MEDIA News September 2023

The 2024 Creative Europe Work Programme was announced this week. It comes with a budget of more than €320 million. Creative Europe remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of the cultural and creative sectors. The priorities in Creative Europe's 2024 Work Programme include support for Ukraine, gender equality, diversity, and greening.

A new round of MEDIA funding calls have been published and will open next week from 3rd October onwards. See below for the new calls and deadlines. 

MEDIA STRAND

In 2024, some MEDIA grants have been adapted to meet the changing needs in the sector.

• Content Cluster: Companies will be allowed to apply to more than one development call per year, so that these would have a broader portfolio to choose from for their funding opportunities. The European Commission want to incentivise applications from bigger projects by changing the eligibility criteria for support to video games and immersive content.
• Audience Cluster: The Commission also adapted the eligibility criteria for the European VOD networks and operators grant to encourage applications from smaller, independent VOD services. This, in the context of intense competition with global players and broadcasters.
• Business Cluster: The Markets & Networking scheme will respond to the increased need for industry networking and cooperation at events brought about by a shift to increased acquisitions online.
• Policy Cluster: The European Commission will fund the second edition of the European Media Outlook report to continue monitoring the key trends driving change in EU media markets. It will also develop the MediaInvest equity investment platform; contribute to greening of the audiovisual sector through relevant support schemes; support media literacy actions; and facilitate cooperation within the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA).

Keep an eye on our website and socials for call updates and news about upcoming information webinars. You can also contact us if you would like to get advice on any of the calls and how best to prepare your MEDIA applications. 

MEDIA Office Galway with the support of Coimisiún na Meán will host a one-day Documentary: A European Perspective event in Galway on Thursday 2nd November. Participating Broadcasters confirmed to date include BBC Storyville, YLE, SVT, RTE, TG4 and Netflix. More to be confirmed.

The day will begin with a Panel session where European Commissioning Editors present their Documentary slots. Selected Irish producers and directors will then have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of these Commissioning Editors. This will be followed by a Networking lunch and a series of one-to-one meetings.

The event will take place in the Galmont Hotel Galway from 9.30-18.00 on Thursday 2nd November 2023. It is organised in association with Paradiddle Pictures, and will be moderated by Ove Rishøj Jensen. To attend the event please register here.

PITCH A PROJECT

If you wish to pitch a project to European Commissioning Editors please send your project presentation by email to MEDIA Office Galway by 29th September 2023.

The project presentation should include the following:

• Synopsis – half a page
• Treatment and early reflections on the narrative – a full page
• A link to selected scenes, characters or other visual material
• An estimated time frame and total budget for the film
• Contact details for the director and producer.

[Hidden Assets from Saffron Pictures, Sundays 9pm RTÉ One & RTÉ Player]

MEDIA supported films screening this month across Ireland in cinemas and online. We also highlight films showing in independent cinemas and cinema clubs that are part of the Europa Cinemas network as well as films promoted by Creative Europe and EU supported initiatives such as European Film Promotion, the European Film Awards, European Cinema Night and the LUX Audience Award.

MEDIA Funding Calls 2023

A new round of MEDIA funding calls have been published and will open next week from 3rd October onwards.

MEDIA Deadlines 2023 & 2024

• TV & Online Content | 7th December 2023
• European Slate Development | 13th December
• Markets & Networking | 18th January 2024
• Innovative Tools & Business Models | 24th January 2024
• Video Games + Immersive Content | 24th January 2024
• Films on the Move | 14th March 2024
• European VOD Networks & Operators | 9th April 2024
• Network of European Film Festivals | 11th April 2024

DG CNECT Open Calls

• European Media Platforms call | Deadline 18th October, 2023.
• European streaming portal | Deadline is 30th September, 2023.

MEDIA Markets, Networks & Training

MIPCOM takes place from 16-19 October 2023 in Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France. With more than 13,000 delegates, 2,000 exhibiting companies and over 4,500 buyers from around 100 countries, MIPCOM is the world’s entertainment content market. Every October, the global TV industry converges in Cannes to turn every moment into an opportunity, transforming four days of meetings, screenings and conferences into deals – from blockbuster programming to ground-breaking partnerships.

MEDIA stand services include:

• Discounted rates €845 (ex VAT) for MIPCOM and €790 (ex VAT) for MIP Junior
• Dedicated meeting areas
• Welcome desk and messaging services
• Online catalogue for MEDIA stand participants
• Coffee bar with snacks and happy hours
• Storage facilities
• Reduction on accreditations
• Workshops
• Buyers’ briefings
• Advisory service for first timers and newcomers

Find out more and apply on media-stands.eu here.

You can find a searchable database here that has training programmes currently supported by Creative Europe MEDIA.

Please note that bursaries can often be provided by the training organisations or by national authorities like Screen Ireland in the case of applicants based in Ireland.

ACE Producers call for applications for the fifth ACE Animation Special 2024 in Dingle, Ireland is open until 28th November. 

The workshop, which will be held in Dingle, Co. Kerry between 18 - 24 March 2024, is organised thanks to Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, in close collaboration with Screen Ireland, Animation Ireland and Animation Dingle.

The workshop is aimed at experienced producers who want to diversify their activities to include, and/or deepen their knowledge of developing and producing long-form/feature film animation production for an international audience (cinema, broadcast or streaming).

16 to 18 producers will be selected for the workshop, preferably with a long-form/feature-length animation project at concept stage. Focusing primarily on the creative and financial aspects of feature and long-form animation production, the ACE Animation Special will offer sessions on animatic story development, international production workflows, the creative dynamics of animation production, financing strategies and international distribution. The workshop will also include one or more sessions on physical line production as well as case studies on completed animation projects. Group sessions, plenary sessions and one-to-one meetings will together build a workshop where producers learn from each other’s experiences and those of key industry guests.

HOW TO APPLY
For more information or to request an application form, please contact info@ace-producers.com

CEE Animation Workshop is a year-long training programme for developing projects and enhancing the skills of producers and their creative teams in the field of animation.

The CEE Animation Workshop is tailor-made to suit the needs of producers and their creative teams with animated projects of any format (shorts, TV, feature-length, hybrid, XR) in development and is also open to a limited number of career-oriented participants, joining the workshop without a project and seeking to build a long-term strategy for their company. 

The 2024 edition of the CEE Animation Workshop will consist of 4 one week modules; 2 modules will be held online and 2 modules will be organised on-site.

The participation fees are:

• For two (optionally three) participants with a project in development: €3,000
• For one participant without a project €2,000
• €300 for each onsite module per team member

Deadline: 20th October 2023. Find out more and apply here.

The 2024 Creative Europe Work Programme comes with a budget of more than €320 million. Creative Europe remains committed to addressing the evolving needs of the cultural and creative sectors. The priorities in Creative Europe's 2024 Work Programme include support for Ukraine; sustainability; diversity; and greening.

CROSS SECTOR STRAND

In 2024, the European Commission will revamp the Creative Innovation Lab grants to encourage innovative approaches to content creation, access, distribution, and promotion across CCS and with other sectors.

This strand will also provide support to the news media sector adaptation to structural and technological changes through these calls:

• Journalism Partnerships
• The European Media Ownership Monitor
• Media Literacy projects
• Creative Innovation Labs.

Cross sector calls are due to open later in October 2023 with deadlines set for 2024.

Find out more here.