Films

We award grants for private individuals or working groups as personal grants for writing the script for a documentary film, short film, short animation film or documentary series. The applicant must be an audiovisual industry professional and have a Finnish social security number.

The amount of the scriptwriting support is 3,000 euros. Generally, scriptwriting support can only be received once per production. (Applicants must note that AVEK will not grant overlapping scriptwriting support with the Finnish Film Foundation in the case of the same applicant, subject, work phase and time period.)

Support will not be granted for

• completed works
• promotional and presentative programmes for companies, institutions or organisations, custom order productions
• productions fully financed by television companies (productions ordered by TV companies)
• feature-length fiction films
• fiction series
• feature-length animated films
• music videos, background projections
• educational establishment’s own productions
• educational films and learning materials
• self-financed films
• hobby-based productions
• equipment purchases

Application procedure

• Support is applied for through the online application system.
• No application periods.
• Two separate forms of support for the same production cannot be applied for simultaneously.
• Applications submitted by e-mail will not be processed.
• Applications are processed in the order they are submitted. Average processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks.

Application annexes

• synopsis / treatment
• working plan and schedule
• account of the applicant’s previous activity
• scriptwriter’s word

Agreement procedure

• The first instalment of the support granted can be paid when the recipient has accepted the terms of payment and use of the support in AVEK’s application system.
• The support is paid in two instalments. The first instalment will be paid after the acceptance of the payment terms and the second instalment after the approval of the final report. The first instalment is usually about 80% of the support granted.
• If the support money has not been withdrawn within three months of the support decision, the decision will expire.

Final report annexes

The final report and the annexes is submitted to the AVEK online application system.

• brief written report of the realisation of the work as well as a one-liner
• the finished script should be included as an annex (as a PDF file)
• no need for financial report

The agreement may be cancelled and the support recovered

• If support is not used within the agreed time for the approved purpose.
• If recipient has provided AVEK with misleading information that has affected the granting of the support, or continuation of payments.
• If final report is not submitted within agreed time limit and in agreed form, and recipient has not agreed on a new procedure with AVEK.

Notice of termination will be made in writing.

We grant support for audiovisual production companies (registered Finnish societies) for the development costs of a documentary film, short film, short animation film or documentary series production. Support can be applied for e.g. script development, preliminary research and filming, and to secure financing.

The amount of development support for short fiction films and animated films is 10,000 euros. Development support can be granted once for these films.

For a documentary film or series, the amount of development support applied for is 10,000 or 20,000 euros, depending on the work plan. Development support may be granted for the same production up to a maximum of two times. A total of 30,000 euros can be granted as development support for the same documentary film or series project.

The applicant must be obliged to keep accounting records. Previous supports granted by AVEK must be settled as agreed upon applying.

Support can be applied for e.g. script development, preliminary research, preliminary shooting, and acquiring financing for the production. AVEK’s support won’t cover all development costs.

Valid Finnish Film Foundation budgeting and reporting forms can be used for the application.

Support will not be granted for

• completed works
• promotional and presentative programmes for companies, institutions or organisations, custom order productions
• productions fully financed by television companies (productions ordered by TV companies)
• feature-length fiction films
• fiction series
• feature-length animated films
• music videos, background projections
• educational establishment’s own productions
• educational films and learning materials
• self-financed films
• hobby-based productions
• equipment purchases

Application procedure

• Support is applied for through the online application system.
• No application periods.
• Two separate forms of support for the same production cannot be applied for simultaneously.
• Approved final report for earlier support received for the same work is a prerequisite for new support.
• Positive decision for one production stage does not obligate AVEK to later grant further support to the production.
• Applications submitted by e-mail will not be processed.
• Applications are processed in the order they are submitted. Average processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks.

