European slate development

The European slate development support is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and specifically titled CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE. This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness and market presence of independent European production companies by providing financial assistance for the development of a slate of three to five audiovisual works. The supported projects can include various genres, such as fiction, animation, and creative documentaries, intended for exploitation across cinema, television, and digital platforms. The total budget for this call is 21 million euros.

Eligible applicants must be independent European audiovisual production companies with prior experience in producing content intended for international distribution. Each applicant must apply as a single entity, but they have the option to include affiliated partners if necessary. The funding operates as a CREA Lump Sum Grant, meaning applicants will receive predetermined lump sums based on the project's characteristics rather than reimbursement for actual costs. Individual project funding amounts vary depending on the scope and budget of the works being developed, with lump sums ranging widely based on the format and production type.

The application process is a one-stage submission with a deadline for applications set for December 3, 2025. The evaluation period will occur from December 2025 to April 2026, with results announced in May 2026 and grant agreements signed in August 2026. All applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and should include comprehensive funding strategies to demonstrate preparedness for securing complete project financing.

The program emphasizes the importance of developing marketing and distribution strategies early in the process to enhance the projects' potential for both European and international reach. Special consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate strategies for sustainability, gender balance, inclusion, and cultural diversity. The initiative also aims to foster collaboration among operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Overall, this grant opportunity offers independent production companies the chance to obtain vital support for the development of high-quality audiovisual projects, while promoting sustainability and cooperation across Europe. For detailed guidance and templates for the application process, applicants may contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.

The European slate development support, under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), aims to bolster the competitiveness of European independent production companies and enhance their market presence. The call is CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE, a CREA Lump Sum Grant (CREA-LS) with a single-stage submission process. The objective is to enhance the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop projects with the potential for broad European and international circulation, and to facilitate European and international co-production. The support also serves as an entry point for emerging talent, offering opportunities to direct short films under the guidance of experienced companies.

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

The activities to be funded involve providing support to independent European production companies for developing a slate of 3 to 5 audiovisual works, encompassing fiction, animation, and creative documentary. This approach aims to mitigate risks and enhance the companies' ability to attract and retain talent. The slate should include a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 works intended for commercial exploitation through cinema release, television broadcasting, commercial digital platforms, or multi-platform environments. Applicants have the option to include a short film by emerging talent in their slate.

The call aims to fund audiovisual production companies to develop work with high creative value, cultural diversity, and wide cross-border exploitation potential. Companies are encouraged to develop marketing and distribution strategies from the outset to improve audience reach 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, and seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of European audiovisual production companies by consolidating their investment capacity in the development phase and expanding their activities and innovation capacity to explore new fields and markets.

Special attention will be given to applications presenting adequate strategies to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally-respectful industry, as well as gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness.

The call was published on 30 September 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 3 December 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time). The evaluation period is scheduled from December 2025 to April 2026, with information to applicants expected in May 2026, and the signature of the grant agreement in August 2026.

Conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring and thresholds, and the legal and financial setup of the grants are all described in the call document. The proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself. Application form templates include the standard application form (CREA MEDIA), available in the Submission System, a calculator (CREA MEDIA LS DEVSLATE and DEVMINISLATE), a creative dossier (CREA MEDIA CODEV, DEVSLATE and DEVMINISLATE), information on independence and ownership (CREA MEDIA), and information on the language of submission documents (CREA MEDIA). Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the CREA MGA and the 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 Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE call is 21,000,000 EUR.

For general information on the programme and the Call, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-DEVSLATE@ec.europa.eu. Additional support resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for submission of proposals, the IT Helpdesk for technical questions, and the Online Manual for a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme, specifically targeting independent European production companies. It aims to support the development of slates of audiovisual works, fostering competitiveness, cultural diversity, and cross-border potential. The grant provides financial assistance for the development phase of projects intended for various commercial exploitation channels, including cinema, television, and digital platforms. The call emphasizes sustainability, gender balance, inclusion, and diversity, and encourages cooperation among European operators. The application process involves submitting a comprehensive proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal, adhering to specific guidelines and deadlines.

Eligible Applicant Types: Independent European production companies.

Funding Type: Grant, specifically a CREA Lump Sum Grant.

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 suggests that consortia may be beneficial, though not necessarily mandatory.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): European countries participating in the MEDIA Strand of the Creative Europe Programme.

Target Sector: Audiovisual, specifically fiction, animation, and creative documentary.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the geographic scope is European, referring to countries participating in the MEDIA Strand.

Project Stage: Development. The grant supports the development of a slate of audiovisual works.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 21,000,000. The funding amount per project is variable, depending on the scope and scale of the slate development.

Application Type: Open call.

Nature of Support: Money. Beneficiaries will receive funds to support the development of their projects.

Application Stages: 1. Admissibility check, 2. Evaluation, 3. Award.

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:

The European Slate Development call (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE) is part of the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and aims to bolster the competitiveness and economic impact of independent European production companies. It provides financial support to companies for developing a slate of 3 to 5 audiovisual works, including fiction, animation, and creative documentaries, intended for commercial exploitation across various platforms such as cinema, television, and digital platforms. The call encourages strategies for marketing and distribution from the development phase to enhance the potential for reaching European and international audiences. It also promotes greater cooperation and co-development among operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand. Special attention is given to applications that demonstrate strategies for sustainability, environmental responsibility, gender balance, inclusion, diversity, and representativeness. The call opens on September 30, 2025, with a deadline for submissions on December 3, 2025. The evaluation period runs from December 2025 to April 2026, with information to applicants in May 2026, and grant agreements expected to be signed in August 2026. The total budget for this call is EUR 21,000,000, and the application process is a single-stage submission. Applicants must use the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal, and various templates and guidelines are provided to assist in the application process. For further assistance, applicants can contact their local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.