As the two-year funding period 2024-2026 draws to a close, European Film Promotion (EFP) is pleased to announce that Film Sales Support (FSS) has allocated more than €610,000 in promotional backing for a total of 332 European films. Funded by Creative Europe MEDIA, the scheme supports customised sales campaigns designed to facilitate the distribution of European films in markets outside Europe.
FSS grants were awarded to 58 European world sales companies affiliated with EFP. The funding supported promotional campaigns for 235 completed and 97 unfinished European fiction films, animated films and documentaries from 31 European countries. At least 58% of the supported films have already been reported as sold to distributors outside Europe, with further sales expected as some negotiations are still ongoing. Against the backdrop of challenging international markets, this is a strong indication of the effectiveness and relevance of FSS in supporting the distribution of European films beyond Europe.
>>click here for the full list
A boost for inclusion
A particularly effective addition to the funding scheme has been the FSS Top Up Grant Inclusion
for films addressing gender-related topics, equity and inclusion. The
possibility of topping up the maximum available grant per campaign by
€500 has encouraged many sales companies to consider both the creative
teams and the content of the films they promote. During the funding
period, 60 films received the FSS Top Up Grant Inclusion, and 89 films
were labelled as inclusive overall, giving them additional exposure. At
the same time, the figures underline that further progress towards
greater gender balance is still needed: FSS supported 110 films directed
by women+, compared with 222 films directed by men.
FSS for films from Switzerland
Thanks
to the continued support of Swiss Films, which provides EFP with FSS
funding for films made in Switzerland, promotion campaigns for eleven
films were able to benefit from FSS. >>click here for the full list
Looking ahead
EFP
is pleased to announce the confirmation of a new two-year agreement
with Creative Europe MEDIA for the 2026–2028 funding period, ensuring
that it can continue to support the international promotion and
distribution of European films. Market observations clearly indicate
that European arthouse films are facing challenging conditions
worldwide, making targeted support for their international promotion and
distribution more important than ever. Against this backdrop, Film
Sales Support (FSS) remains a highly relevant instrument for
strengthening the visibility, circulation and international sales
potential of European films beyond Europe.
Film Sales Support (FSS) has been backed by Creative Europe MEDIA since its launch in 2004. FSS also receives contributions from the Nordisk Film & TV Fond and ICAA, Spain.