Application annexes

• synopsis
• script or content plan
• maker’s/director’s and producer’s words
• work/production plan and schedule
• cost estimate and financing plan for production phase (development, production, or post production budget)
• total production budget (item summary) and financing plan
• written account of self-financing share
• screening/distribution plan
• key personnel introduction
• account of applicant’s previous activity
• Trade Register extract (no more than six months old)
• link to editor’s cut / sample materials (compulsory annex for post production applications)

Self-financing

A written account of self-financing must be submitted as an application annex. Approved forms of self-financing are

• work of production company’s owners in the production
• use of own equipment
• salary transfers from key members of the working group, agreements in writing
• bank guarantee or other corresponding guarantee from a financial institution
• own spare capital

Agreement procedure

• A written support agreement for the support granted will be made with the recipient.
• Decision is binding when all contractual parties have signed a support agreement.
• The production plan, the total budget and funding plan approved by all funders, the copyright transfer agreements, the funding decisions/agreements and support instructions will be annexed to the support agreement.
• If the agreement is not made within three months of the support decision, the decision expires.

Final report annexes

The final report and the annexes are submitted to the AVEK online application system.

• Written report. The producer’s report on the implementation, costs and funding of the production phase / production, as well as any deviations from the budget.
• Script / content plan. Must be submitted if support has been provided for the development of the script.
• A summary and comparison of the main points of the actual and budgeted costs and funding, signed by the producer.
• breakdown of costs with comparison of actualised and budgeted costs
• Itemisation of self-financing
• Confirmation of actual costs and funding by an accounting firm / accountant. This confirms that the reported costs and funding are based on the company’s accounts and relate to the production in question.
• Audit report. Mandatory if the total support granted by AVEK for the project is 20,000 euros or more.
• A work presentation of up to 500 characters for use in public communications and a list of key authors.
• Images
  The image files must be in JPG or PNG format. AVEK and Kopiosto ry have the right to use the images free of charge in the presentation of their activities, such as in publications and on the internet. The maximum file size is 8 MB. The file name can be up to 55 characters long.
• Links: Links related to the project. Not mandatory

Copyrights

Support recipient is responsible for the appropriate copyright obligations for the work receiving support, e.g. licensing and reporting of rights.

Information about copyright is available from the industry practitioners, e.g. Kopiosto ry, Teosto ry, Kuvasto ry, Gramex ry, and Sanasto ry.

The agreement may be cancelled and the support recovered

• If support is not used within the agreed time for the approved purpose.
• If recipient has provided AVEK with misleading information that has affected the granting of the support, or continuation of payments.
• If final report is not submitted within agreed time limit and in agreed form, and recipient has not agreed on a new procedure with AVEK.
• If the costs are under the budget on which the support agreement was based, the amount of AVEK support may also be reduced proportionately and the extra money recovered if the second instalment is not sufficient to cover it.

Notice of termination will be made in writing.

We grant support to an audiovisual production company registered in Finland for the actual production costs of a documentary, short film, short animated film or documentary series. The amount of the production support is 30,000 euros. The company must be obliged to keep accounting records. Production support may only be granted for a production once.

Support for international minority productions can be granted as production support to a Finnish co-producer of the production. There is no fixed support amount for international co-productions. The need for support is specified in the application.

Valid Finnish Film Foundation budgeting and reporting forms can be used for the application.

Support will not be granted for

• completed works
• promotional and presentative programmes for companies, institutions or organisations, custom order productions
• productions fully financed by television companies (productions ordered by TV companies)
• feature-length fiction films
• fiction series
• feature-length animated films
• music videos, background projections
• educational establishment’s own productions
• educational films and learning materials
• self-financed films
• hobby-based productions
• equipment purchases

Support criteria

• The production is professional.
• Production has other confirmed financing.
• AVEK support does not cover all production costs of the work.
• Production/work must have a confirmed domestic, national, and professional distribution.
• Previous AVEK supports have been reported accordingly.

Application procedure

• Support is applied for through the online application system.
• No application periods.
• Two separate forms of support for the same production cannot be applied for simultaneously.
• Approved final report for earlier support received for the same work is a prerequisite for new support.
• Positive decision for one production stage does not obligate AVEK to later grant further support to the production.
• Applications submitted by e-mail will not be processed.
• Applications are processed in the order they are submitted. Average processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks.

