Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (EKKOMED)

Overview

The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (EKKOMED / ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ) is the Greek government agency responsible for supporting the development, production, distribution, and promotion of Greek cinema and audiovisual works. Originally founded in 1970 as the Greek Film Centre (GFC), the organization now operates under the framework of Law 5105/2024 ("Creative Greece"), which consolidated and expanded Greece's film and audiovisual funding mechanisms. EKKOMED administers both the Cash Rebate Greece production incentive and selective funding programs for Greek filmmakers.

EKKOMED operates two primary funding tracks: the Cash Rebate Greece (CRGR) program, which provides a 40% rebate on eligible Greek production costs for domestic and international productions, and Selective Support Programs, which provide grants for development, production, distribution, and promotion of Greek cinema. The agency also administers the "Greece On Screen" five-year action plan (2026-2030) with a total budget of EUR 750 million.

If you are a producer considering Greece as a production location, the Cash Rebate Greece program offers one of Europe's most competitive incentive rates. Applications are submitted year-round via EKKOMED's electronic platform, no later than 10 days before the start of production or post-production in Greece.

Cash Rebate Greece (CRGR)

The Cash Rebate Greece program provides a 40% rebate on eligible production costs incurred within Greek territory, provided those costs do not exceed 80% of the total production cost. The rebate is paid as a lump sum after completion of production and/or post-production.

Key Parameters

Minimum Eligible Greek Spend

Eligible Costs

Eligible expenses are those incurred and paid by the beneficiary for production activities in Greek territory, documented by invoices or equivalent supporting documents. They include:

• Above-the-line: fees for screenwriter, director, two lead cast roles (A and B), and music rights
• Below-the-line: accommodation, food, transportation, equipment rental, studio rental, materials, consumables, wages for production personnel
• Post-production: editing, visual effects, sound editing
• For Action A (large/foreign undertakings): foreign invoices for director and two lead cast roles are eligible up to 20% of total eligible costs (excluding VAT)

Restrictions

• Premiums and guarantee costs: eligible up to 5% of total eligible production cost
• Fuel costs: eligible up to 2% of total eligible costs
• Music rights, director, screenwriter, and two lead cast fees: calculated within defined limits
• Marketing, promotion, and communication expenses are not eligible
• Pilot episodes are not eligible

2026 Budget Allocation

For 2026, the total available public expenditure for the Cash Rebate Greece program amounts to EUR 100,000,000, distributed across:

As of the first quarter of 2026, total disbursements by EKKOMED have exceeded EUR 300,000,000 since the program's inception.

Selective Support Programs

EKKOMED's selective funding programs support Greek cinema through development, production, and distribution grants. For 2026, the total budget for selective development and production programs is EUR 15,000,000, distributed across two phases.

Phase A (Until July 31, 2026) - Existing Regulation with Increased Caps

Phase B (From August 1, 2026) - New Expanded Framework

The new regulation introduces expanded and upgraded selective actions covering:

1. Script and production project development (fiction and documentary)
2. Productions by new Greek creators
3. Greek fiction productions
4. Greek documentary productions
5. Production completion support (gap financing)
6. Minority co-productions
7. Short film productions
8. Animation productions
9. Children's and youth film productions

Distribution and Promotion Program

A new Distribution and Promotion Program for Greek film works has been established with a total budget of EUR 1,250,000 for 2026, supporting:

• World premieres of Greek films at recognized international festivals and their markets
• Greek films receiving theatrical distribution in Greece
• Cinema exhibition sustainability, supporting theaters across the country through Greek film screenings

Minority Co-Production Programme

EKKOMED's Minority Co-Production Programme provides funding for international co-productions with a Greek co-producer. In the 2025B cycle, 20 eligible projects were submitted (17 fiction, 3 documentary), with 7 projects receiving a total of EUR 565,000 in funding. Individual awards ranged from EUR 30,000 to EUR 100,000 per project.

"Greece On Screen" Five-Year Action Plan (2026-2030)

In 2026, the Greek Cabinet approved the "Greece On Screen" action plan with a total budget of EUR 750 million for the period 2026-2030. This is the largest support program for audiovisual creation ever designed in Greece. The allocation includes:

The plan also established the School of Film Technicians and Audiovisual Creation (Level 5), addressing a gap in specialized training for the Greek audiovisual sector.

