RFAs: Project Development Funding for Long Documentary Films

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

Applications are open for the Project Development Scheme for Majority Dutch Long Documentaries, a funding program designed to support documentary creative teams during the development phase of feature-length documentary projects. The scheme helps producers and directors strengthen the creative, technical, and production foundations of their projects, enabling the creation of high-quality documentaries that contribute to a diverse and distinctive audiovisual landscape.

The funding supports in-depth project development, research, production planning, audience strategy, and collaboration with experts, helping documentary teams prepare projects for successful production, financing, and distribution.

Overview

The Project Development Scheme focuses on the development of majority Dutch feature-length documentary projects.

The program aims to strengthen projects before production by supporting activities that improve creative quality, technical planning, production feasibility, financing readiness, and audience engagement strategies.

Funding enables creative teams to explore storytelling approaches, conduct research, refine production plans, and develop clear pathways toward production and release.

Program Objectives

The scheme seeks to:

• Strengthen the development phase of documentary projects
• Support high-quality documentary storytelling
• Encourage innovation in documentary filmmaking
• Promote diverse audiovisual content
• Improve production readiness
• Strengthen financing and co-production opportunities
• Support audience development and market positioning
• Enhance international collaboration opportunities
• Increase the likelihood of successful production and distribution

Funding Available

Eligible projects may receive:

• Up to €21,000 for creative, technical, and production-business development activities
• Up to €2,500 in additional funding for audience positioning and release strategy development

The additional audience-focused funding must be clearly justified within the application.

Eligible Development Activities

Funding may support a wide range of project development activities.

Creative Development

Activities may include:

• Story development
• Narrative refinement
• Documentary concept development
• Treatment development
• Creative exploration and experimentation
• Story structure refinement

Technical Development

Funding may support:

• Technical planning
• Visual development
• Production design exploration
• Collaboration with technical experts
• Consultation with heads of department
• Testing of production approaches

Production Development

Eligible activities include:

• Production planning
• Budget development
• Scheduling
• Feasibility studies
• Production strategy development
• Executive producer consultations

Research Activities

Applicants may use funding for:

• Subject research
• Investigative research
• Archival research
• Location research
• Character development research
• Additional fact-finding activities

Expert Collaboration

Projects may involve:

• Script coaches
• Documentary consultants
• Subject matter experts
• Creative advisors
• Technical specialists
• Industry mentors

Expert involvement should clearly contribute to project development and quality improvement.

Hybrid Storytelling Development

The scheme encourages creative exploration of innovative storytelling techniques.

Funding may support development of:

• Animation elements
• Fictional sequences
• Hybrid documentary approaches
• Experimental visual techniques
• Mixed-media storytelling
• Alternative narrative structures

Applicants should explain how these elements contribute to the documentary’s artistic vision and storytelling objectives.

Teasers and Test Materials

Development funding may be used to create:

• Project teasers
• Test footage
• Pilot scenes
• Visual proof-of-concept materials
• Demonstration sequences
• Sample edits

These materials can help strengthen financing, co-production, and distribution opportunities.

International Co-Financing Development

Projects may receive support for activities related to international financing and collaboration.

Eligible activities include:

• Co-production planning
• International financing strategies
• Partnership development
• Market preparation
• International pitching readiness
• Cross-border collaboration planning

The scheme encourages documentary projects with strong international potential and financing opportunities.

Audience Positioning and Release Strategy

An additional funding allocation of up to €2,500 is available for audience-focused development activities.

Supported activities may include:

• Audience analysis
• Audience development planning
• Distribution strategy development
• Release planning
• Market positioning
• Festival strategy preparation
• Communication planning
• Outreach strategy development

Applicants must provide a clear justification for these activities.

Eligible Costs

Funding may be used for eligible development-related expenses associated with:

• Creative development
• Technical development
• Research activities
• Expert consultations
• Production planning
• Audience strategy development
• Teaser and test production
• Financing preparation

All costs should directly contribute to project development.

Budget Limitations

Applicants should observe the following funding limits:

Producer Fees and Overhead

• Producer fees and overhead costs may account for a maximum of 17.5% of eligible costs.

Unforeseen Expenses

• Contingency or unforeseen expenses may account for a maximum of 5% of eligible costs.

Budgets should be realistic, transparent, and directly connected to development activities.

