The European Film Distribution call supports encourage and supports the wider transnational distribution of recent European films by providing funds to European distributors, based upon their performance on the market, for further reinvestment in the acquisition, promotion and distribution (including online) of recent non-national European films.
The information on this page is for general information purposes only. For full details please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document.
What is the purpose of the funding?
- Improve the trans-national distribution of recent non-national European films.
- Increase in the investment in the production, acquisition, promotion, theatrical and online distribution of non-national European films.
- Develop links between the production and distribution sector thus improving the competitive position of non-national European films.
Please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document for full details on eligible films and activities.
Support available for
There are two phases for the funded activities:
- The generation of a potential fund which will be attributed according to the performance of the company on the European market.
- The implementation of the action - the potential fund thus generated by each company must be reinvested in:
- the co-production of eligible non-national European films;
- the acquisition of distribution rights, for example by means of minimum guarantees, of eligible non-national European films;
- promotion, marketing and advertising on the market of eligible non-national European films both for theatrical and online releases.
Please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document for full details on eligible films and activities.
Who can apply?
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- Creative Europe Participating Countries:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
- non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated with the Creative Europe Programme (list of participating countries).
- Creative Europe Participating Countries:
- be European companies active in the audiovisual sector as cinema or theatrical distributor involved in commercial activity designed to bring to the attention of a wide audience a film for the purpose of exploitation in cinema theatres. This shall be the principal activity of the company or division of the company.
Only applications by single applicants are allowed single beneficiaries; affiliated entities and other participants are allowed if needed.
Please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document for details.
How much can you apply for?
The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc) will be fixed in the Grant Agreement (Data Sheet, point 3 and art 5).
Project budget (maximum grant amount): €1,000,000.
The grant will be a budget-based (actual costs, with unit cost and flat-rate elements). This means that it will reimburse ONLY certain types of costs (eligible costs) and costs that were actually incurred for your project (NOT the budgeted costs). For unit costs and flat-rates, you can charge the amounts calculated as explained in the Grant Agreement (see art 6 and Annex 2 and 2a).
The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement (70%). Grants may NOT produce a profit (i.e. surplus of revenues + EU grant over costs).
These are guidelines only. Please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document for full details.
How can you apply?
- Please read the European Film Distribution 2026 call document in order to check eligibility and requirements.
- Applications are processed through the European Commission's Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal (F&TP).
- Detailed information on how to access the F&T Portal.
