- Who can apply?
- I am a producer/writer with a project, but no director is attached yet. Can I apply?
- My country of development/production is not on the DAC-list, can I still apply?
- I am a filmmaker from one of the developing countries, but my film will be set elsewhere. Can I apply?
- When can I apply?
- In which languages can I apply?
- How do I apply?
- What are the criteria for selection?
- What are the Hubert Bals Funds Rules and Regulations?
- What are the requested materials?
- How do I send my materials?
- What is a treatment?
- What type of budget should I submit?
- What is a financial plan?
- What is a (pre-)production plan?
- What sort of previous work should I include?
- What is Boost!?
- What are the different categories of the Hubert Bals Fund?
- Can documentary projects apply?
- Does the Fund also support the production of films?
- Is it necessary to have other financiers/partners in place?
- I submitted my project before to the Hubert Bals Fund, but it was not selected. Can I apply again in the same category?
- My project is selected. Can I submit the project, later on, for another category?
- When and how do I hear the results?
- What does the Fund want in return?
1. Who can apply?
Filmmakers or producers from developing countries (as listed on the DAC List).
2. I am a producer/writer with a project, but no director is attached yet. Can I apply?
The vision and the talent of the filmmaker are essential for the fund when making it’s choices, therefore we can only accept projects where a director is attached.
3. My country of development/production is not on the DAC-list, can I still apply?
In order for a project to be eligible for support from the Hubert Bals Fund, both the country of development and of the production should be one of the countries on the DAC-list. It is also essential that the filmmaker is a citizen of one of these countries. Countries that have recently joined the European Union are no longer eligible for support from the Hubert Bals Fund, but are able to apply for MEDIA funding.
4. I am a filmmaker from one of the developing countries, but my film will be set elsewhere. Can I apply?
The Hubert Bals Fund support should contribute to the local film industry in one of the developing countries. Therefore in case a film is set and shot outside one of those countries, the project unfortunately cannot be accepted by the fund.
5. When can I apply?
The Hubert Bals Fund gives financial support twice a year. Application deadlines are March 1 and August 1. All materials need to be in our office no later than five days after this deadline. Incomplete projects will not be taken into consideration.
6. In which languages can I apply?
Applications should be made in English or in French.
7. How do I apply?
Please read our Rules & Regulations first.
On this website you can find a link to the Hubert Bals Fund Application Webform, via MyIFFR. Login to your MyIFFR account, fill out this Form and provide us with the requested materials, either by uploading them or by courier/regular post. After filling out the Application Form it is possible to attach the requested documents to the Form (please note that we prefer a single compiled dossier, as a PDF or Word file). Only if you are unable to attach the materials to the Application Form, you may send them by e-mail to hbf@filmfestivalrotterdam.com. When using e-mail, please do not send ZIP-files or Powerpoint Presentations. When sending documents by courier/regular post, please make sure the pages are not stapled or bound, and please make sure the DVDs are marked with the project's name! You will receive an e-mail confirming the receipt of your application, due to the amount of applications this may take a few days. Only complete applications will be taken into consideration!
8. What are the criteria for selection?
Most important for the selection committee is the artistic quality of an application. We also look closely at the viability of a project. The project should contribute to the development of the local film industry and the local film-making skills. The story of the project should be rooted in the culture of the applicant's country. But the Fund has no rigid rules and each individual project will be judged on its own merits.
9. What are the Hubert Bals Funds Rules and Regulations?
Our Rules and Regulations can be found here.
10. What are the requested materials?
The requested materials differ per category. More information on the different categories can be found here.
11. How do I send my materials?
Online (through the online application form) and by post/courier. If you are able to attach all required documents to the online application form, it is not necessary to also send a hard copy dossier to our office. But do send us DVDs! When you send us only your DVDs (two copies of each DVD) please make sure the title of your project and your name are marked on the DVDs. When digitally providing us with the required documents, please note that we prefer a single compiled dossier, as a PDF or Word file (no zipped files!).
12. What is a treatment?
A treatment is generally longer and more detailed than a synopsis and it may include details of directorial style. A treatment reads like a short story: it's the full story of the film in its simplest form. The average number of pages is 7-12 but the Fund does not have a limitation on the amount of pages.
13. What type of budget should I submit?
Please send us the budget for your current production phase. So, when applying for Script and project development, please send us the Development budget. You may also include the total budget but we are mostly interested in the budget for the phase for which you are applying.
14. What is a financial plan?
A financial plan explains how you are planning to finance your project. It includes finance that is already secured, but also finance that is still pending. It can include all sorts of financiers (producers, funds, awards, etcetera). Please make sure it is clear which finance is still pending.
