European co-development

The European Commission is launching a funding opportunity under the Creative Europe Programme, specifically the "CREA-MEDIA-2026-CODEV" call for proposals, aimed at supporting co-development in the audiovisual sector among independent European production companies. The call's goal is to enhance collaboration between these companies to develop projects with significant international audience potential. A total budget of €9,000,000 has been allocated for this initiative, which will provide funding through lump sum grants.

Eligible applicants are independent European production companies that must co-develop projects with at least one other eligible company, having a co-development agreement in place that outlines the division of tasks and collaboration on creative aspects. The focus is on projects at the development stage, primarily targeting categories like animation, creative documentaries, and fiction for exploitation through cinema, television, and digital platforms.

The application process is an open call with a single-stage submission approach. The call opens on September 30, 2025, with applications due by February 25, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. Evaluation of submissions will occur from March to July 2026, and applicants will receive results in August 2026, with grant agreements to be signed in November 2026.

Additionally, this opportunity emphasizes the importance of achieving sustainable practices and fostering diversity and inclusion within the audiovisual sector. The funding mechanism allows for greater flexibility in managing project development while ensuring accountability through defined deliverables.

The funding amounts for projects are expected to vary based on type and scope, with animation projects likely receiving higher grants compared to other categories. Applicants can access their local Creative Europe desks or contact the European Education and Culture Executive Agency for guidance throughout the application process. This initiative is designed to strengthen the position of European production companies in both local and international markets by enhancing cooperation and improving the overall quality and marketability of audiovisual works.

The European Commission is offering a funding opportunity under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) to support European co-development in the media sector. The call, titled "European co-development (CREA-MEDIA-2026-CODEV)," aims to foster collaboration among European production companies to develop projects with strong international audience potential. The type of action is CREA-LS CREA Lump Sum Grants, utilizing the CREA Lump Sum Grant [CREA-AG-LS] model grant agreement.

The primary objective of this support is to encourage cooperation among European production companies in developing works that can attract a significant international audience. The expected outcomes include increased collaboration during the development phase between production companies from various European countries and markets, leading to more co-productions. The initiative also aims to enhance the quality, feasibility, cross-border potential, and market value of the selected projects, ultimately strengthening the position of participating companies in both European and international markets.

The funding will support the development of single projects intended for commercial exploitation through cinema release, television broadcasting, or digital platforms, including multi-platform environments. Eligible project categories include animation, creative documentary, and fiction. To qualify, projects must be co-developed by at least two independent European production companies that have a co-development agreement outlining the division of tasks and collaboration on creative aspects.

The call encourages audiovisual production companies to develop works with high creative value, cultural diversity, and broad cross-border exploitation potential. It promotes strong and innovative collaborations at the creative and financing levels, as well as the development of marketing and distribution strategies from the initial development phase to maximize audience reach at the European and international levels. Applications should also demonstrate strategies for a more sustainable and environmentally respectful industry, along with a commitment to gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

Key dates for this call are as follows: The call was published on 30 September 2025. The deadline for submitting applications is 25 February 2026, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The evaluation period is scheduled from March to July 2026. Applicants will be informed of the results in August 2026, and the grant agreement is expected to be signed in November 2026.

The total budget allocated to this topic is 9,000,000 EUR. The call follows a single-stage submission process.

Conditions for admissibility include compliance with proposal page limits and layout guidelines, which are detailed in the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligibility criteria related to countries and other specific conditions are also outlined in the call document. Applicants must meet financial and operational capacity requirements, and exclusion criteria will be applied as described in the call document. The submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and the legal and financial setup of the grants are all detailed in the call document.

Applicants must use the standard application form (CREA MEDIA), which is available in the Submission System. Additional required documents include a detailed budget table (CREA LSII) and a creative dossier (CREA MEDIA CODEV, DEVSLATE, and DEVMINISLATE). Applicants must also provide information on independence and ownership (CREA MEDIA) and the language of submission documents (CREA MEDIA). Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include CREA MGA and Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents to consult include CREA Annual Work Programmes, CREA Regulation 2021/818, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The Funding & Tenders Portal provides access to the Electronic Submission Service. Applicants should click on the submission button corresponding to the CREA Lump Sum Grants [CREA-LS] or CREA Lump Sum Grant [CREA-AG-LS] action type. The choice must be confirmed, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Existing draft proposals can be accessed by logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal and selecting the My Proposals page.

For general information about the programme and the call, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-CODEV@ec.europa.eu. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and the IT Helpdesk are available for technical support. The Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme aims to bolster the European audiovisual industry by providing financial support for the co-development of projects between at least two independent European production companies. The focus is on projects with high creative value, cultural diversity, and international audience potential, spanning animation, creative documentary, and fiction. The initiative encourages sustainable and inclusive practices, with a deadline for applications on 25 February 2026. The call seeks to foster collaboration, enhance project quality, and strengthen the position of European companies in the global market.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are European independent production companies. Specifically, the project must be co-developed by at least two European independent production companies, having signed a co-development agreement specifying the division of tasks and the collaboration on creative aspects.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CREA Lump Sum Grant (CREA-LS).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, with at least two European independent production companies.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on European countries, as the call specifies that projects must be co-developed by at least two European independent production companies.

Target Sector: The target sector is the audiovisual industry, specifically focusing on the co-development of projects intended for commercial exploitation in cinema, television, digital platforms, or multi-platform environments. The categories include animation, creative documentary, or fiction.

Mentioned Countries: While specific countries are not explicitly listed, the call focuses on "European" production companies, implying eligibility for companies located within Europe.

Project Stage: The project stage is development, as the call supports the co-development of projects.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 9,000,000. The funding is provided through CREA Lump Sum Grants. The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not specified in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirements are not specified in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), specifically targeting European co-development projects in the audiovisual sector. The call, titled CREA-MEDIA-2026-CODEV, aims to foster collaboration between European production companies to develop projects with strong international audience potential. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with a total budget of EUR 9,000,000 allocated for the call.

The call supports the development of single projects intended for commercial exploitation across various platforms, including cinema, television, digital platforms, and multi-platform environments. Eligible projects fall into the categories of animation, creative documentary, or fiction. A key requirement is that the project must be co-developed by at least two European independent production companies, who must have a co-development agreement outlining the division of tasks and collaboration on creative aspects.

The primary objective is to enhance collaboration between European production companies, increase the quality and market value of selected projects, and strengthen the position of these companies in European and international markets. Applications should demonstrate strategies for sustainability, environmental responsibility, gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call was published on September 30, 2025, with a submission deadline of February 25, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled from March to July 2026, with information to applicants expected in August 2026, and the signature of grant agreements in November 2026.

Applicants are required to submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The application process involves completing a standard application form (CREA MEDIA), a detailed budget table (CREA LSII), and a creative dossier (CREA MEDIA CODEV, DEVSLATE, and DEVMINISLATE). Additional documents, such as information on independence and ownership, language of submission, and model grant agreements, are also required.

For further information and support, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via email at EACEA-MEDIA-CODEV@ec.europa.eu. The Funding & Tenders Portal also provides FAQs, IT helpdesk support, and an online manual to guide applicants through the submission process.