HBF Practical Info & Deadlines

HBF Funding

The HBF offers several funding schemes: early on for development, or later on for production and post-production. Filmmakers with a project in early development can apply for Script and Project Development Support in two sub-categories: Bright Future for first and second-time filmmakers, and Voices for filmmakers more advanced in their career. With the support of the Creative Europe-MEDIA programme of the European Union, minority co-production support is offered to European producers within the framework of HBF+Europe. Dutch producers can apply for co-production funding through the NFF+HBF Co-production Scheme, a collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund. The Dutch Post-production Awards are a collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund, the Netherlands Post production Alliance, and offer post-production prizes to be spent in the Netherlands. An overview of the latest selections can be found on the HBF Archive page. 

Although the fund looks closely at the financial aspects of a project, the decisive factors to grant support are the content and artistic value. Since the founding of the fund, more than 1,100 projects of independent filmmakers have received support.

All applications done at the Hubert Bals Fund should be submitted before 23:59h on the deadline date in the applicant’s timezone. Late submissions are not taken into consideration. The entry forms for both Script and Project Development categories will be available online at least 2 weeks before the deadline. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on our FAQ-page. Applications for NFF+HBF should be done at the Netherlands Film Fund. The entry form for HBF+Europe will be available in January 2020. The application procedure for the Dutch Post-production Awards will be published in the Summer of 2019.

It is no longer possible to apply for HBF+Europe Distribution support, the scheme has been discontinued as per 2018.

Geographical Focus

As per January 2017 the HBF provides support to talented filmmakers from countries listed on the HBF list of eligible countries. This list includes countries from Latin-America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, and is roughly based on the DAC-list of the OECD and the lowest ranking countries on the World Free Press Index.
The HBF also provides support to feature films by filmmakers from a country on the HBF list of eligible countries, who are living in diaspora (e.g. dual nationality, refugee status or residency permit) in a non-eligible country. Please note priority is given to films that are majority shot in an eligible country.

Distribution

The HBF asks for a few things in return for its support, after a supported film is finished. Firstly the World, International or Benelux premiere of the film should take place at International Film Festival Rotterdam, and no screening fees should be charged. The Benelux rights of the film remain with the rights-holder of the film. However, if no distribution agreement with a Benelux distributor is concluded within six months after the World premiere of the film, the Benelux exploitation rights are transferred to HBF. The HBF also asks non-exclusive world VOD rights of the film, to ensure that the film can at some point (after potential exclusive deals) be included in online IFFR curated content.

Results

Approximately 80% of the films the HBF supports have been realised or are currently in production. All projects that were selected by the Hubert Bals Fund over the years can be found the Complete Results overview on the HBF Archive page. Every year, IFFR screens the majority of recently completed films supported by the fund. An overview of (past) selected HBF projects and Harvests can also be found on the HBF Archive page.

Partners

The Hubert Bals Fund is supported by: 

  

   

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About the Hubert Bals Fund