Call window open Creative Europe MEDIA 2027 — European slate development for production companies (CREA-MEDIA-2027-DEVSLATE)
Independent audiovisual production companies that already have internationally distributed works can receive between €90,000 and €510,000 from EACEA to develop 3–5 films, series or documentaries. The estimated budget is €22,374,320, and the deadline is 1 December 2026.
- Who can apply
- Independent European audiovisual production companies can apply
- Total budget
- €22,374,320 (estimated, subject to adoption of the 2027 EU budget)
- Funding amount
- €90,000–€510,000 per project, grant in the form of lump sums per work
- Submission period
- 30 September 2026 – 1 December 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time)
Checked against official sources on · funder: European Education and Culture Executive Agency · official source
The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.
Who can apply
Independent European audiovisual production companies can apply: legal entities from a country that participates fully in the MEDIA strand (including Romania), owned directly or indirectly, wholly or majority, by nationals of those countries. A single broadcaster or audiovisual media service provider may not hold more than 25% of the capital (50% if there are several). The company must demonstrate two works produced since 2020, each at least 24 minutes long (there is no minimum duration for immersive works) and commercially released in at least three foreign countries. For each work, the company must have been the sole producer, majority co-producer or delegate producer, or its managing director or a direct shareholder must hold a personal producer or delegate producer credit. Companies that received a grant under DEVSLATE 2026 or DEVMINISLATE 2026 cannot apply. Consortia are not allowed.
What it covers
- Development of 3–5 works intended for commercial exploitation (animation, creative documentary or fiction)
- Fiction feature films, animation or documentaries for cinema, of at least 60 minutes
- TV or digital platform fiction of at least 90 minutes, animation of at least 24 minutes and documentaries of at least 50 minutes
- Interactive or immersive fiction, animation or documentary projects (for example narrative virtual reality), of any duration
- Optional: development and production of a short film of up to 20 minutes, directed by an emerging talent
Apply in the current call window
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the submission deadline for European slate development 2027 (CREA-MEDIA-2027-DEVSLATE)?
The call opened on 30 September 2026, and applications are due by 1 December 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). Submission is online only, through the Funding & Tenders portal's electronic system. Evaluation takes place from December 2026 to April 2027, results are announced in May 2027, and contracts are signed in August 2027.
How much can a production company receive through European slate development?
The grant per project is between €90,000 and €510,000. It is calculated from fixed lump sums for each work in the slate: from €30,000 for a single creative documentary up to €100,000 for a fiction series with a production budget of over €20 million. An additional €10,000 may be added for an optional short film. The total estimated budget of the call is €22,374,320.
What prior experience must a company have in order to apply?
The company must demonstrate two works produced since 2020, each at least 24 minutes long (animation, fiction or creative documentary). Each work must have been commercially released in cinemas, on TV or on digital platforms in at least three countries other than the applicant's country, before the submission deadline. Festival screenings are not accepted.
Can companies from Romania apply for European slate development?
Yes. Romania participates fully in the MEDIA strand of the Creative Europe programme. Independent audiovisual production companies registered in Romania and majority-owned by nationals of participating countries can apply, provided they meet the requirement regarding previous internationally distributed works.
Who cannot apply to the DEVSLATE 2027 call?
Companies that received a grant under European slate development 2026 (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVSLATE) or European mini-slate development 2026 (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVMINISLATE) cannot apply. Companies majority-controlled by an audiovisual media service provider are not eligible either, nor are consortia, as only single applicants are permitted.
How is the European slate development grant paid?
The grant is a lump sum. After the contract is signed, you normally receive a pre-financing payment of 70% of the maximum amount, paid within 30 days. There are no interim payments. The balance is calculated at the end of the project, which normally does not exceed 36 months.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
Apply in the current call window — Creative Europe MEDIA 2027 — European slate development for production companies (CREA-MEDIA-2027-DEVSLATE)
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
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