Funding of Development Projects for Feature Films by the South Eastern European Cinema Network (SEE)
ANNOUNCEMENT
Funding of Development Projects for Feature Films
by the South Eastern European Cinema Network (SEE)
The Deputy Ministry of Culture - Department of Modern and Contemporary
Culture announces that the South Eastern European Cinema Network (SEE)
launches a contest between its member-states for the funding of Development
Projects for Feature Films. In its next meeting, to be held this coming
November 2023, the Network will examine the submitted proposals and select
the best among them to be funded.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Feature films with a minimum running time of 70 minutes and aimed at
theatrical release are accepted for examination. These projects must have
assumed the form of co-productions between at least two producers from
two SEE CINEMA Network member-states (Cyprus, Greece, Serbia,
Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Romania,
Bulgaria). The participation of third co-producers from other countries is
not excluded. Proof of the participation of co-producers should be in the
form of agreements or at least memorandums between the parties
involved in the project. The files submitted must have secured the services
of a delegate producer, director and scriptwriter, all three from the
Network’s member-states.
As they progress, the submitted development projects should also assume
the final form of co-production in compliance with the general principles
and conditions stipulated by the European Convention on Co-productions.
The artistic and technical contributors to the film must, should the project
become a feature film, as much as possible come from the Network’s
member-states.
The applications are submitted by the producer to his/her own country.
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
The evaluation of the development projects and the selection of those to be
funded will be carried out by the General Assembly of SEE CINEMA Network
representatives.
The evaluation is carried out based on the following criteria:
The dynamic demonstrated by the dramaturgical idea
The dramaturgical integrity of the script
The project’s artistic potential
The project’s commercial potential
The recognition received by the artistic team’s (scriptwriter and director)
earlier projects from critics, the public and festivals
Proof of financing that the production may have already secured
The thoroughness of the strategic plan mapped out by the executive
producer regarding the management and promotion of the project
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION OF THE PROJECTS
Cypriot producers must submit the following:
Two identical bound copies must be submitted by the applicants until
Μonday, 11 September 2023, in two identical files, to the Department of
Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, care
of Mr Diomedes Nikitas or Ms Elena Christodoulidou (27, Iphigeneias Str.,
Acropolis 2007, Nicosia, Offices 110 (1 st floor) and 403 (4 th floor), Tel:
22809811, 22809812 and 22809846). The file (see CONTENT OF
CANDIDATES’ FILES) must also be sent to this email address:
cypruscinema.gov@cytanet.com.cy in one single PDF file.
CONTENT OF CANDIDATES’ FILES
The candidates’ files should contain the following documentation:
Duly completed application form
Biographical note of the scriptwriter, director, producer, and information on
the production company
Synopsis in Greek/English (2 pages)
Treatment in Greek/English (approx. 10-15 pages)
A copy of the complete script in Greek/English
Statement of intent regarding the artistic and commercial dynamic of the
project written jointly by the director and the producer
Strategy for managing and marketing the project by the producer (up to 3
pages)
Analytical budget of the development project which will include expenses
directly and specifically linked to the project
Summary of the production budget and breakdown for the co-producers
Any other documentation that may be useful in evaluating the project
The amount of funding usually rises to €6.000-€10.000 and will depend on the
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Network’s financial ability.
The synopsis, treatment and script must be written in English and Greek. The
rest of the documentation must be written in one of the two official languages of
the Network (either English or French).
Interested parties may obtain application forms and the analytical regulation
from the Announcements section of www.filmingincyprus.gov.cy and by
contacting Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture (tel: 22809811,
22809812 and 22809846 and email cypruscinema.gov@cytanet.com.cy ).
DEPUTY MINISTRY OF CULTURE
Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture
7 July 2023
SEE CINEMA NETWORK
RULES AND REGULATIONS
For the funding of Development projects for Feature Films
SELECTION CRITERIA
EVALUATION CRITERIA
PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION AND HANDLING OF THE PROJECTS
CONTENT OF CANDIDATES’ FILES
TYPES OF FUNDING
AGREEMENT COVERING FUNDING-PAYMENT
FUNDING SOURCES TO COVER SEE CINEMA NETWORK - DEVELOPMENT
SELECTION CRITERIA
Feature films with a minimum running time of 70΄ and aimed in
principle at theatrical release are accepted for examination. These
projects must have assumed the form of co-productions between at
least two producers from two SEE CINEMA NETWORK member-
states (Cyprus, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Republic of North
Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria). The
participation of third co-producers from other countries is not
excluded. Proof of the participation of co-producers should be in
the form of agreements or at least memorandums between the
parties involved in the project. The files submitted must have
secured the services of a delegate producer, director and
scriptwriter, all three from the Network’s member-states.
As they progress, the development projects submitted should also
assume the final form of a co-production, respecting the general
conditions and terms stipulated by the European Convention on Co-
productions.
It is necessary for applicants to make it clear that should their
project become a feature film, artistic and technical contributors will
come in principle from the Network member-states.
