The aim of the "automatic" support scheme is to encourage and support the wider transnational distribution of recent non national European films by providing funds to operators for further investment in such films based upon their record of generating an audience for European films. The call for proposals also aims to encourage the development of links between the production and distribution sector thus improving the competitive position of non-national European films. 

Applicants must be European theatrical distribution companies, registered in one of the Member States of the European Union or of the countries participating in the MEDIA 2007 Programme.  The MEDIA support is awarded in two stages.

Generation stage - Once a year, MEDIA issues a call for proposals. Distributors then declare the box-office receipts from films from other European countries that they distributed the year before. Only films from 2005 or later generate support. The amount of potential support is based on the receipts from the films (up to 700 000 entries), their origin and the country of distribution.

Reinvestment stage - The receipts determine the amount of support which will be available, in each case, for three forms of reinvestment in non- national European films 
- co-production
- minimum distribution guarantees
- distribution costs.  Reinvestment in co-production or distribution (minimum distribution guarantees , publishing, promotion and publicity costs) can cover from 40 to 60% of eligible costs.

Call for proposals 25/2012:  Deadline 30 April 2013. Reinvestment Deadline:  1 October 2014. 

Click here for Guidelines and Application Forms.