Creative Europe MEDIA Programme

Overview

The Creative Europe MEDIA Programme is the European Union's support program for the European film and audiovisual industry. Launched in 1991 as the MEDIA Programme and subsequently integrated into the broader Creative Europe framework, MEDIA provides funding for the development of European film and television projects, international co-production financing, theatrical distribution support, promotion and audience development, training for industry professionals, and festival support. The programme operates across all EU member states and associated countries including Iceland, Norway, and North Macedonia.

The current programme period runs from 2021 through 2027 with a total budget of EUR 2.48 billion, a significant increase compared to its predecessor. The 2026 annual budget allocation is EUR 380 million. Funding is provided through 3 strands: the MEDIA strand (for audiovisual), the Culture strand (for other cultural sectors), and the Cross-sectoral strand.

MEDIA is distinct from national film funding (which operates within individual countries) and from EURIMAGES (which supports specific co-productions). MEDIA operates across the entire development-to-distribution value chain, funding activities at every stage from early script development through theatrical exhibition. This comprehensive mandate makes MEDIA a primary reference point for European film professionals at all career stages.

Development Funding (2026 Calls)

MEDIA development funding supports independent European production companies through two main pathways:

European Slate Development (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE)

Supports production companies developing a slate of 3 to 5 audiovisual works (fiction, animation, creative documentary). Applicants may add an optional short film by emerging talent.

Lump sums per project type: animation one-off EUR 55,000, animation series EUR 60,000, creative documentary one-off EUR 30,000, creative documentary series EUR 35,000, fiction one-off (budget under EUR 5M) EUR 45,000, fiction one-off (budget above EUR 5M) EUR 60,000, fiction series (budget under EUR 5M) EUR 55,000, fiction series (budget above EUR 5M, under EUR 20M) EUR 75,000, fiction series (budget above EUR 20M) EUR 100,000, short film EUR 10,000.

European Mini-Slate Development (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVMINISLATE)

Supports production companies in Low Capacity Countries (LCC) developing a slate of 2 to 3 audiovisual works. This pathway has lower entry barriers to build capacity in countries with smaller audiovisual sectors.

Lump sum amounts match the Slate Development rates per project type. The first day of principal photography must be scheduled at least 10 months after the submission deadline.

Full call details are available at the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

TV and Online Content Funding (2026)

The TV and Online Content action (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE) supports production of innovative TV content and serial storytelling by European independent production companies. The call supports animation, documentary, and fiction works intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting.

Lump sum amounts are tiered by total production budget: productions over EUR 20M receive EUR 2,000,000, productions between EUR 10M and EUR 20M receive EUR 1,000,000, productions between EUR 3M and EUR 10M receive EUR 500,000, down to productions at or below EUR 500,000 which receive EUR 70,000.

Eligibility requires a minimum of 50% of total financing from countries participating in the MEDIA strand, and a minimum of 40% of the production budget from third-party sources (broadcasters, distributors, funds, private equity). The producer's own investment and the requested MEDIA grant do not count as third-party sources.

Distribution Support: Films on the Move (2026)

The Films on the Move action (CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILOVE) supports the theatrical distribution of European films outside their country of origin. This cross-border distribution support addresses one of European cinema's structural weaknesses: the tendency for European films to fail to achieve meaningful distribution beyond their domestic market.

Distribution support amounts vary by territory. For films with production budgets at or below EUR 15M: EUR 15,000 for France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, EUR 12,000 for Austria and Poland, EUR 10,000 for Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, and EUR 10,000 for all other territories. Higher amounts apply for animated films. A maximum of 40% of the budget is allocated to films with production budgets above EUR 15M.

Other MEDIA Strand Actions (2026)

Beyond development and distribution, the MEDIA strand funds:

• European Film Sales: Support for European sales agents to enhance cross-border circulation
• Innovative Tools and Business Models: Funding for new distribution and business approaches
• Network of European Cinemas: Support for cinema networks committed to programming European films
• Networks of European Festivals: Funding for festival networks
• VOD Networks and Operators: Support for video-on-demand platforms
• Subtitling Cultural Content: Funding for subtitling and accessibility
• MEDIA Stand: Presence at international markets and festivals
• Talent and Skills: Training programs including EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), Berlinale Talents, and other professional development initiatives
• Markets and Networking: Industry event support
• MEDIA Carbon Calculator: Environmental impact measurement tool for productions
• MediaInvest: Investment platform for audiovisual companies

What Filmmakers Should Know

For European filmmakers and producers, MEDIA funding is available across virtually every stage of professional activity. A typical progression: apply for Slate Development funding (EUR 90,000 to EUR 510,000) to develop 3 to 5 projects simultaneously, then apply for TV and Online Content funding (up to EUR 2,000,000) or pursue national film fund production support, then apply for Films on the Move distribution support (up to EUR 15,000 per territory) to support theatrical release in multiple European countries.

For non-European co-producers seeking European partners, understanding that a European co-producer may have MEDIA development funding, distribution support, or slate support already in place helps structure co-production discussions. A European producer with MEDIA slate funding has demonstrated institutional validation and has development capital that reduces their need for co-production partners to fund early-stage work.

The 2026 call deadlines are strict. The Slate Development deadline is December 3, 2025. The Films on the Move deadlines are March 19, 2026 and July 16, 2026. The Mini-Slate deadline is September 17, 2026. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances. Producers should begin application preparation at least 3 months before the deadline, as required annexes include a lump sum calculator, creative dossier, and letters of intent from distributors.

All MEDIA calls are published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) manages call evaluation and grant agreements.

See Also

For the Council of Europe's co-production fund that complements MEDIA, see EURIMAGES in this directory. For national film funds that work alongside MEDIA, see BFI, Netherlands Film Fund, and Flanders Audiovisual Fund in this directory. For the 2026 Annual Work Programme, see the official PDF. For estimating production budgets when applying for MEDIA funding, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator.