Project entry   


IMPORTANT: NEW REGULATIONS and EXTENDED DEADLINE!

Please note that the regulations of the Hubert Bals Fund for project entries have recently changed.

Due to a decrease in the available budget, the HBF is currently reviewing its policies and regulations for 2013. Therefore, not all funding categories will be open for applications these coming rounds. Please note that:
  • for the 2013 Spring selection round, the HBF will be open for applications for Script and Project Development only.
  • for the 2013 Fall selection round, the HBF will only take into consideration applications for Script and Project Development and Postproduction/Final Financing.
The next deadline for project entries has been extended and will close on 7 March 2013.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions website for more information about the recent changes in the rules and regulations of the HBF.


Want to apply for a grant at Hubert Bals Fund for your unfinished film project? Please do. However, before you do, please read our rules and regulations first.

STEP 1: Read the rules and regulations for project entry first
STEP 2: Fill out the online Hubert Bals Fund entry form via MyIFFR


STEP 1: Rules and regulations

1.1 General rules

  • The Hubert Bals Fund gives financial support twice a year.
  • Application deadlines in 2013 are 7 March and 1 August. Applications can only be processed if all requested materials and necessary information arrive in our office no later than five workdays after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
  • It is essential that the filmmaker is a citizen and lives and works in a developing country mentioned on the DAC List. Please note: the DAC-list has been updated!
  • Applications and submissions should be in English. If you would like to submit your application in French, please contact us first at hbf@filmfestivalrotterdam.com.
  • Applications can only be submitted more than once when specifically invited to do so.


1.2 Selection criteria

Although the Fund has no rigid rules and each individual project will be judged on its own merits, there are certain limits to the field in which the Hubert Bals Fund operates.
  • The prime consideration of the selection panel are the artistic qualities of an application.
  • The country of development and production should be on the DAC List.
  • The entry should be original, authentic and rooted in the culture of the applicant's country.
  • The project should contribute to the development of the local film industry and the local filmmaking skills.
  • The Fund only participates in projects that have strong possibilities to succeed in gathering the rest of their financing. Applicants who approach the Fund should have other interested partners in place.
  • The Fund is restricted to the support of feature films and creative feature-length documentary projects with theatrical potential. Shorts, documentaries and films specially made for television will not be taken in consideration. Creative documentary applications are only accepted for the Postproduction category. Possible support for documentaries should be addressed to the IDFA Bertha Fund of the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam.


1.3 Categories

The Fund grants support in different phases in the development of a film.
Please note:
  • For the 2013 Spring selection round, only the Script and Project Development category will be open for applications.
  • For the 2013 Fall selection round, the Fund will only take applications into consideration for Script and Project Development and Postproduction/Final Financing.
For more information, please refer to our FAQ website.

1. Script and Project Development
The maximum contribution for script and project development is €10.000.

Applications should be accompanied by:
  • synopsis
  • treatment of 8 to 10 pages
  • director's statement
  • budget for script and project development
  • financial plan with confirmed financing, if available (include copies of the agreements)
  • (pre-)production schedule
  • bio/filmography of filmmaker(s) and producer(s)
  • previous films of filmmaker on DVD (2 copies) or, if available online, links
2. Digital Production
For the current 2013 Spring selection round, please note that it is not possible to apply for this category. For more information, please check our FAQ website.

Funding up to €20.000 for Digital Production of a feature-length fiction film with a maximum total budget of €100.000.

Applications should be accompanied by:
  • synopsis
  • director's statement
  • elaborate treatment or script
  • detailed budget
  • financial plan with confirmed financing, if available (include copy of the agreements)
  • production schedule
  • bio/filmography of the filmmaker(s) and producer(s)
  • previous films of the filmmaker on DVD (2 copies) or available online
3. Postproduction Funding or Final Financing
For the current 2013 Spring selection round, please note that it is not possible to apply for this category. Please note that applications for Postproduction Funding/Final Financing will again be taken into consideration at the 2013 Fall selection round. For more information, please check our FAQ website.

The maximum contribution in this category is 20.000 Euro.

Applications should be accompanied by:
  • synopsis
  • director's statement
  • post-production schedule
  • Two DVDs with a first cut; if the DVD does not come with subtitles, please enclose a (time coded!) English dialogue list
  • detailed (post-production) budget
  • financial plan with confirmed financing (include copy of agreements)
  • bio/filmography of filmmaker(s) and producer(s)
4. Distribution
 For the current 2013 Spring selection round, please note that it is not possible to apply for this category. For more information, please check our FAQ website.

Funding up to a maximum of €15.000.

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.

Applications should be accompanied by:

A detailed release proposal that includes:
  • description of proposed activity/activities
  • brief description of the current situation for release of independent film in the country/region
  • motivation for submission project
  • expected audience attendance
  • detailed budget
  • financial plan with confirmed financing, if available (include copy of the agreements)
  • bio/filmography of the filmmaker(s) and producer(s)
  • English subtitled final cut on DVD (2 copies)
5. Workshops
For the current 2013 Spring selection round, please note that it is not possible to apply for this category. For more information, please check our FAQ website.

Funding up to a maximum of €10.000.

Applications should be accompanied by:
  • detailed description of the event
  • goal(s) or intentions of the event
  • possible participants (target group)
  • biographies of organizers
  • detailed budget
  • financial plan with confirmed financing, if available (include copy of the agreements)
  • production schedule
When filling out the Application Form for a Workshop proposal, keep any fields that are not applicable blank.


1.4 Please note again
  • Application deadlines are 7 March and 1 August. Applications can only be processed if all requested materials and necessary information arrive no later than five workdays after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
  • It is essential that the filmmaker is a citizen and lives and works in a developing country mentioned on the DAC List. Please note: the DAC-list has been updated!
  • Applications and submissions should be in English. If you would like to submit your application in French, please contact us first at hbf@filmfestivalrotterdam.com.
  • Applications can only be submitted more than once when specifically invited to do so.
  • Selected projects will be announced ten weeks after the submission deadline.
  • Questions? Please check our Frequently Asked Questions section here.


1.5. Addresses

Applications and requested materials in English should be sent to:

By regular (air) mail:
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Attn. Hubert Bals Fund
P.O.Box 21696
3001 AR Rotterdam
THE NETHERLANDS

By express carrier:
(Please mention "Without commercial value, for cultural purposes only" and mark "no value", or "not more than 10 US dollar")

International Film Festival Rotterdam
Attn. Hubert Bals Fund
Karel Doormanstraat 278 B
3012 GP Rotterdam
THE NETHERLANDS
(please mark: 'no value' or 'value 10 US$')

STEP 2: THE HUBERT BALS FUND WEBFORM (via MyIFFR)

Please follow the steps of the application procedure in MyIFFR. You will be able to upload your project dossier (preferably a single PDF file). For Script & Project development applications, it is possible to include the URL of previous work available online. The application form will be available one week before the deadline, via MyIFFR.