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. 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. 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 from independent filmmakers have received support.

Deadlines

• 16 May 2022: HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support
• 1 August 2022: Script and Project Development Support
• 3 October 2022: NFF+HBF Co-production Scheme

Please note that for Script and Project Development Support there is only one regular category that combines projects from experienced and early-career directors. Entry forms will be available online at least 2 weeks before the deadline.

All applications made for the Hubert Bals Fund should be submitted before 23:59h on the deadline date in the applicant’s time zone. Late submissions are not taken into consideration. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found on our FAQ-page. Applications for NFF+HBF should be made through the Netherlands Film Fund. 

Geographical Focus

As per January 2017 the HBF provides support to talented filmmakers from countries as specified in 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 who are originally from a country on the HBF list of eligible countries but are currently 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 for 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.

Facts and Figures 2020-2021

* We use regions as defined by the World Bank

For more data, please see the IFFR Annual Reports on the HBF Archive page.

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 in our Complete Results overview. Every year, IFFR screens the majority of recently completed films supported by the fund. An overview of (past) selected HBF projects and Harvests can be found on the HBF Archive page.