbursement of loans and payment of levies; Production/distribution/video - Extension of delays; 2. Establishment of a specific emergency fund In addition to securing the already granted funding, the FFA, together with regional funds and BKM, launched a specific fund in order to cover the corona-related additional costs (total budget 15M€). For this fund, the FFA will provide the amount of 7,5M€ from reserves. 3. Flexibilization of media chronology Existing legal possibilities to shorten or not apply media chronology will be used in a facilitated way. The CEO of the FFA can grant exceptions for specific situations, especially when alternative exploitation complies with interests of both theatres and distributors. Others
|
FFA page providing an overview of measures taken in Germany for the audiovcisual sector (In German) Neustartprogramm for culture - cinema support (BKM page in German) and summary in English Guarantee Fund of the Federal Government for cinematic works and high-end series (Press release of 11 September, in German)
Amended rules on film levy and loan repayments (Press release of 1 April, in German) Federal and regional funds launch aid programme for the film and media industry (Press release of 27 March, in German) FFA approves package of measures for the German film and cinema industry (Press release of 19 March, in German) Federal government decides on emergency aid - Grütters: "Rescue umbrella for the cultural sector" (Federal Government Press release of 23 March, in German) Support to artists and creative people (Federal Government Press release of 23 March, in German) |
GreeceGreek Film Centre |
Funding support A set of additional measures introduced by the Greek Ministry of Culture includes an emergency fund of € 15 million. More specifically:
Horizontal measures (audiovisual sector included) Administration and procedures
|
|
HungaryNational Film Institute |
Funding support
|
Emergency Measures to Support Hungary’s Screen Industry (Press release of 3 April) |
IcelandIcelandic Film Centre |
Funding support
|
|
ItalyMinistry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism (MIBACT) - Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual |
Funding support
Spring 2020:
Administration and procedures
|
All MIBACT COVID-19 measures (in Italian) |
IrelandScreen Ireland |
Funding support
Initial range of measures:
Announced on 3 April
|
Screen Ireland Welcomes COVID-19 Production Guidelines and Launches New €1 Million COVID-19 Production Fund (Press release of 29 June) Further Support Measures for Creative Screen Industry Announced by Screen Ireland (Press release of 16 April)Screen Ireland Announces New Guidelines For Feature Film Development Support (Press release of 3 April) Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland commits to initial measures to support the Irish creative screen industries impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Press release of 18 March) |
LatviaNational Film Centre of Latvia |
Access to films The National Film Centre of Latvia has made its database of national films (https://www.filmas.lv/) available to schoolchildren and the general public during the COVID-19 crisis |
|
LithuaniaLithuanian Film Centre
|
Funding support Additional support
General
Administration and procedures
|
|
LuxembourgFilm Fund Luxembourg |
Funding support
1) Non-reimbursable subsidy worth 10.000 Euros for any production company whose business has been affected by the fallout of Covid-19. The administrative burden to benefit from this support is minimal: the main eligibility criterion is for the company to have received development or production support from the Film Fund at least once since 2014 and proof that the pandemic has affected operations. The subsidy is designed to be a stopgap measure bringing a little much-needed extra cash flow. 2) Reimbursable advance of maximum 250.000 Euros for any production company whose business has been affected by the fallout of Covid-19. Eligible costs for this measure are staff and overhead costs, and the measure seeks to specifically alleviate cash flow problems at that level. Applicants need to have received development or production support from the Film Fund at least once since 2014 and have to prove that the pandemic has affected operations. This support will have to be paid back by the beneficiary starting a year from the date it has been granted and according to a custom reimbursement schedule.
