Theatrical release of Foreign Arthouse Film/Documentary in the Netherlands

With this scheme, the Film Fund ensures that the financial risk for the release of these films is reduced.

Funding Information

• The following contribution can be requested for this scheme:
  • Maximum €20,000 per project subsidy.
• A maximum of 15% of the Film Fund contribution may be spent on (hired) personnel and overhead. At least 50% of the budgeted costs for marketing, prints & advertising must be demonstrably covered by the applicant.
• There are a maximum of 8 project subsidies available per year. There are 4 submission rounds per year and a maximum of 2 project subsidies can be awarded per round. The subsidy ceiling for the cinema release of foreign arthouse films and documentaries in the Netherlands is € 160,000 per year.

Eligible Projects

• A film distributor may be eligible for this project subsidy if:
  • the foreign arthouse film or documentary is, in the opinion of the advisory committee and the board, a distinct, artistic, qualitative and distinctive international film production with added value for film culture in the Netherlands;
  • the film or documentary has been selected for a leading international film festival as included in the festival list International Film Festivals – International festival selection & Foreign arthouse film and documentaries no later than 1 year prior to the submission deadline.
  • the film is not sub-distributed;
  • the marketing and distribution plan with associated budget and guarantees regarding cinema release demonstrates a feasible, well-considered and realistic audience approach on the basis of which the film production will have an optimal national reach;
  • the release date of the arthouse film or documentary is scheduled no earlier than 8 weeks after the submission deadline;
  • the Fund’s contribution is matched 100% by the applicant in Prints & Advertising;
  • there is no contribution from the Films on the Move distribution scheme of Creative Europe MEDIA;
  • the Film Fund’s contribution is demonstrably invested in the marketing and promotion of the foreign arthouse film or documentary.

Eligibility Criteria

• A film distributor (a legal entity, not a sole proprietorship or general partnership) that has been established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland for at least two years and has continuously released films in Dutch cinemas and movie theaters.

For more information, visit Dutch Film Fund.