Development Fund 2026

The Call supports the development stage of individual audiovisual projects with potential for national and international circulation. The total funding allocation for 2026 is €100,000.00, awarded under the de minimis aid scheme pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2023/2831.

Independent film or audiovisual production companies may apply, provided that they meet the following main requirements:

– ATECO Code 59.11 (listed as the primary or secondary business activity in the Chamber of Commerce company registration extract).

– Ownership of rights: the applicant must hold at least 50% of the rights to the project (or to the pre-existing work to be adapted) under an option agreement or assignment agreement signed by the authors/rightsholders.

– Company requirements: registration with the Companies Register, compliance with social-security contribution obligations and the applicable National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL), absence of insolvency proceedings, and possession of an insurance policy covering natural disasters and catastrophic events (Art. 2424 of the Italian Civil Code).

No. Companies that do not have a registered office or operational base in Veneto at the time of application may still apply, provided that they undertake to establish an office in Veneto by the date of the official “Start of Activities” notification and keep it operational until the final balance of the grant has been paid.

Development investments are eligible for the following types of works:

– Live-action and animated feature films (intended for theatrical release, television or streaming).

– Live-action and animated scripted series.

– Documentaries (running time exceeding 52 minutes) or documentary series.

The following are not eligible: short films, factual entertainment, talent/reality shows, music videos, television news/entertainment programmes, advertising/promotional works, or projects that have already entered the production stage.

The grant is non-repayable and covers up to 50% of eligible development costs:

– Minimum grant amount: €10,000.00.

– Maximum grant amount: €20,000.00.

Proportional calculation mechanism: the amount actually awarded to eligible projects (minimum score: 70/100) is adjusted proportionally according to the score obtained in the ranking. Example: for a requested grant of €20,000.00, a score of 80/100 will result in an award of €16,000.00.

All costs directly attributable to the development stage are eligible, including:

– Optioning and acquisition of copyright/underlying rights (this cost item may pre-date the application).

– Writing of the story concept, treatment and screenplay through to the final draft.

– Research activities, archive research, archive/stock-footage licensing and location scouting.

– Storyboards, concept art, moodboards and VFX feasibility tests (3D animatics).

– Casting director fees, sourcing key crew/technical personnel, and preparation of the production budget and financing plan.

– Participation in industry markets (e.g. EFM, MIA), workshops, travel expenses, and promotional videos/teasers.

The application must be submitted exclusively via certified email (PEC) to: fondazionevenetofilmcommission@pec.it

– File format: text documents must be attached exclusively as native PDFs bearing the digital signature of the legal representative (except for agreements with third parties or identity documents). Financial plans must be submitted in .XLS/.XLSX format.

– Mandatory file naming: the submitted folder must be named ApplicantName_ProjectTitle and individual files must be named ProjectTitle_FileName.

All activities and payments must be completed within a mandatory period of 24 months from publication of the ranking list of approved projects.

The grant is disbursed in two instalments:

– Advance payment (up to 70%): paid following submission via PEC of the Start of Activities notification (to be sent within 3 months of publication of the ranking list).

– Final balance (remaining 30%): paid following approval of the final expenditure report and supporting documentation.

For clarifications or information regarding the Call, please write to the official email address: info@venetofilmcommission.com