[PIO] Announcement of the Deputy Ministry of Culture for the financing of the Production Plan for the Production of Feature Films of the South East

The Ministry of State for Culture announces that the South East Europe Film Network (SEE) is launching a competition among its member countries for funding the development of a feature film production project. The Network, at its next general meeting to be held in November 2023, will review the proposals submitted, from which it will select the best for funding.

Selection Criteria

1. Proposals for Feature Films of a minimum length of 70 minutes, with a view to screening in cinemas, will be accepted for consideration. Proposals must be in the form of co-productions between at least two producers from two member states of the South East Europe Film Network (Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria). The participation of third co-producers from other countries is not excluded. Proof of co-producers' participation should be in the form of agreements or at least preliminary agreements between the parties involved in the project. The dossiers submitted must have secured the services of a commissioned producer, director and scriptwriter, all three of whom must come from Member States of the Network.
2. As the process progresses, the development projects submitted must also take the final form of a co-production, in accordance with the general principles and conditions laid down in the European Co-production Convention.
3. The artistic and commercial operators of the film should, if the production goes ahead, come, as far as possible, from the Member States of the Network.
4. Proposals rejected in the first evaluation by the National Film Centres or in the evaluation by the SEE General Assembly are eligible to apply for funding once again and only in the following period if filming has not yet begun. In this case, the new application must be accompanied by notes specifying the changes made to the project since the first application for funding.
5. Applications shall be submitted by the producer in his/her own country.

Evaluation criteria

The evaluation of the projects and the selection of those to be funded will be carried out by the General Assembly of the Network's representatives.

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

1. Dynamics presented by the dramaturgical approach,
2. Dramatic integrity of the script,
3. Artistic potential of the project,
4. Commercial potential of the project,
5. Recognition that the previous works of the artistic team (writer and director) have received from critics, the audience and festivals,
6. Proof of any funding the production may have secured,
7. Completeness of the strategic plan drawn up by the executive producer with regard to the management and promotion of the project.

Proposal submission and evaluation procedure

Cypriot producers must submit the following:

1. Two bound identical copies must be submitted by the applicants, by Monday 11 September 2023, in two identical envelopes, to the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Ministry of Culture, to the attention of Mr Diomidis Nikitas or Ms Elena Christodoulides (Department of Contemporary and Modern Culture, Iphigenia 27, Acropolis 2007, Nicosia, Offices 110 (1st floor) and 403 (4th floor), Tel: 22809811, 22809812 and 22809846). The dossier (see "Contents of candidates' dossiers") should also be sent to cypruscinema.gov@cytanet.com.cy in a single PDF file.

1. The representative of each country shall compile the proposals of candidates submitted by professionals in his/her country, and make a pre-selection, applying the criteria in these rules and regulations. The representative may pre-select up to two projects per submission period. He/she may also discuss the pre-selection process with other Network country representatives involved in the proposal as co-producers.
2. The selection of the proposals to be funded shall take place on the day of the General Assembly, by secret ballot and in the following manner:

[*]Each delegate shall cast only an affirmative vote, voting for the seven projects he/she considers to be the most favourable. [*]On the basis of the results of the vote, a list of the most favourable drafts shall be drawn up, according to the number of votes each has received. [*]The next two projects, according to the number of votes received, shall be added to the list as alternates to replace any projects which are approved but not implemented.

Content of applicants' dossiers

Applicants' dossiers should contain the following documentation:

1. Duly completed application form,
2. CV of the writer, director, producer and production company,
3. Synopsis in Greek/English (2 pages),
4. Extended synopsis/treatment in Greek/English (approximately 10-15 pages),
5. A copy of the full script in Greek/English,
6. A statement of intent regarding the artistic and commercial prospects of the project, to be written jointly by the director and the producer,
7. A management and marketing strategy for the project by the producer (up to 3 pages),
8. A detailed budget for the development project, including costs directly and specifically related to the project,
9. A summary of the production budget and a budget breakdown for each co-producer,
10. Notes identifying the changes made to the proposal since the first application for funding in the event that it has been rejected at the time of its first evaluation by the National Film Centres or at the time of its evaluation by the General Assembly of the Network.
11. Any other documentation deemed useful for the evaluation of the project.

The synopsis, extended synopsis and script must be written in English and Greek. All other documentation must be written in English.

Form of funding

The producer is not obliged to return the funding. He/she must ensure that the name of the Network is mentioned in the titles of the film and in all printed material, in radio and television media, and in all material accompanying the project or future work.

Agreement covering the funding

1. An agreement document will be co-signed by the Network and the beneficiaries. For each proposal funded, the beneficiaries are considered to be the writer, the director and the producer. All three will co-sign and will be jointly responsible, accountable and therefore obliged to work together for the success of the project. It is not permitted for these three qualities to be represented by a single person. In the case where the writer and the director are the same person, an exception is provided for.
2. The appointed producer of the proposal is responsible and accountable to the Network for compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Payment of instalments

1st instalment (30%): 20 days after signing the agreement

2nd instalment (30%): after submission by the producer of a report describing the management of the proposal. It should be accompanied by documents demonstrating the results achieved in the first 4 months following the approval of the funding

Third instalment (40%): following the submission by the producer of a report accompanied by documentary evidence of the funding secured for the production of the film. In case the results are not satisfactory, the General Assembly is entitled to decide whether to pay or cancel the third and final instalment.

The amount of funding ranges from €6,000-€10,000 and will depend on the financial possibilities of the Network.

For further clarifications or information, interested parties can contact 22809811, 22809812 and 22809846.

For terms and conditions, interested parties may follow this link.

For application, interested parties may follow this link.
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