SELECTIVE FUNDING SCHEMES

FILM PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

FILM COMMISSION

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Introduction

10 Reasons

I Netherlands Film Production Incentive

II Selective Funding Schemes

III Netherlands Film Commission

Facts and Figures 2014

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3DUTCH FILM ORGANISATIONS

Netherlands Film FundE info@filmfonds.nlW www.filmfonds.nl

EYE InternationalE international@eyefilm.nlW www.international.eyefilm.nl Creative Europe Desk/MEDIAE MEDIA@creativeeuropedesk.nlW www.mediadesknederland.eu

NFF + HBF coproduction schemeE d.delvoie@filmfonds.nlW www.filmfonds.nlE hbf@filmfestivalrotterdam.comW www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com

Binger FilmlabE info@binger.nlW www.binger.nl

Film Producers Netherlands, FPNE info@filmproducenten.nlW www.filmproducenten.nl Documentary Producers Netherlands, DPNE info@documentaireproducenten.nlW www.documentaireproducenten.nl

Animation Producers Netherlands, VNAPE vnap@niaf.nlW www.vnap.nl

© Netherlands Film Fund 2015

Pijnackerstraat 5 1072 JS AmsterdamThe Netherlands

The Netherlands is home to a vibrant film industry with an

open attitude towards international coproduction.

The Netherlands Film Fund is the national agency responsible

for supporting film production in the Netherlands and

activities such as festivals and training. Its focus is to

develop and strengthen Dutch cinema and film culture

both domestically and internationally. The Film Fund is also

responsible for the Netherlands Film Commission.

This brochure contains the primary principles of the different

support schemes for international productions.

The Netherlands has treaties with Canada and France and

is now preparing treaties with Germany, French-speaking

Belgium, China and South Africa.

The Film Fund has a budget for funding in 2015 of

approximately 50 million euro of which approximately 25.2

million euro for the Film Production Incentive and 2.5 million

euro for the selective schemes on minority coproductions.

The budget for the Film Production Incentive includes

an amount of 5.8 million euro not spent in 2014 due to fact

the incentive was not in place before May that year.

INTRODUCTION4

Doreen BoonekampCEOd.boonekamp@filmfonds.nl

Ellis DriessenInternational Affairse.driessen@filmfonds.nl

Contact

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• Netherlands Film

Production Incentive

• Exploration support

international coproductions

• Production support Dutch

minority coproductions

• Distribution support Dutch

minority coproductions

• International distribution

and dubbing support for

Dutch films abroad

10 REASONS

01 A wide range of professionalsThe Netherlands has thousands of highly qualified, prize-winning professionals with the widest possible range of expertise from location scouts, production crew, coproduction companies, casting, technical positions, postproduction, animation and photography to (low budget) rental equipment.

02 No Union limitsThe working climate in the Netherlands is very dynamic and flexible. Trade unions and employers ensure that supply and demand on the labour market balance as well as possible. No Union requirements or demands. In the creative sector, many people operate independently, ensuring adequate service, great efficiency and high quality. Flexible working hours, also at weekends and holidays.

03 Open society, open minded peopleFrom a variety of testimonials by numerous international directors and producers who have shot a production in the Netherlands, it’s clear that they regard working and staying in the Netherlands as especially pleasant. The tolerant, open mood, hospitality, film friendly, helpfulness and open-minded attitude of the Dutch struck the film crews.

04 It’s easy to communicateThe EF English Proficiency Index of 2013 (EPI, the international table for English language skills) reveals that the Netherlands is number three of the 54 non-English-speaking countries tested. Only the Swedes and Danes speak better English.

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05 A wide variety of locationsThe Netherlands has a stunning range of film locations. From quiet polder landscape, broad beaches, extensive forests and water to the widest variety of architecture styles. From medieval towers, gates, streets and castles to ultramodern buildings and anonymous, ultramodern cities with international appeal.

