European Programme Creative Europe

Cinema Networks

The call for proposals EAC/S20/2013 “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” has been published by the European Commission in the framework of the Creative Europe Programme (Media Sub-Programme).

The “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals is based on the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014-2020). Within the field of reinforcing the audiovisual sector's capacity, one of the priorities of the MEDIA Sub-programme will be to support theatrical distribution through transnational marketing, branding, distribution and exhibition of audiovisual works.

 

More specifically, the objective of the “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals is to support a European cinema operators' network screening a significant proportion of non-national European films.

 

The  “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals is open to European cinemas grouped in a network entrusted to take full legal responsibility for the proper implementation of the action, including by eligible third parties, vis-a-vis the Agency.

To be eligible, the cinema network must represent at least 100 cinemas situated in at least 20 countries participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme. The network must be represented by a duly constituted legal entity, with a legal personality, having its registered office in one of the Member States of the European Union. European independent cinemas that are members of the applicant network can receive financial support to carry out the eligible activities.

Only those European independent cinemas shall be eligible as participants of the network:

• those are first run cinemas (programming European films in first run, within a maximum period of twelve months after the first national release). Those cinemas which dedicate a maximum of 30% of their screenings to retrospectives or re-releases may be eligible ;
• that have been open to the public for a minimum of 6 months;
• that possess a ticketing and entry declaration system ;
• that have at least one screen and 70 seats ;
• that had at least 300 screenings per year for single-screen cinemas and 520 screenings per year for multi-screen cinemas (cinemas in operation for a period of at least 6 months per year), and at least 30 screenings per month for summer / open air cinemas (cinemas in operation for less than 6 months per year) ;
• that had at least 20,000 spectators in the previous twelve months.

 

Applications from legal entities established in one of the following countries are eligible as long as all conditions referred to in Article 8 of the Regulation establishing the Creative Europe Programme are met and the Commission has entered into negotiations with the country:

• EU Member States;
• acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, in

       accordance with the general principles and general terms and conditions for the participation of those

       countries in Union programmes established in the respective Framework Agreements, Association Council

       Decisions or similar agreements;

• EFTA countries which are members of the EEA, in accordance with the provisions of the EEA Agreement;
• the Swiss Confederation, on the basis of a bilateral agreement to be concluded with that country;
• countries of the European neighbourhood area in accordance with the procedures defined with those

        countries following the framework agreements providing for their participation in European Union

        programmes.

 

Eligible actions in the framework of the current EAC/S20/2013 “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals are:

• actions aiming at promoting and screening European films.
• educational activities aiming at raising awareness among young cinema-goers.
• promotion and marketing activities in cooperation with other distribution platforms (e.g. TV broadcasters, VOD platforms).
• networking activities: information, animation and communication.
• provision of financial support to third parties (members of the applicant network) implementing eligible activities

 

The total budget available for the co-financing of actions under the current EAC/S20/2013 “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals is EUR 10.500.000. The financial contribution of the Union cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible costs.

 

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current EAC/S20/2013 “Support for the networking of cinemas screening European films – the Cinema Networks scheme” call for proposals is 27/06/2014.

 

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/media/fundings/creative-europe/call_12_en.htm.