15. What is a (pre-)production plan?
A production plan is a sort of calendar in which you show when you are doing what work. The production plan shows the whole production of the film, including the expected date of completion. Of course it is no problem if none of these dates are fixed yet.
16. What sort of previous work should I include?
For all application categories we need to receive previous work of the director on DVD. You can send us all sorts of work (shorts, documentaries and/or feature fiction films). Please do not send showreels, we prefer full length films.
17. What is Boost!?
As of 2011, the HBF has joined forces with IFFR’s CineMart and Binger Filmlab in organising a special coaching trajectory for HBF supported projects. For more information on Boost! click here .
18. The different categories of the Hubert Bals Fund:
a. What is Script and Project development category?
The maximum contribution for Script and Project development is € 10.000. For your application, we need to receive a treatment (8 to 10 pages), as well as all other requested materials.
b. What is Digital production category?
Funding up to € 20.000 for Digital Production, of a feature length fiction film with a maximum budget of 100.000 Euro. The 100.000 Euro budget for Digital Production should include the full production of the film. A possible transfer to 35mm is not included in this amount, but our Digital Production support is meant for ultra low budget productions. This is why it is not possible to, once selected, to subsequently apply for Postproduction support. When selected, the finished film will (preferably) have its World Premiere during the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
c. What is Postproduction and Final Financing category?
In case funding has run out prematurely, Hubert Bals Fund support can help to finish a film. Funding up to € 30.000 towards the postproduction of a film. This can either be still in the editing or mixing period, but can also be used for making a blow-up of the film.
The finished film will automatically be selected for the International Film Festival Rotterdam and have its World Premiere here.
d. What is the Distribution category?
The distribution category of the HBF is designed to support alternative distribution projects (such as travelling cinema initiatives, new distribution systems/networks or festival outreach programmes) or the special release of an independent HBF or IFFR-selected film in the country/region of origin. Please note that the HBF is especially interested in initiatives that seek to find innovative and/or sustainable solutions for film distribution within the region. The support in this category can be up to € 15.000
e. What is the Workshops category?
This category is aimed at various initiatives that are contributing to the film climate in developing countries, such as workshops in the field of filmmaking and/or script writing organized in countries on the DAC-list. The support in this category can be up to € 10.000.
19. Can documentary projects apply?
The Funds main focus is the support of feature fiction films. Shorts, documentaries and films specially made for television cannot be taken in consideration.
All regular (creative) documentary projects are advised to apply to the Jan Vrijman Fund of the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).
In some cases the Hubert Bals Fund has supported documentary films. These projects always had a strong cinematic approach and were usually films that play with fiction or have a more experimental approach. Please keep in mind that the Hubert Bals Fund is designed to support feature fiction films.
From March 2010 creative documentary applications will only be accepted for the Postproduction category.
20. Does the Fund also support the production of films?
The Fund operates with 5 different categories:
- Script & Project development
- Digital Production
- Postproduction or Final Financing
- Distribution
- Workshops
Only ultra lowbudget digital projects (maximum total budget: € 100.000) can apply for Digital Production support.
21. Is it necessary to have other financiers/partners in place?
Applicants approaching the Fund should have other interested partners in place. For the Fund to participate in a project, there should be a strong possibility that the rest of the finance can be found. In case of applying in the development phase it is not necessary to have other financiers in place. Especially in this stage, the Hubert Bals Fund is often the first partner.
22. I submitted my project before to the Hubert Bals Fund, but it was not selected. Can I apply again in the same category?
No. Due to the amount of applications the fund receives it is not possible to submit the same dossier twice. Only shortlisted projects will be invited to resubmit.
23. My project is selected. Can I submit the project, later on, for another category?
This depends on the category in which the project was selected:
Yes, if your project is selected to receive Script and Project development support, you are welcome to submit it again, for Postproduction or Distribution support. Note: not for Digital Production support.
No, if your project is selected to receive Digital Production support, it is not possible to apply for Script and Project development or Postproduction support.
24. When and how do I hear the results?
The Hubert Bals Fund committee needs around 10 weeks to finalize the selection. Every applicant will receive an e-mail in which the decision on the project will be announced. A full list of all selected projects will be published on our website shortly after the selection is made.
25. What does the Fund want in return?
Script and Project development:
If no third party acquires the exclusive distribution rights of the Film in the Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) within 6 months after the premiere of the Film in the Netherlands, the Hubert Bals Fund wishes to obtain the Benelux distribution rights in order to promote the distribution of your film.
Digital Production and Postproduction or Final-financing:
The finished film will have its World Premiere at the IFFR. In exchange for its financial contribution the Hubert Bals Fund wishes to obtain the exclusive distribution rights of the film in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg; After recoupment of the HBF’s support the income will be shared with the filmmaker.