06 Lots of public spacesThroughout the Netherlands you can find attractive, modern, well-maintained and often freely accessible (public) spaces like parks, bridges, tunnels, beaches, tulip fields, dikes, (open-air) theatres and museums, sports fields, swimming pools, libraries and city halls.

07 Famous Dutch lightOver the ages, generations of painters and artists have ensured that the impressive meteorological play of water, land and sky came to inter-national fame as ‘Dutch Light’. It can be admired all year: often sharp shadows, at sunset and sunrise romantic deep red colours which provide great production value. The total number of sun hours in the Netherlands is about 1521 per year. The peaks are in the months of May and June with over 12 hours of available light per day. In the winter the sun shines an average of 1.3 hours a day which is 7 hours of available light.

08 Finely meshed infrastructureThe Netherlands has about 135,470 kilometres of public roads. Of these, 5,012 km are motorway. The provincial and local road network encompasses more than 130,000 km. With about 57.5 km of motorway for every thousand square kilometres, the Netherlands has the highest motorway density in the European Union. Thanks to this finely meshed infrastructure, all destinations can be reached by car from Amsterdam Schiphol airport in about two hours.According to a variety of travel guides, the Netherlands has an ‘excellent’, almost 24/7 public transport network of buses, trams, metro and (hi-speed) rail links. The most important airports are: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Maastricht/Aachen Airport and Groningen Airport Eelde.

09 Fine digital landscapeThe Netherlands is known for its excellent broadband internet coverage. Professionals and companies are easy to find on the web and the digital landscape is fertile ground for all kinds of researchers.

10 Good possibilities for funding & salesThe Netherlands Film Commis-sioner as well as the local and regional Film Commissioners help you and your (film) project with a wide variety of issues, varying from applying for permits to acquiring (additional) funding. The Film Production Incentive offers a 30% cash rebate on film productions. Besides the Film Fund offers selective funding for minority coproductions and support is given for exploratory days for a local location scout, line producer and/or post-production supervisor.

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8 The Netherlands Film

Production Incentive scheme

is based on a system of

cash rebate. The financial

contributions are intended to

increase the attractiveness

of the Netherlands for

both national and foreign

film productions, raising

the production activity

of creative and technical

film professionals and film

companies in the Nether-

lands, as well as to develop

film talent and encourage

diversity within Dutch film

production.

• In order to apply for a grant, a production company must have operated consistently in the area of production and release in the Netherlands, the EU or EEA, or in Switzerland, for a minimum period of two years. The applicant is legally represented by a producer who has, as majority producer, been responsible for at least two film productions over the past seven years (reference films) in the afore-mentioned period and areas (see above). Reference films must have been theatrically released in the Netherlands.

• The scheme is open to applications for feature films and feature-length animated films with a production budget of at least 1 million euro, and to feature length documentaries with a production budget of at least 250,000 euro. A planned theatrical release and at least 50% of the production budget should be in place upon application.

• If the film production applied for is an international coproduction, it should meet the criteria of the European Convention on Cinematographic Coproduction, or the criteria of bilateral agreements with the Netherlands or agreements with the Netherlands Film Fund. The Netherlands should be one of the countries of origin among the coproducers.

• In order to ensure the cultural objectives of the measure, a test of qualifying characteristics will be conducted. Applications should meet at least three of ten cultural criteria to be eligible.

• The production expenses that are taken into consideration must be directly related to the filmmaking process.

• The amount of the grant is determined by the production costs that are both eligible and demonstrably spent on film professionals or film companies based in the Netherlands, multiplied by 30%. The maxi-

INETHERLANDS FILM PRODUCTION INCENTIVE

9mum award is 1 million euro per application. The maximum amount per year per applicant is 2 million euro.

• A grant will only be awarded if there is a minimum of 100,000 euro of eligible production spent in the Netherlands.

• In each round eligible applications will be ranked on the basis of a points system which contains elements to determine the impact of a film production. Only applications that reach a minimum of 75 points are taken into consideration.