Application attachments

• synopsis
• script or content plan
• maker’s/director’s and producer’s words
• work/production plan and schedule
• cost estimate for production phase
• total production budget and financing plan
• written account of self-financing share.
• screening/distribution plan. For production and post production applications, written confirmations of public screenings.
• key personnel introduction
• account of applicant’s previous activity
• Trade Register extract (no more than six months old)
• link to editor’s cut / sample materials

Distribution

Precondition for production support and post production support is a confirmed domestic, national, and professional public distribution in Finland for the work in question. Accepted forms of distribution are

• distribution on a TV channel or the  TV online platform
• theatrical distribution
• professional streaming service in its various forms
• some other professional form of public performance or distribution

Festival screenings, private screenings or similar will not be accepted as the only form of distribution.

Self-financing

A written account of self-financing must be submitted as an application annex. Approved forms of self-financing:

• work of production company’s owners in the production
• use of own equipment
• salary transfers from key members of the working group, agreements in writing
• bank guarantee or other corresponding guarantee from a financial institution

Agreement procedure

• A written support agreement for the support granted will be made with the recipient.
• Decision is binding when all contractual parties have signed a support agreement.
• The production plan, the total budget and funding plan approved by all funders, the copyright transfer agreements, the funding decisions/agreements and support instructions will be annexed to the support agreement.
• If the agreement is not made within three months of the support decision, the decision expires.

Final report annexes

The final report and the annexes are submitted to the AVEK online application system.

• Written report. The producer’s report on the implementation, costs and funding of the production phase / production, as well as any deviations from the budget.
• A summary and comparison of the main points of the actual and budgeted costs and funding, signed by the producer.
• breakdown of costs with comparison of actualised and budgeted costs
• Itemisation of self-financing
• Confirmation of actual costs and funding by an accounting firm / accountant. This confirms that the reported costs and funding are based on the company’s accounts and relate to the production in question.
• Audit report. Mandatory if the total support granted by AVEK for the project is 20,000 euros or more.
• A work presentation of up to 500 characters for use in public communications and a list of key authors.
• Images
  The image files must be in JPG or PNG format. AVEK and Kopiosto ry have the right to use the images free of charge in the presentation of their activities, such as in publications and on the internet. The maximum file size is 8 MB. The file name can be up to 55 characters long.
• Links: Link to completed work, or the work in other form agreed

Copyrights

Support recipient is responsible for the appropriate copyright obligations for the work receiving support, e.g. licensing and reporting of rights.

Information about copyright is available from the industry practitioners, e.g. Kopiosto ry, Teosto ry, Kuvasto ry, Gramex ry, and Sanasto ry.

The agreement may be cancelled and the support recovered

• If support is not used within the agreed time for the approved purpose.
• If recipient has provided AVEK with misleading information that has affected the granting of the support, or continuation of payments.
• If final report is not submitted within agreed time limit and in agreed form, and recipient has not agreed on a new procedure with AVEK.
• If the costs are under the budget on which the support agreement was based, the amount of AVEK support may also be reduced proportionately and the extra money recovered if the second instalment is not sufficient to cover it.

Notice of termination will be made in writing.

If recipient is unable to complete the work in jointly agreed manner AVEK has the right, in cooperation with other financers and co-producers, to complete the work as it sees fit while respecting moral copyrights.

International co-productions

Support may be granted for an international co-production with a Finnish production company as a minority co-producer. There is no fixed support amount for international co-productions. The need for support is specified in the application.

• Support may be granted to the Finnish production company for the production’s Finnish production costs.
• The Finnish producer must have the Finnish screening and distribution rights for the work.
• Production must have a confirmed domestic, national, and professional distribution.
• Support may be granted as production support or post production support.
• A co-production agreement must be attached to the support agreement

Post production support can be granted to an audiovisual production company registered in Finland for the film’s impact work (Impact support) and as an incentive for sustainable development (Eco support). The support is intended for the production of a documentary, a short film, a short animated film or a documentary series. Priority for granting post production support is given to those productions that have previously received support from AVEK. The applicant must be obliged to keep accounting records.