Beneficiaries of Film Fund production support whose shoots were put on hold, delayed or otherwise affected by the fallout of Covid-19 are eligible for new additional support to help them cover unforeseen costs to do with the pandemic and pandemic-related health and safety requirements on set and allow them to restart production. The measure is designed as an extension or top-up of existing production support, and tied to specific projects.
|
|
MontenegroFilm Centre of Montenegro |
|
|
The NetherlandsNetherlands Film Fund |
Funding Support The second part of the supporting measures regarding COVID-19 for the cultural sector have been presented by Minister of Culture on 17 November. The support is effective in the first half of 2021 and is partly used by the Filmfund to support the filmmakers and offer some guarantee. A total support budget of € 28,5 million is used for: € 6,25 million for covering additional production costs of film productions. Measures announced on 10 June 2020:
Overview of all NFF COVID-19 Support Measures (in English) 1.Film productions
2. Film festivals |
The second support package for the film sector (Press release of 27 November)
New support measures for the Dutch film sector (Press release in English of 11 June) Netflix and the Netherlands Film Fund Establish Relief Fund for Affected Productions (Press release of 17 April) All COVID-19 updates from the Netherlands Film Fund (in English) COVID-19 outbreak: Support measures by the Netherlands Film Fund (Press release of 20 March)
|
North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia Film Agency |
Funding support
|
|
NorwayNorwegian Film Institute |
Funding support
Previously
Others
|
The film industry severely affected by the corona pandemic (Press release of 13 October) New measures from the NFI (Press release of 7 April) NOK 14 million extra for development funding (Press release of 27 March) |
PolandPolish Film Institute |
Supports Summary (all details in English here)
Administration and procedures
|
Report on the work of the Polish Film Institute crisis team in the cinematographic industry (Published on 14 April in English) Polish Film Institute to support the local film industry during coronavirus outbreak (Cineuropa article, 27 March 2020) |
PortugalInstitute of Cinema and Audiovisual |
Funding support Summary of ICA measures in English here
|
ICA exceptional measures to be applied for a transitional period (Press released of 25 March, in Portuguese, summary in English here) - Updated on 7 April (summary in English here) - Updated on 22 April (summary in English here) - Updated on 28 April (summary in English here) - Updated on 5 June (summary in English here) Q&A about exceptional measures (Press release of 18 March, in Portuguese)
|
RomaniaRomanian Film Centre |
Funding support
I. Production support (loans) 1. The terms for signing production support contracts (the credits awarded after the last concluded call for applications) for film production are postponed, during the period of emergency. II. |
Romanian Film Centre’s decision in relation to COVID-19 (26 March 2020) |
SlovakiaSlovak Audiovisual Fund |
Funding support
Administration and procedures
|
Press release of 17 March (in Slovakian)
|
SloveniaSlovenian Film Centre |
Funding support
Access to films
Others Administration and procedures
|
Proposals for measures in the film field were sent to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia (Press release of 8 April) |
SpainInstitute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) |
Specific measures
Promotion of cinema and audiovisual arts
|
The Ministry of Culture and Sports has extended the term until January 31st, 2021 to consider `comercial premiere´ of cinematographic films those made on television or audiovisual platforms (Press release of 31 August in Spanish)
ICAA calls for extraordinary aid to be granted directly to cinemas (Press release of 12 August in Spanish) Launch a additional support with a budget of 40M€ for the production of feature films (Press release of 4 August in Spanish) The Council of Ministers authorizes the ICAA to call for aid to cinemas for more than 13 million euros (Press release of 7 July in Spanish) Netflix, Spanish Cultural Action, the Film Academy and the ICAA join forces to create an urgent line of assistance for audiovisual professionals most affected by the COVID-19 (Press release of 15 April in Spanish)
|
SwedenSwedish Film Institute |
Funding support
|
Amanda Lind presents the distribution of support from the extra amending budget (press release of 2 October in Swedish) |
SwitzerlandThe Federal Office for Culture |
Funding support
Others
|
All press releases related to cinema support during COVID-19 (in French, German and Italian) Overview of support to persons and companies in the Swiss film industry (Press release of 9 April, in French and in German) |
UKBritish Film Institute |
Funding support
Others
|
Guidance on the Film & TV Production Restart Scheme Applications for the The Film and TV Production Restart Scheme BFI COVID-19 UK Sales Company Organisational Support Fund (Press release of 6 July) BFI reveals £4.6m support package for UK film industry (Press release of 9 April)
New Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund set up Statement by Ben Roberts, BFI CEO |