• If a grant is awarded, the subsequent film production should be completely financed within 6 months of the Fund’s decision.

• Applicants can be exempted from the obligation to delay commencement of principal photography - or in the case of an animated film, its realisation - until after the receipt of the notification of the grant.

The applicant will have to demonstrate that the other financiers involved agree with any changes to the financing plan they have approved. A financial contribution cannot result in an increase of the budget or in the over-financing of a film production.

Application deadlines 2015:3 February, 5 May, 25 August and 3 November. The total available budget for 2015 is 25.2 million euro for the Film Production Incentive including 5.8 euro not spent in 2014 due to fact the incentive was not in place before May that year.

www.filmfonds.nl/international

30% cash rebate

Manon van MelickProduction managerFilm Production Incentivem.van.melick@filmfonds.nl

José van DoornProject manager Netherlands Film Production Incentivej.van.doorn@filmfonds.nl

Contact

10 1 Exploration support production & postproduction

International production companies that are considering using production and/or postproduction facilities in the Netherlands through a minority Dutch coproduction can apply to the Film Fund for reimbursement. This will cover essential research by a local postproduction supervisor, location scout and/or line producer up to1,500 euro. Please visit www.filmfonds.nl/international for guidelines and an application form.

2 Production support for minority coproductions

Primary conditions • Maximum contribution is

250,000 euro (50,000 euro for a short animation or documentary)

• The requested subsidy amount must be fully spent on Dutch services, cast and crew

• A deal memo from a Dutch film distributor for the theatrical

IISELECTIVE FUNDING SCHEMES

release of the film in the Netherlands is required

• A good chance of reciprocity enhances the likelihood of funding for the project

• The project must have substantial financial support already in place from the country of origin of the main producer, amounting to at least 50% of its own share

• The total Dutch share of the project needs to be at least 10% of the production costs, including any Dutch share from Eurimages

• Priority is given to coproduc-tions with European-based production companies and coproductions with countries that have a co- production agreement with the Netherlands

How to applyApplications for production support can be submitted throughout the year by the Dutch producer, who must have produced at least one

theatrically released feature film, documentary or animation film in the Netherlands. Please visit www.filmfund.nl.

The Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) and the Netherlands Film Fund agreed on the support of three majority Dutch documen-tary coproductions with Norway and three majority Norwegian documentary coproductions with the Netherlands in 2014 and 2015. The minority coproducer can apply for a maximum amount of 50,000 euro per documen-tary. Applications can be submit-ted throughout the year. For more information please visit www.filmfonds.nl/international

Together with the Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF) the Netherlands Film Fund each year supports 4 majority Flemish and 4 majority Dutch feature films up to 200,000 euro per film, 3 majority Flemish and 3 majority Dutch documentaries up to 50,000 euro per film and 2 majority Flemish and 2 majority Dutch short animation films up to 50,000 euro per film.

11For guidelines and application deadlines please visit www.filmfonds.nl/international

The Netherlands Film Fund and the Hubert Bals Fund work together in the NFF+HBF copro-ducing scheme. 200,000 euro is available annually from the Film Fund for applications from Dutch producers who can be awarded a maximum of 50,000 euro for coproducing a film developed by HBF. Applications for production support must be submitted by the Dutch producer who must have produced at least one theat-rically released film.More info on guidelines andapplication deadlines: www.film-fonds.nl/international and www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com

3 Distribution support minority coproductions in the Netherlands

Minority coproductions that have been awarded production funding through the Fund's minority coproduction scheme are offered support for their theatrical release in the Netherlands up to maximally 10,000 euro.

Applications can be submitted throughout the year by the distributor. Please visit www.filmfund.nl for the guide-lines and application form.

4 International distribution and dubbing support for Dutch films abroad

The Netherlands Film Fund supports the theatrical release of Dutch features and documen-taries outside the Netherlands by a foreign distributor within a maximum of two countries.

