Based on the Film Subsidies Act (Filmförderungsgesetz), the Austrian Film Institute is the nation’s film funding institution on a federal level.
Based on a dual film funding system similat to those in Switzerland, Germany and France, the Austrian Film Institute provides funding in the following three areas:
- success-dependent film funding (reference film funding; eligibility for funding is assessed according to artistic and/or commercial criteria)
- project-related film funding (eligibility for funding is assessed by a Selection Committee)
- funding for new talent.
The aims of the Film Institute are:
- to support the production, spreading and distribution of Austrian films with the potential to draw a larger audience or international recognition and hereby increase the economic success and quality of Austrian film ;
- to support the cultural, economic and international interests of the Austrian film industry;
- to strengthen the economic capability of the Austrian film industry;
- to foster cooperation between the film and television industries;
- to provide technical and organizational assistance.
- to participate in harmonizing film funding activities provided by Federal Government and Federal States
Funding will be granted in particular for the following:
- the development of screenplays and project development;
- Austrian films produced independently by Austrian film producers and Austrian coproductions,
- rental and distribution;
- advanced occupational training for artistic, technical or administrative personnel in the film industry
- projects designed to improve the structure of the Austrian film industry.
In order to fulfill its purpose, the Film Institute not only provides financial support, but also supplies technical and organizational assistance. No legal right to claim such support exists; it is dependent upon regulations and industry-specific provisions. Applications for support must comply with funding guidelines and be submitted to the Film Institute before the submission deadline.
To perform its tasks the Film Institute receives funding from the federal government which is determined by the annual Federal Finance Act – e.g. the Federal contribution in 2004 amounts to € 9.6 million/US$ 12.17 million.
Within the framework of project support, funding decisions are rendered by the Selection Committee, made up of five independent film experts and the Institute’s director. The Committee in charge of identifying projects eligible for support from among all submissions (Project Principle).
Austrian citizens with permanent residence in Austria may supply for production funding. Should the applicant be a legal entity or unincorporated firm under trade law, its headquarters must be in Austria, its company managers must be Austrian citizens and the number of Austrians holding shares in its assets must amount to at least 51 per cent. Nationals of countries which are contractual parties in the Treaty on the European Economic Area (EEA) are equal in status to Austrian citizens.
The following are precluded from subsidy:
- films with theatrical release with no provisions made to ensure that a period of at least 18 months elapses between its first commercial public performance in Austria and its showing on non-cable or cable television or its sale on videocassette, videodisk or other medium in German-speaking countries. This minimum period may be shortened to not less than six months if there are important reasons for doing so.
- commissioned productions.
Austrian co-productions may be subsidized if the Austrian partner fulfills the Austrian subsidy requirements and the project is in accordance with provisions of the related interstate film agreement. Should no such agreement exist, the Austrian financial, artistic and technical share must amount to a minimum of 30 per cent. In exceptional cases, the Film Institute will also accept a smaller share. Examining the entire project plan, the Film Institute subsidizes only the Austrian financial share in a co-production.
Österreichisches Filminstitut/Austrian Film Institute
Roland Teichmann, Director
Spittelberggasse 3
A-1070 Wien/Vienna
T: (+43) (0)1 526 9730
F: (+43) (0)1 526 9730-440
E: office@filminstitut.at
www.filminstitut.at