European mini-slate development

The European mini-slate development grant, identified as CREA-MEDIA-2025-DEVMINISLATE, is part of the Creative Europe Programme and targets independent European audiovisual production companies. Its primary goal is to enhance the competitiveness and market presence of these companies within the audiovisual sector by providing financial support for the development of a slate consisting of 2 to 3 high-potential audiovisual works, including fiction, animation, and creative documentaries. The grant also encourages collaboration and co-development with operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Eligible applicants must demonstrate recent experience in producing internationally distributed works. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant, with a total call budget of €5,500,000 for 2025, though the exact amount for individual projects may vary, likely ranging between €200,000 to €1 million. The application process follows a single-stage open call system, with proposals due by September 17, 2025. The evaluation period is set from September 2025 to January 2026, with awards expected to be finalized by June 2026.

The call specifically supports development activities related to projects intended for subsequent commercial exploitation through cinema, television, or digital platforms. Applicants are encouraged to strategize for marketing and audience engagement early in the development phase. There is no explicit requirement for co-funding, but applicants must ensure their projects demonstrate sustainability and align with themes of inclusion, diversity, and environmental responsibility.

Strong emphasis is placed on applications showcasing innovative and sustainable approaches to production. Overall, the grant provides a significant opportunity for independent production companies to enhance their capabilities, diversify audience reach, and potentially yield greater market success through the development of culturally varied and commercially viable projects.

The European mini-slate development support, under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), aims to bolster the competitiveness of European independent production companies and enhance their market presence. This initiative seeks to augment the capacity of audiovisual producers in developing projects with the potential for broad circulation within Europe and internationally, while also facilitating European and international co-production. The support acts as an entry point for emerging talent, offering opportunities to direct short films under the guidance of experienced companies.

The expected outcomes include a stronger position for selected companies in European and international markets, alongside increased quality, feasibility, cross-border potential, and market value of supported European works.

The call for proposals, CREA-MEDIA-2025-DEVMINISLATE, will provide support to independent European production companies for the development of a slate comprising 2 to 3 audiovisual works, encompassing fiction, animation, and creative documentary. This approach is designed to mitigate risks and enhance the companies' ability to attract and retain talent. The European mini-slate development specifically targets the development of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 works intended for commercial exploitation through cinema release, television broadcasting, or commercial exploitation on digital platforms or a multi-platform environment. These works should fall into the categories of animation, creative documentary, or fiction. Applicants have the option to include a short film by emerging talent within their slate.

The primary objective is to allocate funds to audiovisual production companies for the development of works exhibiting high creative value, cultural diversity, and significant cross-border exploitation potential. Companies are encouraged to formulate marketing and distribution strategies from the initial stages of development, thereby enhancing their potential to reach audiences at both European and international levels.

The call also promotes greater cooperation, including co-development, among operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. It aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European audiovisual production companies by reinforcing their investment capacity in the development phase and expanding their activities and innovation capabilities to explore new fields and markets.

Special emphasis will be placed on applications that demonstrate robust strategies for ensuring a more sustainable and environmentally-respectful industry, as well as those that promote gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call was published on December 3, 2024, and the deadline for submitting applications is September 17, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The evaluation period is scheduled from September 2025 to January 2026, with information to applicants expected in March 2026, and the signature of the grant agreement in June 2026.

The total budget allocated to the CREA-MEDIA-2025-DEVMINISLATE topic is EUR 5,500,000. The call follows a single-stage submission process, with the opening date for submissions on April 8, 2025, and the deadline on September 17, 2025.

Conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria, 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 are required to adhere to the proposal page limits and layout as specified in Part B of the Application Form, which is accessible through the Submission System.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself, application form templates (Standard application form CREA MEDIA), a calculator (CREA MEDIA LS DEVSLATE and DEVMINISLATE), a creative dossier (CREA MEDIA CODEV, DEVSLATE and DEVMINISLATE), a declaration on independence and European ownership, and a declaration on the language of submitted materials. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the CREA MGA and Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents 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 the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

For electronic submission, applicants must click the submission button corresponding to their action type and model grant agreement. Confirmation of choice is required, as it cannot be altered in the submission system. Access to existing draft proposals is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

For general information, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-MINISLATE@ec.europa.eu. Additional support resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk for technical issues, and the Online Manual for guidance through the Portal processes.

In summary, this European Union grant opportunity, CREA-MEDIA-2025-DEVMINISLATE, is designed to stimulate the European audiovisual industry by providing financial support to independent production companies for the development of slates of audiovisual works. It encourages the creation of culturally diverse and commercially viable projects with broad international appeal, while also promoting sustainability, gender balance, and inclusivity within the industry. The grant aims to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation capacity of European production companies, facilitating their access to new markets and audiences.

Eligible Applicant Types: Independent European production companies are eligible applicants. The call aims to support companies, including providing an entry point for emerging talent. A declaration on independence and European ownership is required.

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

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the emphasis on cooperation and co-development between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand suggests that collaborative projects are encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call targets European independent production companies, implying that the geographic eligibility is focused on entities within Europe. The program aims to support projects with the potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, indicating a European focus with international ambitions.

Target Sector: The target sector is the audiovisual industry, specifically focusing on the development of audiovisual works such as fiction, animation, and creative documentary. The program falls under the MEDIA Strand of the Creative Europe Programme.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on European independent production companies and operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. Therefore, the relevant region is Europe.

Project Stage: The project stage is development. The call supports the development of a slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual works.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 5,500,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified, so the funding amount per project is variable.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to support the development of their projects.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This European Union funding opportunity, titled "European mini-slate development (CREA-MEDIA-2025-DEVMINISLATE)," is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and its MEDIA Strand. It aims to bolster the competitiveness and economic standing of independent European production companies in the audiovisual sector. The call provides grants to support the development of slates comprising 2 to 3 audiovisual works, which can include fiction, animation, or creative documentary projects. An optional element is the inclusion of a short film directed by emerging talent.

The primary goal is to enhance the quality, feasibility, cross-border potential, and market value of European audiovisual works, facilitating their circulation within Europe and internationally. The call encourages strategies for marketing and distribution from the early stages of development to maximize audience reach. It also promotes cooperation and co-development among operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Eligible applicants are independent European production companies. The funding mechanism is a CREA Lump Sum Grant. The application process is a single-stage open call. The total budget for the call is EUR 5,500,000. The call emphasizes sustainability, environmental responsibility, gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness in the projects.

The call was published on December 3, 2024, and the deadline for submitting applications is September 17, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled from September 2025 to January 2026, with information to applicants expected in March 2026 and the signature of grant agreements in June 2026.

Applicants are advised to consult the call document and annexes, which include the application form templates, calculator, creative dossier, declarations on independence and language, model grant agreements, and additional documents related to the Creative Europe Programme and EU financial regulations. Support is available through local Creative Europe desks, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.