Public Call for Film Sales Support at non-European Festivals 2026/27

EFP (European Film Promotion) is issuing a public call for Film Sales Support for the submission of classic and digital promotion campaigns of recent European films to buyers and distributors in countries outside of Europe at non-European festivals with an international reach (starting August 1, 2026).

In our ongoing exchange with the industry, it became evident that, beyond a pre-defined selection of key audiovisual markets, FSS must be available for promotional activities at the greatest possible number of relevant non-European international festivals. European sales companies will therefore be able to apply for FSS support for campaigns promoting selected European films at any non-European film festival with international reach*. This expansion opens new market opportunities for a broad range of film portfolios, including at specialist documentary, animation and genre festivals, while ensuring adaptability to the evolving festival landscape.

*for example: Fantastic Fest; Sundance Film Festival; South by South West (SXSW); DOC NYC; DMZ International Documentary Film Festival, South Korea; Tokyo International Film Festival; Beijing International Film Festival; Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival; Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival; São Paulo International Film Festival; Guadalajara International Film Festival; Morelia International Film Festival; Melbourne International Film Festival etc...

Please submit applications via https://application.efp-online.com/

Application deadline: 2 weeks before the start of the festival

Who may submit?

• European world sales companies registered in the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal of the European Commission and approved by the respective European film promotion institute
• European world sales companies whose sales agent or hired publicist is attending the festival

What is covered by FSS?

• Costs/investments for digital and physical promotion and marketing campaigns targeting buyers outside of Europe

What is not covered by FSS?

• Travel and hotel costs for attendance on site

Which films are eligible?

• Recent finished films, which refers to the original copyright of a film, which must not be older than one year before the respective year in which applications are made
• Majority-produced European films with a minimum length of 60' and a country of origin which is part of Creative Europe Media and part of the FSS Guidelines
• Fiction films, animation films and documentaries (feature length)
• Films must be selected in the festival (in any section)
• Should sales companies have 2 films selected in the festival, they may include these 2 films in the application

How much is available?

• An investment of up to 50% of the total costs up to a maximum of €5,000 per campaign for an overall spend of €10,000
• A Top Up Grant of up to €500 per application, in addition to the general FSS funding, is granted for the promotion of films that depict gender balance, equity and inclusion at ALL film festivals and markets. To find out if your film is eligible for inclusion in the FSS, please click here: Support Criteria for Top Up Grant Inclusion The final selection is made by EFP on the basis of the criteria checklist in accordance with the respective national film promotion institutes.

Please also read the FSS guidelines carefully for more details.

Support for films from Switzerland

EFP additionally offers FSS for the promotion of films from Switzerland outside of Europe thanks to the international measures by the Federal Office of Culture, Media Desk Suisse and SWISS FILMS.

An application for films from Switzerland has to be submitted separately from an application for European films via the usual online application system.
 

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