Cash rebate and local funds
Estonia
Film Estonia production incentive supports the production of feature films, feature documentaries, animation films, animation series, high-end TV-drama and the post-production of all aforementioned works. An application can be made for international production service or co-production to receive a cash rebate up to 30% on eligible production costs.
How to apply for Film Estonia cash rebate?
The scheme is open for:
• feature films with a budget of at least € 1 million;
• feature and short animation with a budget of at least € 250 000;
• animation series with overall budget of at least € 500 000;
• high-end TV-drama with a budget of at least € 200 000 per single episode;
• feature documentary with a budget at least € 200 000;
• post-production of all the above mentioned works.
Open call – first come, first served. There is no application deadlines, producers can apply at any time during the year. The term for the processing applications is up to 30 days.
Need to have approved financing: 75%, including Film Estonia support
The level of support is determined by amount of the Estonian production costs that are both eligible and directly spent on parties that are subject to Estonian taxation, multiplied by 20%, 25% or 30%.
Regardless of the support intensity which proceeds from eligible costs of the Estonian production stage, the intensity of the support from the Estonian creative staff is:
– 30% if at least 2 creative employees are tax residents of Estonia;
– 25% if at least 1 creative employees is a tax resident of Estonia.
The report on costs is audited within 30 days of the submission by the applicant of the documents. The payment is made within 10 days of the date of approval of the report.
Decision in 30 days. Auditing in 30 days. Payment in 10 days.
Tartu Film Fund
Estonian production companies providing production services for international film projects are eligible to apply for funding. Under the scheme, the cash rebate for a single project is 10-20% of eligible costs incurred in the Tartu area. This will be issued after the production is completed and project is audited. The eligibility for funding will be assessed by a committee comprising an experienced film producer, representatives of Tartu City Government, the Tartu Centre for Creative Industries and the Estonian Film Institute.
• Annual fund: € 150,000
• Eligible costs: pre- production, production, post- production. Eligible is buying supplies and services:
– from a company that is registered and actively operating in the Fil Fund region
– from a private person whose place of residence is in the region according to the population register
• Objective: production of an audiovisual work in Tartu and Tartu, Põlva, Jõgeva, Valga and Võru Counties
• Support for the production of feature films, animations, tv-series, documentaries, short films
• Involvement of an Estonian production company is necessary
• Applications can be submitted up to twice a year- in Spring and Autumn. Need to have approved financing 50 %.
• The funding decision is made within 40 days starting from the application deadline
• Reimbursement of cost will be made within 30 days after the cost report has been confirmed
Viru Film Fund
Viru Film Fund is based in the Eastern region of Estonia, known for its large-scale industrial and mining infrastructure, Soviet era cities, but also swathes of untouched natural habitats.
• Annual fund: € 200,000
• Support intensity: up to 40%
• Objective: production of an audiovisual work in the Eastern region of Estonia
• Support for the production of feature films, documentaries, TV series, and music videos filmed in Ida-Viru County.
• We accept applications twice a year: on April 1st and October 1st.
Film Fund of Estonian Islands
Film Fund of Estonian Islands co-finances both Estonian and foreign feature films, documentaries, TV series, music videos and film studies.
• Annual fund: € 30,005
• Support intensity: The maximum amount of support is up to 40% of the eligible costs incurred by the applicant for the implementation of the project in the county.
• Objective: production of an audiovisual work on the islands of Saare County
• Support for the production of feature films, animations, tv-series, documentaries, short films and film education
• Participation of an Estonian production company is necessary
• Applications are submitted and processed consecutively. The period for using the grant is 12 months since the decision to allocate the grant is made. Need to have approved financing 50 %.
• Response to each application will be made within 30 days.
Finland Lapland
Film in Finland offers a production incentive, a 25% cash rebate for film production costs accrued in Finland.
• Eligible costs include pre-production, production and post-production, in Finland
• Support for a production of feature films, documentary films, serial fiction and animation
• The production must be based on cultural values and include artistic and creative work.
• Eligible costs that occurred in Finland can be a maximum of 80% of the total production budget.
• The rebate covers goods, services and taxed salaries. Other costs may include travel expenses, producer’s fees, overheads or costs related to making the production more accessible for people with disabilities.
• The rebate does not cover VAT, legal or financial services, marketing or distribution costs.
• Applications will be processed within about 40 days, with payments sent in about ten days.
• The applications are first come, first serve until the annual budget (~12 million euros) is depleted.
Latvia
Investment and Development Agency of Latvia offers a production incentive 20- 30% cash rebate for film production costs accrued in Latvia.
• Fiction features and animation films with budget of at least €711 436/ feature documentaries with budget of at least €142 287
• Open call at least twice a year
• Decision in 1 month
THE RIGA FILM FUND OF THE COUNCIL OF RIGA
Riga Film Fund offers up to 20- 25% in cash rebates – depending on whether the storyline is set in Riga or with significant featuring of Riga in the story, and at least partly shot in Riga