Creative Europe MEDIA co-development 2027: €120,000 per consortium, deadline 2 March 2027

On 30 September 2026 the European Commission opened the Creative Europe MEDIA call "European co-development" (CREA-MEDIA-2027-CODEV), with a budget of €12.5 million. The funding is for independent production companies from at least two participating countries that jointly develop a single fiction, animation or creative documentary project. A consortium of two producers can receive up to €120,000, and applications are due by 2 March 2027, 17:00 Brussels time.

In brief

• Programme: Creative Europe, MEDIA strand – European co-development (CREA-MEDIA-2027-CODEV)
• Authority: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), European Commission
• Beneficiaries: independent European audiovisual production companies, in consortia of at least two beneficiaries from different countries
• Total budget: €12,500,000
• Value per project: up to €120,000 for two beneficiaries, plus up to €60,000 for each additional beneficiary; for fiction series with an estimated production budget of at least €20 million, €200,000 plus €100,000 for each additional beneficiary
• Funding intensity: lump sum, calculated on the basis of a 70% funding rate
• Submission period: 30 September 2026 – 2 March 2027, 17:00 (Brussels time)
• Status: call open; results are expected in August 2027

What does the co-development call fund?

According to the Commission, the aim is cooperation between European producers who develop works with strong potential for an international audience. The call funds the development of a single project, intended for cinema, television or digital platforms, in one of three categories: animation, creative documentary or fiction.

The phase funded is development, not production itself. In practice, this covers the activities that take a project to the point where it can be financed and produced: scriptwriting, research, visual concept, and financing and distribution strategy. The Commission requires projects to also address sustainability, environmental responsibility, gender balance, inclusion and diversity.

The difference from the European slate development call: a slate funds a portfolio of projects belonging to a single production company. Co-development funds a single project, developed jointly by at least two producers from different countries. You can find details about slate development on the European slate development call page.

Who can apply?

• legal entities established in a country participating in Creative Europe MEDIA (Romania participates, as an EU Member State);
• independent audiovisual production companies, as defined in the call document;
• a consortium of at least two beneficiaries, with a signed co-development agreement describing the division of tasks and the creative collaboration.

On the call page, the Commission lists international cooperation among the expected results, including EU–Korea partnerships. The exact admissibility conditions, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity and evaluation criteria are those in the call document. Check them there before forming your consortium.

How much can you get?

The grant is a lump sum set by the authority on the basis of the project's estimated budget and a funding rate of 70%. This means the remaining 30% must be covered from other sources. The ceilings are:

• consortium of two beneficiaries: up to €120,000;
• each additional beneficiary: a further €60,000 at most (for example, three beneficiaries means up to €180,000);
• fiction series with an estimated production budget of at least €20 million: up to €200,000 for two beneficiaries, plus €100,000 for each additional beneficiary.

How and by when do you apply?

The application is submitted electronically on the European Commission's Funding & Tenders portal, using the standard form and the creative dossier template published with the call. The deadline is 2 March 2027, 17:00 Brussels time, which is 18:00 in Romania. The Commission's indicative timetable:

• evaluation: March – July 2027;
• notification of results: August 2027;
• signing of grant agreements: November 2027.

What this means for your business

Consultant's recommendation: the call suits Romanian producers who already have a project under way and a foreign partner with whom they can sign a genuine co-development agreement. A partner brought in only for eligibility is not enough. Evaluators read the agreement and the division of tasks, so each producer's creative and financial role must be clear and credible.

• Start with the partner: negotiating the co-development agreement usually takes longer than writing the application. The five months until the deadline are not a lot.
• Check the independent status of each beneficiary, including the shareholding structure, before investing time in the application.
• Plan for the 30% co-financing: the lump sum is calculated on the estimated budget, so the budget must be realistic and well supported.
• Market strategy matters: the call requires international audience potential. Show concretely how the work will circulate, with co-production, sales and target festivals.

If you are not sure that your company meets the basic conditions, you can start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can a production company from Romania apply on its own?

No. The call requires a consortium of at least two independent European production companies, with a signed co-development agreement. For a single company with several projects, the suitable call is European slate development.

How much does a consortium of three producers receive?

Up to €180,000: €120,000 for the first two beneficiaries plus €60,000 for the third. For fiction series with an estimated budget of at least €20 million, the ceiling is €200,000 plus €100,000 for each additional beneficiary.

Does it also fund the production of the film?

No. The call funds the development phase of a single fiction, animation or creative documentary project, intended for cinema, television or digital platforms.

When will the results be known?

According to the Commission's indicative timetable, evaluation takes place between March and July 2027, results are announced in August 2027, and agreements are signed in November 2027.

Official sources

• Funding & Tenders portal – CREA-MEDIA-2027-CODEV, European co-development
• Call document CREA-MEDIA-2027-CODEV

Information checked on 5 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.