CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVMINISLATE

European mini-slate development

Status
open for submission
Programme
Creative Europe (CREA)
Action type
CREA Lump Sum Grants
Opens
22 Apr 2026
Deadline
17 Sep 2026
Fetched
15 Jul 2026, 07:18 UTC
Plain-language summary

Support for European independent producers to develop mini-slates of 2-3 audiovisual works with cross-border potential.

This call funds European independent production companies to develop a mini-slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual projects such as fiction, animation, or creative documentaries. It aims to boost their competitiveness and market reach across Europe and beyond. Emerging talent can also be included with an optional short film.

Likely relevant for

  • European independent audiovisual production companies
  • Producers of fiction, animation, or creative documentaries
  • Companies aiming for international co-productions
  • Emerging film directors seeking short film opportunities

Project signals

Mini-slate of 2-3 audiovisual worksIncludes fiction, animation, or creative documentaryOptional short film by emerging talentStrategies for marketing and distributionFocus on sustainability, gender balance, inclusion

What it funds

  • Development of a mini-slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual works
  • Works intended for cinema, TV, digital platforms, or multi-platform exploitation
  • Genres: fiction, animation, creative documentary
  • Optional inclusion of a short film by emerging talent
  • Support for marketing and distribution strategies
  • Promotion of sustainability, gender balance, inclusion, and diversity

Expected outcomes

  • Stronger market position for European production companies
  • Higher quality and feasibility of supported works
  • Increased cross-border and international circulation potential
  • Enhanced capacity to attract and retain talent
  • Greater cooperation and co-development across countries

Who can apply / participate

  • Independent European audiovisual production companies
  • Single applicants; no consortium required
  • Applicants must be from eligible European countries as per call document
  • Companies must be independent producers
  • Must develop a slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual works
  • Optional short film by emerging talent allowed
  • Exact list of eligible countries
  • Specific financial and operational capacity requirements

Must check before shortlisting

  • Eligibility criteria for countries and companies
  • Specific application requirements and page limits
  • Details on lump sum funding and budget encoding

Money

Total budget of approximately EUR 7 million for 2026 under lump sum grants.

  • Total budget — 7000000EUR
    Allocated for lump sum grants to support mini-slate development

Application notes

  • Single-stage submission model. Lump sum calculator is no longer mandatory; data must be encoded in application form Part A.
  • Proposal page limits and layout as per call document and application form Part B
  • Eligibility and admissibility conditions detailed in call document
  • Evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in call document
  • Legal and financial set-up governed by CREA Lump Sum Grant Model Grant Agreement
  • Prepare proposal following call document and application form guidelines
  • Submit application via Funding & Tenders Portal by deadline
  • Include required data on lump sums in application form Part A
  • Contact EACEA-MEDIA-MINISLATE@ec.europa.eu for non-IT questions
  • Check updated call document for latest conditions
  • Lump sum calculator annex is no longer mandatory
  • Ensure compliance with sustainability and diversity requirements

Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 22 Jun 2026, 13:46 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.

Official source text

Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.

Topic description

Scope: The objective of the European mini-slate development support is to foster the competitiveness of European independent production companies and to increase their economic weight on the market. The aim is also to increase the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop projects with the potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international coproduction. The support will also provide an entry point for emerging talent, giving them the opportunity to direct a short film supported by the strong foundation provided by experienced companies. Expected results A stronger position on European and international markets for companies selected under European slate development. Increased quality, feasibility, cross-border potential and market value of European works supported. Description of the activities to be funded Support will be given to independent European production companies able to develop a slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual works (fiction, animation, creative documentary). This should allow production companies to reduce risks and increase their capacity to attract and retain talents. The European mini-slate development shall provide support to the development of minimum 2 and maximum 3 works for commercial exploitation intended for cinema release, television broadcasting or commercial exploitation on digital platforms or a multi-platform environment in the following categories: animation, creative documentary or fiction. Applicants may add a short film by emerging talent to their slate (optional). The aim is to provide funds to audiovisual production companies to develop work with high creative value and cultural diversity and wide cross-border exploitation potential. Companies are encouraged to develop strategies for marketing and distribution from the outset of the development phase thus improving the potential to reach audiences at a European and international level. Greater cooperation, including co-development, between operators from different countries participating in the MEDIA Strand is also pursued as well as strengthening the competitiveness of European audiovisual production companies by consolidating their capacity for investment in the development phase and expanding companies’ activities and their innovation capacity to explore new fields and markets. Special attention will be given to applications presenting adequate strategies to ensure a more sustainable and more environmentally-respectful industry and to ensure gender balance, inclusion, diversity and representativeness.

Conditions and documents

Conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in the call document.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

described in the call document.

3. Other Eligible Conditions

described in the call document.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

described in the call document.

5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

described in the call document.

5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

Evaluation criteria, scoring, threshold and process are described in the call document.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

described in the call document.

Publication of the call: 4 December 2025.

Deadline for submitting applications: 17 September 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time).

Evaluation period: September 2026 - February 2027.

Information to applicants: March 2027.

Signature of grant agreement: June 2027.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

described in the call document.

Support information

For general information on the programme and the Call, please contact your local Creative Europe desk or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency: EACEA-MEDIA-MINISLATE@ec.europa.eu Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals . IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.

Raw budget overview
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