Greek Film Industry Context

Greece has a film tradition extending from the commercial popular cinema of the postwar decades through the internationally recognized work of Theo Angelopoulos, whose long-take, tableau-vivant style achieved sustained international recognition from the 1970s through the 1990s, including the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Eternity and a Day (1998). The contemporary Greek Weird Wave, associated with directors including Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth, The Lobster, The Favourite, Poor Things), Athina Rachel Tsangari, and Babis Makridis, has placed Greek cinema in the global art cinema conversation with a distinctive aesthetic characterized by absurdist logic, deadpan performance, and formal rigidity.

Lanthimos's career trajectory, progressing from Greek-financed debut features to major English-language productions with four Academy Award nominations for Poor Things (2023), exemplifies the pathway that EKKOMED's development support makes possible for Greek filmmakers.

Greek co-production is active within the European framework. Greece participates in EURIMAGES and the EU's Creative Europe MEDIA Programme. ERT (the Greek public broadcaster) is a significant co-production partner for both Greek and international films, particularly documentaries and arthouse features.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For International Producers

The 40% Cash Rebate Greece is one of Europe's most competitive production incentives. The EUR 8 million per-work cap (EUR 10 million for strategic investments) means the full 40% is achievable for productions with Greek spend up to EUR 20 million. Applications must be submitted at least 10 days before production begins, and the rebate is paid after completion. The minimum Greek spend of EUR 200,000 for fiction features makes the program accessible to mid-budget productions, not just large studio projects. Eligible costs include above-the-line fees for director and two lead cast roles (even foreign invoices, up to 20% of eligible costs under Action A), below-the-line production costs, and post-production. Visit ekkomed.gr for the current application portal and full legislative framework.

For Greek Filmmakers

EKKOMED selective funding is the primary public financing available for Greek feature careers. The 2026 funding framework increased maximum grants to EUR 500,000 for fiction features and EUR 350,000 for first fiction films. Most Greek features require a combination of EKKOMED selective funding, ERT co-financing, EURIMAGES support, and international co-production financing. The Minority Co-Production Programme provides EUR 30,000-100,000 per project for Greek co-producers on international productions. The new "Greece On Screen" plan (2026-2030) provides EUR 750 million in total funding, creating the most stable multi-year funding environment Greek cinema has had.

Notable Activities and Productions

The Greek Film Centre (GFC), now operating through EKKOMED (the Hellenic Centre for Audiovisual Media and Communication), is the primary public body supporting Greek cinema. The GFC/EKKOMED administers both selective funding for Greek filmmakers and the 40% Cash Rebate Greece, one of Europe's most competitive production incentives. The EUR 8 million per-work cap (EUR 10 million for strategic investments) means the full 40% is achievable for productions with Greek spend up to EUR 20 million. The minimum Greek spend of EUR 200,000 for fiction features makes the program accessible to mid-budget productions. The new "Greece On Screen" plan (2026 to 2030) provides EUR 750 million in total funding, creating the most stable multi-year funding environment Greek cinema has had. Notable Greek Film Centre productions include the films of Michael Cacoyannis, including Iphigenia (1977), which was nominated for an Academy Award. Contemporary Greek cinema has gained international recognition through the Greek Weird Wave movement, with filmmakers including Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, Poor Things) and Athina Rachel Tsangari achieving international acclaim.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For international producers, the 40% Cash Rebate Greece is one of Europe's most competitive production incentives. Applications must be submitted at least 10 days before production begins, and the rebate is paid after completion. Eligible costs include above-the-line fees for director and two lead cast roles (even foreign invoices, up to 20% of eligible costs under Action A), below-the-line production costs, and post-production. For Greek filmmakers, EKKOMED selective funding is the primary public financing available for Greek feature careers. The 2026 funding framework increased maximum grants to EUR 500,000 for fiction features and EUR 350,000 for first fiction films. Most Greek features require a combination of EKKOMED selective funding, ERT co-financing, EURIMAGES support, and international co-production financing. The Minority Co-Production Programme provides EUR 30,000 to 100,000 per project for Greek co-producers on international productions. Greece's locations, from Aegean islands to ancient ruins to modern Athens, provide versatile filming environments that have attracted international productions including Mamma Mia! (filmed on Skopelos) and The Bourne Identity.

Watch

See Also

For the European co-production funds that complement EKKOMED support, see EURIMAGES and Creative Europe MEDIA Programme in this directory. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to estimate how the 40% Greek cash rebate affects your production budget. For the official Cash Rebate Greece guidelines and application portal, visit ekkomed.gr.