The applications are submitted by the producer to his/her own
country.
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
The evaluation of the development projects and the selection of those to be
funded will be carried out by the General Meeting of SEE CINEMA NETWORK
representatives.
The members of the General Meeting’s priorities are as follows:
The dynamic presented by the basic dramaturgical idea
The dramaturgical integrity demonstrated by the script
The project’s artistic potential
The project’s commercial potential
The recognition that the previous works of the creative team
(scriptwriter and director) received by critics, the public and
festivals
Proof of financing that the production may have secured
The thoroughness of the strategic plan mapped out by the
executive producer regarding the management and promotion of
the project.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION OF THE
PROJECTS
The development projects will be submitted and evaluated as follows:
The contents of the project should be submitted via email to the
representative of the SEE CINEMA NETWORK country of the
applicant.
The representative of each country collects the candidate projects
submitted by his country’s film professionals and proceeds with pre-
selection implementing the criteria of the present rules and
regulations. The representative may pre-select up to two projects
per submission period and may request assistance in the pre-
selection process from those representatives of the SEE CINEMA
NETWORK countries involved in the project as co-producers.
Each national representative then sends via email the pre-selected
projects to the rest of the representatives as well as to the
Executive Secretary of the NETWORK (synopsis, script, C.V.,
director’s notes, application etc). The pre-selected projects must be
sent to the rest of the representatives at the definite date that will
be announced by the Secretariat.
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The selection of the projects to be funded takes place on the day of the
meeting of the General Assembly, by secret ballot and in the following
manner:
- Each representative expresses himself/herself only with a positive
vote, voting for the projects that are the frontrunners in his/her
opinion.
- Based on the results of the voting, a catalog is drawn up listing the
frontrunners in order of number of votes received by each project.
Projects that were rejected in their initial evaluation by the National Film
Centers or in their evaluation by the General Assembly, have the right to
submit a funding application once again and only in the next period, provided
that the shooting has not started yet. In this case, the new application should
be accompanied by notes specifying the changes made to the project after
the initial funding application
Cypriot producers must submit the following:
Two identical bound copies must be submitted by the applicants
until Μonday, 11 September 2023, in two identical files, to the
Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy
Ministry of Culture, care of Mr Diomedes Nikitas or Ms Elena
Christodoulidou (Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture
Building: 27, Iphigeneias Str., Acropolis 2007, Nicosia, Offices 110
(1 st floor) and 403 (4 th floor), Tel: 22809811, 22809812 and
22809846. The file (see CONTENT OF CANDIDATES’ FILES)
must also be sent to this email address:
cypruscinema.gov@cytanet.com.cy in one single PDF file.
CONTENT OF CANDIDATES’ FILES
The candidates’ files should contain the following documentation:
Duly filled in application form
Biographical note of the scriptwriter, the director, the
producer and the production company
Synopsis in Greek and English language (1 page)
Treatment Greek and English language (approximately 10-
15 pages)
The complete script in English and in Greek language
Statement of intent regarding the artistic and commercial
dynamic of the project written jointly by the director and
the producer
Strategy for managing and marketing the project by the
producer (up to 3 pages)
Analytical budget of the development project, which will
include expenses directly and specifically linked to the
project
Summary of the production budget. Breakdown for the co-
producers.
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Any other documentation that may be useful in evaluating
the project.
Synopsis, treatment and the script must be written in English and Greek. The
rest of the documents must be written in English
TYPE OF FUNDING
The funding will have the form of a non-repayable loan, the only obligation
being that the name of the Network should appear in the film’s titles and all
the printed material, radio and television or other media and all the material
accompanying the project or the future work.
AGREEMENT COVERING FUNDING-PAYMENTS
The SEE CINEMA NETWORK will draw up an agreement, which will be
co-signed by the Network and the beneficiaries delegate producer of
the project. For each project funded, the scriptwriter, the director and
the producer are considered jointly responsible, jointly answerable and
consequently obligated to work together for the success of the project.
It is preferred that these three capacities belong to three different
persons. An exception is made in the case of scriptwriter and director
who can be the same person.
The delegate producer of the project is responsible and answerable to
the SEE CINEMA NETWORK for the adherence to the terms and
conditions of the agreement.
PAYMENT
Payment will be made in three installments, as follows:
First installment:
20 days after signature of the agreement (30%).
Second installment:
After submission by the producer of a report in which he/she describes the
manner the project will be administered and marketed and which will be
accompanied by documents proving the results obtained during the first 4
months after approval of the funding (30%).
Third installment:
An amount of 40% will be paid upon the submission to the Network
Secretariat of a definite contract for international co-production, involving at
least two producers coming from two different member-states of the
Network, and after the completion of the first week of shooting.
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The amount of funding usually rises to €6.000 - €10.000 and will depend on
the Network’s financial ability.
For further information please contact the following numbers: 22809811,
22809812 και 22809846.
DEPUTY MINISTRY OF CUTLURE
Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture