WCF Europe Distribution Support

The WCF is re-launching the WCF Europe distribution funding programme from 2023 onwards by supporting the distribution and visibility of films coming from WCF focus regions in and outside of Europe. 

The aim is to give financial support for the release of a film originating from the WCF focus regions in European and non-European countries and to accompany the whole process with tailor-made consultancies with experts on audiences and market access. The underlying idea is to not only identify the audiences in the different territories, but also to generate dynamics of exchange and dialogue on strategies between world sales and distributors in the different territories involved in the application as well as improving the potential of reaching audiences.

It also implies a process of contextualizing the visibility of the films with their audiences in the short, medium and long term, while at the same time promoting the cinemas as a space for encounters and re-encounters.

Eligible for WCF Europe distribution funding are feature-length fiction films, documentaries and animation from a WCF Europe entitled region/country.

Registered world sales companies established in one of the countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme which aim to release a co-produced film from the WCF Europe eligible regions/countries in at least three distribution territories.

A film submitted to WCF Europe in order to get distribution funding must have been co-produced following a structure ...

• involving at least one co-producer from a country participating in the MEDIA sub-programme. 
• where the production company must be owned directly or by majority participation by nationals from such countries.
• that involves at least one co-producer from a country belonging to the WCF Europe regions and countries.  

The share of the European co-producer(s) respectively of those coming from countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme must amount to a minimum of 20 percent. Under no circumstance, the share of those co-producer(s) can exceed 70 percent. With the application, the structure of the co-production shall be attested by a duly signed co-production agreement, supported by a financing plan, provided that those documents contain detailed provisions on essential aspects of the co-production.

• To be eligible to receive WCF Europe distribution funding support, films must be submitted by a joint group of at least three international distributors (with at least one participant in the MEDIA sub-programme and at least one from a WCF Europe eligible region/country) lead by an international world sales.
• The maximum amount of funding per project is 30,000 Euros [total amount for the release of the film in all the (at least three) countries involved, with a maximum of 10,000 Euros per distribution territory].
• WCF Europe funds can only be granted, if they do not exceed more than 50 percent of the total distribution cost in all distribution territories. The same applies with regard to each distribution territory, i.e. WCF Europe funds for each distribution territory as specified above cannot exceed 50 percent of the distribution cost in the respective distribution territory.
• Applications for distribution funding can be made at any time. A consultation with the WCF beforehand is highly recommended. Applications should be made at least four months before the first planned cinema release of the film.
• For taking on the responsibility for its partners and for the coordination between all partners, the world sales company (the beneficiary) is entitled to an allowance fee for overheads of maximum ten per cent the total WCF Europe funding amount.
• In addition to the funding, the WCF offers the project tailor-made consultancy sessions in which the involved world sales and distributors from the different territories can exchange ideas on strategies with high-level professional experts on audiences and markets.

The following documents must be submitted upon application:

• The filled in submission form (322 KB)
• Synopsis
• Profile of the leading applicant (the World Sales) and the profiles of all distribution partners involved in the application
• Description of the distribution strategy for the film, including all territories involved in the application
• Detailed distribution budget in Euros for all territories
• Financing plan and recoupment schedule in Euros
• Financial agreements and/or letters of intent from financing partners
• Distribution agreement
• Final cut (in English or French or with English or French subtitles) on DVD

• WCF Europe Funding Guidelines Distribution (English) (749 KB)
• List of Eligible WCF Regions/Countries (485 KB)
• WCF Europe Distribution Submission Form (word document template) (322 KB)