See Impact support and Eco support below.

The amount of the impact support is 15,000 euros. Impact support can only be granted to a project once.

Support criteria

• The production has other confirmed funding for impact work.
• AVEK’s support will not cover all the costs of impact work.
• The production has confirmed domestic, national and professional distribution.

Application procedure

• Support is applied for through the online application system.
• No application periods.
• Two separate forms of support for the same production cannot be applied for simultaneously.
• Approved final report for earlier support received for the same work is a prerequisite for new support.
• Positive decision for one production stage does not obligate AVEK to later grant further support to the production.
• Applications submitted by e-mail will not be processed.
• Applications are processed in the order they are submitted. Average processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks.

Application attachments

• synopsis
• script or content plan
• maker’s/director’s words
• the production plan and schedule for the impact work
• a detailed cost estimate and funding plan for the impact work
• total production budget and financing plan
• written account of self-financing share.
• screening/distribution plan. For production and post production applications, written confirmations of public screenings.
• key personnel introduction
• account of applicant’s previous activity
• Trade Register extract (no more than six months old)
• link to editor’s cut / sample materials

Agreement procedure

• A written support agreement for the support granted will be made with the recipient.
• Decision is binding when all contractual parties have signed a support agreement.
• The production plan, the total budget and funding plan approved by all funders, the copyright transfer agreements, the funding decisions/agreements and support instructions will be annexed to the support agreement.
• If the agreement is not made within three months of the support decision, the decision expires.

Final report annexes

The final report and the annexes are submitted to the AVEK online application system.

• Written report. The producer’s report on the implementation, costs and funding of the production phase / production, as well as any deviations from the budget.
• Script / content plan. Must be submitted if support has been provided for the development of the script.
• A summary and comparison of the main points of the actual and budgeted costs and funding, signed by the producer.
• breakdown of costs with comparison of actualised and budgeted costs
• Itemisation of self-financing
• Confirmation of actual costs and funding by an accounting firm / accountant. This confirms that the reported costs and funding are based on the company’s accounts and relate to the production in question.
• Audit report. Mandatory if the total support granted by AVEK for the project is 20,000 euros or more.
• A work presentation of up to 500 characters for use in public communications and a list of key authors.
• Images
  The image files must be in JPG or PNG format. AVEK and Kopiosto ry have the right to use the images free of charge in the presentation of their activities, such as in publications and on the internet. The maximum file size is 8 MB. The file name can be up to 55 characters long.
• Links: Web addresses that provide additional information about the project.

The agreement may be cancelled and the support recovered

• If support is not used within the agreed time for the approved purpose.
• If recipient has provided AVEK with misleading information that has affected the granting of the support, or continuation of payments.
• If final report is not submitted within agreed time limit and in agreed form, and recipient has not agreed on a new procedure with AVEK.
• If the costs are under the budget on which the support agreement was based, the amount of AVEK support may also be reduced proportionately and the extra money recovered if the second instalment is not sufficient to cover it.

Notice of termination will be made in writing.

Eco support is meant for documentary, short film, short animation film or documentary series productions that have already gotten AVEK’s development or production support.

The support is an incentive to apply principles of sustainable development in productions.

Costs related to this support must already be presented to AVEK in the original development or production budget.

Decision to grant the eco support is made by the commissioner who had made the previous support decision.

Already in the earlier application phase, the applicant must present to the commissioner the production’s sustainable development goals and appoint a person who is responsible for the sustainability in the production.

Support can be applied for the extra costs caused by sustainable development in the production, based on the reporting of realised costs, actions made and the realisation of sustainability goals. Eco support can cover 50% of the realised extra costs.

The support is applied from post production support, after the final reporting of the original development or production support. Application must be marked with the name “EKO: the production’s name” (the original name of the production that has already gotten support). Before sending the application, please contact the commissioner who granted the previous support.