Who Can Apply?

The scheme is designed for documentary creative teams consisting of:

• A producer
• A director

Applications must be submitted through an eligible production company.

Individual applicants cannot apply directly unless applying through a qualifying production company.

Eligible Production Companies

Applications may only be submitted by independent production companies that:

• Are legal entities
• Have been established for at least two years
• Operate within:
  • The Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • A European Union member state
  • A European Economic Area (EEA) country
  • Switzerland
• Are continuously engaged in the production and exploitation of audiovisual works

The production company must have an established track record in audiovisual production activities.

Producer Eligibility Requirements

The production company must be represented by an experienced producer.

The producer must have:

• Acted as majority producer on at least one feature-length documentary
• Produced a documentary with a running time exceeding 70 minutes
• Successfully released that documentary theatrically in the Netherlands

This requirement ensures applicants have demonstrated professional documentary production experience.

Director and Producer Independence

To maintain independent creative and production oversight:

• The producer representing the production company cannot be the same individual as the director.
• The producer cannot be the same individual as the screenwriter.

Projects must therefore involve separate professional roles within the creative team.

Assessment Considerations

Applications are generally expected to demonstrate:

• Strong documentary concept and vision
• Clear development objectives
• Professional development plan
• Feasible production pathway
• Appropriate use of funding
• Audience engagement potential
• Creative originality
• Production readiness
• Capacity of the creative team

Projects should clearly explain how development funding will strengthen the documentary and improve its production prospects.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure that:

• The project is a majority Dutch long documentary.
• The production company meets all legal and operational requirements.
• The producer satisfies documentary experience requirements.

Step 2: Build the Creative Team

Applicants should establish:

• An eligible producer
• A director
• Any relevant advisors, consultants, or creative experts

Step 3: Develop a Project Development Plan

Clearly define:

• Creative objectives
• Research activities
• Technical development needs
• Production planning activities
• Audience strategy goals

Step 4: Prepare the Budget

Include:

• Development expenses
• Expert consultation costs
• Research costs
• Audience strategy expenses
• Producer fees and overhead within permitted limits
• Contingency costs within permitted limits

Step 5: Submit the Application

Provide all required documentation, development materials, and budget information through the designated application process.

Tips for Applicants

• Clearly explain why development funding is needed.
• Demonstrate how proposed activities will strengthen the project.
• Present a realistic and detailed development plan.
• Show how expert involvement will improve project quality.
• Include strong audience and distribution thinking.
• Provide a clear production pathway beyond development.
• Ensure the budget complies with all funding limitations.
• Highlight any international co-financing opportunities.

Why This Scheme Matters

The development phase is critical to the success of documentary filmmaking. Strong development helps filmmakers refine stories, strengthen production strategies, secure financing, and connect with audiences more effectively.

The Project Development Scheme provides documentary teams with the resources needed to conduct research, explore creative approaches, engage expert advisors, develop financing strategies, and prepare projects for successful production. By investing in early-stage development, the program supports a stronger, more innovative, and more diverse documentary sector.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is the maximum development funding available?
  • Projects may receive up to €21,000 for development activities, plus up to €2,500 for audience positioning and release strategy work.
• Who can apply for the scheme?
  • Independent production companies applying on behalf of a producer-director team working on a majority Dutch long documentary project.
• Can funding be used for research activities?
  • Yes. Research, archival work, investigative activities, and other project-related research are eligible.
• Are teaser productions and test shoots eligible?
  • Yes. Funding may support teasers, test footage, proof-of-concept materials, and pilot sequences.
• Can projects include animation or fictional elements?
  • Yes. The scheme supports exploration of hybrid storytelling approaches, including animation and fictional sequences.
• What experience must the producer have?
  • The producer must have acted as majority producer on a feature-length documentary over 70 minutes that received a theatrical release in the Netherlands.
• Can the producer also be the director or screenwriter?
  • No. The producer must be a different individual from both the director and the screenwriter.

Conclusion

The Project Development Scheme for Majority Dutch Long Documentaries provides essential support for documentary teams seeking to strengthen projects during the crucial development phase. By funding research, creative exploration, production planning, expert collaboration, audience strategy development, and international financing preparation, the scheme helps producers and directors build stronger documentary projects that are better positioned for production, distribution, and audience impact.

For more information, visit Netherlands Film Fund.