• The Film Fund can match up to 40% of the total costs to a maximum of 10,000 euro per film

• The Film Fund can also match up to 50% of the total dubbing costs with a maximum contribution of 20,000 euro per film for Dutch feature films handled by a foreign distributor

Primary conditions• Only films supported by the

Netherlands Film Fund are eligible

• Budget of up to 3 million euro for a feature film; feature-length documentaries with a budget up to 600,000 euro or films selected for specific international festivals which are released theatrically

• International distribution or dubbing support is given as a conditional loan from the Fund

• Dutch children and youth films get priority treatment

How to applyForeign distributors can apply (after confirmation from the Dutch producer and sales agent). Please visit www.filmfonds.nl/international

Dany DelvoieInternational Affairsd.delvoie@filmfonds.nl

Peggy Driessen-BussinkProduction manager International Affairs / minority coproductionsp.driessen-bussink@filmfonds.nl

Frank PeijnenburgHead of Screen NLf.peijnenburg@filmfonds.nl

Contact

12 The Netherlands Film Commission is the official liaison between the local Dutch creative media industries and foreign producers and production companies. The Netherlands have a stunning range of film locations. From quiet polder landscape, broad beaches, extensive forests and water to the widest variety of architecture styles. From medieval towers, gates, streets and castles to ultramodern buildings and ultramodern cities with international appeal. With its unique locations, excellent infrastructure, small distances and highly experienced staff, the Netherlands have a lot to offer to international film professionals and production companies looking for locations, coproduction partnerships and facilities. Please visit our website www.filmcommission.nl for an overview of all services or contact us by e-mail at info@filmcommission.nl.

IIINETHERLANDS FILM COMMISSION

Small distances and highly experienced professionals

Bas van der Ree Netherlands Film Commissioner info@filmcommission.nlwww.filmcommission.nl

Contact

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Cinema attendance Market shareFACTS & FIGURES 2014

• 2014 showed a stable cinema attendance at 30,8 million, which accounted for gross box office revenues of 249,9 million euro, a 0,15% increase from 2013 with 249,3 million euro. Cinema attendance to Dutch films amounted to 6,4 million people in 2014

30 FEATURES SHOT WHOLLY OR MAINLY IN THE NETHERLANDS

12 FEATURES SHOT WHOLLY OR MAINLY ABROAD

30.6M 30.8M 30.8M

Features shot

• Film festivals and markets in the Netherlands attract up to 736.000 visitors and film professionals each year.

• In 2014 the market share for Dutch films was 20.8% domestically.

• 30 features (including copro-ductions) were shot wholly or mainly in the Netherlands in 2014 and 12 feature films including coproductions) were shot wholly or mainly abroad.

• Dutch features increased to a total production volume of 70.8 million euro. The volume of minority coproductions rose to 42.36 million euro.

TOTAL FILMS

20,8% DUTCH FILM

DUTCH SHARE4.8M 6.3M 6.4M

For more information and an overview of international copro-ductions with the Netherlands:www.filmfonds.nl/international

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20142012 2013

• The Netherlands is served by 256 theatres with 806 screens of which 113 are dedicated to arthouse film (2013). All Dutch cinemas are digital.

• In 2014 a total of 61 features were produced: 42 Dutch pro-ductions of which 21 majority Dutch international coproduc-tions and 19 Dutch minority coproductions.

• Feature film production volume (produced films):

88.44 million euro (including minority coproductions)

• In 2014 a total of 362 films were theatrically released in the Netherlands of which 61 were Dutch productions: 44 feature films and 17 documentaries.

Screens (2013) Released films

42 DUTCH PRODUCTIONS

806 TOTAL SCREENS

61 TOTAL FEATURES

Dutch film production

113 ARTHOUSE SCREENS

362 TOTAL PRODUCTIONS

61 DUTCH PRODUC-TIONS

19 DUTCH MINORITY C0-PRODUCTIONS

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