HBF Expands Funding Programme With HBF+ Europe

Rotterdam, October 7th, 2014

The Hubert Bals Fund (HBF) of International Film Festival Rotterdam has established a new international co-production programme HBF+Europe. The programme will provide substantial financial support to European producers serving as minority co-producers in feature films with theatrical potential, focused on but not limited to, first and second time filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. In addition to providing financial support to co-productions, HBF+Europe is committed to helping shepherd selected films through to release providing a financial framework for distribution. Through this scheme, the HBF expects to boost the potential of these films, to find their audiences across Europe and beyond. HBF+Europe will complement HBF’s existing funding operations and will be open to applications as of December 1st via www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/hubertbalsfund . HBF+Europe is supported by the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme of the European Union and exemplifies IFFR’s ongoing commitment to supporting filmmakers year-round.

HBF+Europe offers minority co-production support to European producers who are producing high-quality feature films by talented filmmakers from DAC-listed countries. The scheme has a particular focus on first and second feature films, but is also open to more established filmmakers. The HBF+Europe programme will support a total of four projects in 2015 and the application deadline is set for April 1st of next year. The funding is designed for productions in which at least one European and one non-European producer is involved. The European producer must be the applicant and will be responsible for the funding agreement. Where the funding is spent is not limited to Europe and the maximum amount to be awarded to each project is set at €55,000.

In addition to the co-production support HBF+Europe will stimulate the promotion and circulation of international co-productions in Europe and beyond by offering financial support to the distribution of feature films by filmmakers from DAC-listed countries. The HBF+Europe scheme will provide financial assistance for the promotion, publicity and marketing of selected films across all relevant territories. The maximum amount awarded per project is €20,000. In 2015, the HBF+Europe programme will support a maximum of four projects and the application deadline is set for September 1st of next year. The scheme seeks to encourage new and innovative distribution strategies and models and new partnerships between conventional and emerging players within the industry, with a strong focus on exploring the potential of online distribution.

About the Hubert Bals Fund (HBF): HBF is an initiative of International Film Festival Rotterdam. The Fund has been designed to offer financial support to remarkable and unique feature films by talented filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Since its creation 25 years ago, over 1,000 projects from over 100 countries have received support from the HBF. As of 2015, the HBF will provide support in the following funding categories:

• HBF Script and Project Development (max. €10,000)
• HBF Postproduction (max. € 20,000)
• HBF Plus - A minority co-production programme for Dutch producers- in collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund (€ 50,000)
• HBF+Europe – Minority co-production support (€ 55,000)
• HBF+ Europe - Distribution support for international co-productions (€ 20,000)

The HBF is funded by the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme of the European Union, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hivos, the Dioraphte Foundation, the Tiger Friends Foundation and the Lions Club Rotterdam: L’Esprit du Temps.

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) offers a high quality line-up of carefully selected fiction and documentary feature films, short films and media art. The festival's Tiger Awards Competitions, Bright Future, Spectrum and Limelight sections contain new work by auteurs from all over the world including many World Premieres. In the Signals section, IFFR presents retrospectives and themed programmes. IFFR actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent through numerous industry initiatives including co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund and Rotterdam Lab.

For further information please contact:
IFFR Press Office
Nancy van Oorschot
E: [email protected]
T: +31 10 8909090