HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support

1. The HBF+Europe: list of eligible countries document has been introduced as of 2025. This applicant-friendly document contains precise lists of eligible countries specifically for the HBF+Europe programmes. The document clarifies the required co-production structure of eligible projects through several case studies of previously supported film projects. Please, note it slightly differs from the regular HBF list of eligible countries’ documents.
2. Projects with a maximum total budget of €1.5 million are eligible to apply.
3. A project is eligible to apply if at least 50% of the budget has been confirmed on the day of the application deadline (22 September 2026).
4. Please review the guidelines carefully for changes and clarifications on:
   1. the award criteria;
   2. the regulations and required documentation towards sustainability;
   3. the regulations and required documentation towards audience awareness;
   4. spending obligations and pre-production costs allowed to be allocated for the HBF+Europe grant.

The HBF sees sustainability in more than just environmental terms: it’s about creating lasting, positive impact on people, communities and the film industry as a whole. Our approach is built around three key pillars:

• Social sustainability – supporting fair, inclusive, and respectful working conditions
• Economic sustainability – encouraging responsible budgeting and fair pay practices.
• Environmental sustainability – reducing the environmental footprint of film productions.

We encourage producers to think about sustainability at every stage of the filmmaking process – from development to production and beyond – so that each project can create social, economic and environmental value.

For 2026, the HBF’s sustainability award criteria reflects this structured approach. The 15 points previously assigned to sustainability have now been broken down into several detailed elements. You can find these listed in Appendix 3: award criteria. In order to develop a sustainability strategy that should be incorporated into different sections of your application dossier, please refer to Appendix 1: eligibility criteria and regulations (see below) for instructions and guiding questions.

The scheme gives priority to emerging talent making their first, second or third feature films. Experienced filmmakers making their fourth and further films are still eligible, and will be considered in addition to the priority targets. HBF alumni filmmakers (those who have been supported previously) are welcome to apply at any stage of their career. 

The funding is designed for international co-productions in which at least one European and one non-European producer is involved. The European producer should be the applicant and will conclude the funding agreement. Only 25% of the HBF+Europe funding has to be spent in Europe, the other 75% can be spent elsewhere.

The scheme is specially designed to encourage European producers from countries with limited co-production schemes to participate. You can read more information about this in the HBF+Europe: list of eligible countries document. 

So far, 2026 has seen several HBF+Europe world premieres, including Elephants in the Fog by Abinash Bikram Shah (Cannes, Un Certain Regard – Jury’s Prize 2026), Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building by Bruno Santamaría Razo (Semaine de la Critique 2026), The Station by Sara Ishaq (Semaine de la Critique 2026), Tear Gas by Uta Beria (Locarno 2026 – HBF Empowerment Award 2025), Dear Ajayi (Venice 2026), and Four Seasons in Java (TIFF 2026).

Further highlights from the recent history of the scheme include A Useful Ghost by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (Cannes 2025, Semaine de la Critique – Grand Prix), Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri (Cannes 2025, Un Certain Regard), Becoming by Zhannat Alshanova (Locarno, 2025), Amoeba by Siyou Tan (TIFF, 2025), Spying Stars by Vimukthi Jayasundara (Busan, 2025), and Four Girls by Karen Suzane (Rio, 2025)

• The maximum amount awarded per project is €60,000.
• Up to five projects can be selected per round.
• The selection will be announced around three months after the deadline
• The project should not start production before the selection decision is made.
• The funding contract should be finalised by 1 April 2028.

The HBF sees sustainability in more than just environmental terms: it’s about creating lasting, positive impact on people, communities and the film industry as a whole. Our approach is built around three key pillars:

• Social sustainability – supporting fair, inclusive, and respectful working conditions
• Economic sustainability – encouraging responsible budgeting and fair pay practices.
• Environmental sustainability – reducing the environmental footprint of film productions.

We encourage producers to think about sustainability at every stage of the filmmaking process – from development to production and beyond – so that each project can create social, economic and environmental value.

For 2026, the HBF’s sustainability award criteria reflects this structured approach. The 15 points previously assigned to sustainability have now been broken down into several detailed elements. You can find these listed in Appendix 3: award criteria. In order to develop a sustainability strategy that should be incorporated into different sections of your application dossier, please refer to Appendix 1: eligibility criteria and regulations for instructions and guiding questions.

Only complete and eligible applications will be taken into consideration. Please read the eligibility criteria carefully in Appendix 1 – eligibility criteria and regulations.

The HBF+Europe: list of eligible countries document has been introduced as of 2025. This applicant-friendly document contains precise lists of eligible countries specifically for the HBF+Europe programmes. Please, note it slightly differs from the regular HBF list of eligible countries document. The document clarifies the required co-production structure.

All applications for the HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support should be submitted by the application deadline. Applications should be submitted in digital form through the link on this page.

The application consists of three components: a completed application form, a completed eligibility form and a project dossier. The full project dossier and eligibility form can be uploaded as an attachment to the application form. Incomplete applications are not taken into consideration. Please see Appendix 2 – required documentation.

The HBF+Europe selection process will take a maximum of 12-14 weeks. The selection procedure consists of two steps: a formal eligibility check and a selective committee assessment.

1. Formal eligibility check 

The HBF team will review all applications to assess their eligibility based on the formal criteria outlined under Appendix 1: eligibility criteria and regulations. Only fully completed applications that meet all formal criteria will be taken into further consideration.

2. Selective committee assessment

After the formal eligibility check, an external selection committee is formed to assess all eligible  applications.

The selection committee will consist of various industry professionals invited based on their expertise and complementarity to the overall composition of the committee. Professionals working for festival and industry sides of IFFR are often engaged too. All projects will be evaluated based on the information provided in the entry form, full project dossier, supporting documents, and visual materials. The HBF team will use a standardised assessment form that follows the pre-defined Award Criteria (see below). Each main selection criterion will receive a score, with a maximum total of 100 points possible.

Based on the overall scores, the selection committee will meet, debate and jointly form final decisions. Such committee meetings are chaired by the Head of Hubert Bals Fund. 

Please see Appendix 3 – award criteria

The selection will be announced by e-mail first, followed by a formal letter of confirmation. Projects that are not selected, will be informed by e-mail too. 

Committee decisions are final and are not subject to reconsideration. Re-application to the same call is allowed once only. 

The payments in the scheme for HBF+Europe: Minority Co-production Support are transferred in two installments:

• 60% upon signing the contract and positive verification of the total film financing and a positive verification of the eligible division of shares in the final co-production agreement;
• 40% upon reception and approval of the narrative and financial report, including an audited report, and a preview copy of the final version of the film.

Detailed information about the financial instalments will be included in the contract between HBF and the fund recipients.