TFL Audience Design Fund

The TFL Audience Design Fund aims at supporting the implementation of innovative audience development and outreach strategies at the moment of distribution.

QUICK FACTS

The TFL Audience Design Fund completes the support offered by TorinoFilmLab to international audiovisual professionals, adding a further essential step: audience engagement and distribution.

The Fund exists since 2014 thanks to the Creative Europe – MEDIA sub-programme support to International Co-production Funds.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: May 25^th, 2021, 12.00 pm CET (Midday)

A FAQ and the list of previously supported projects are available below.

TFL AUDIENCE DESIGN FUND

The TFL Audience Design Fund aims at supporting the implementation of innovative audience development and outreach strategies at the moment of distribution – designed specifically to accompany the release of each selected project in 3 territories.

In 2021, a total of 3 TFL Audience Design Funds of € 45.000 each will be granted to companies presenting an eligible film project, to be released in 3 territories within May 30^th, 2023.

TFL AUDIENCE DESIGN CONSULTANCY

The TFL Audience Design Fund includes a TFL Audience Design Consultancy with TFL experts that aims at defining a strategy to reach, build and engage audiences to prepare and support the moments of sales and distribution.

The 3 film teams will, in collaboration with the consultants, work to sketch out the key goals and actions to address in the strategy outline, including a plan for the promotional activities. The work process includes mandatory on-line sessions, a 4-day workshop and follow up reports sessions.

The consultants will present a 10-page Audience Design Strategy, which will highlight the actions to be prepared during the pre- to post-production stages and to be realized during the distribution process, the results of which are later to be reported to the Fund.

Audience Design is based on the approach developed at TorinoFilmLab, which explores the audience perspective and its engagement during various stages of the film’s life. The strategy will cover different channels and devices for distribution across all relevant media.

TFL covers the consultancy cost and accommodation, while the film teams must pay their travel costs, which can be included in the Audience Design Budget presented in the application.

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Call for applications 2021

The call for applications is open until May 25^th, 2021, 12.00 pm CET (Midday).

1. Eligible Applicants

The applicant must be a producer or a sales agent established in one of the countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme (*). National Distributors cannot apply.

2. Eligible Projects

The project submitted must have the following characteristics:

2.1 It must be a feature film (fiction, animation or creative documentary) of a minimum length of 60 minutes.

2.2 It must involve at least one producer coming from a country participating in the MEDIA sub-programme and at least a co-producer from a country that is neither participating in the MEDIA sub programme (*) nor a member of Eurimages (**).

2.3 The co-producer(s) coming from countries participating in the MEDIA sub-programme must have a share of minimum 20% and maximum 70% in the project. The co-production shall be attested by a signed co-production agreement (a deal memo may exceptionally be accepted) detailing the following basic aspects:

- Joint ownership of all the rights
- Revenue sharing between producer and co-producer/s (exclusive and/or shared territories)
- Definition of the total budget, spending requirements;
- Reference to the treaties applicable.

2.4 The project must be in pre-production, production or post-production stage*. It must be scheduled to be distributed (a signed distribution contract may exceptionally be accepted) in at least 3 territories (theatrical and digital distribution), out of which at least one participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme and at least one third country (not member of the MEDIA Subprogramme, nor a member of Eurimages), by May 30^th, 2023.

*Projects already premiered in one of the A-list film festivals (Berlinale, Cannes, Locarno, Toronto, Venice, Rotterdam) can exceptionally be presented.

2.5 The funding agreement offered by the fund can only be concluded with an entity from a country participating in the MEDIA Sub-programme. The funding does not need to be spent in Europe.

2.6 In order to assess the project’s eligibility, the application must demonstrate a Distribution Strategy as well as an initial Audience Design Strategy (please read the FAQ).

Projects must apply for the TFL Audience Design Fund specifying which are the 3 territories covered by the grant. Projects can also apply for another Distribution support from the same programme funded by Creative Europe – MEDIA, only if it involves different territories. The TFL Audience Design Fund cannot cover the same costs financed by another Distribution Fund supported by MEDIA.

3. REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS (to be submitted in English, in one single PDF of max 10MB):

1) Two-page synopsis
2) Director’s intention note (including thoughts on who the film speaks to and why)
3) Director’s bio and links to previous works
4) Production company and co-producer’s profile
5) Copy of co-production agreement or deal memo detailing the percentage of each co-producer, the revenue sharing between them, the joint ownership of the rights
6) Detailed production budget
7) Financing plan and recoupment schedule including the structure of co-production (names & countries of companies, and percentages of financing from each country) according to form A
8) Financial agreements and/or letters of intent from financing partners
9) World Sales profile, if attached agreement with World Sales company or deal memo or letter of interest, as well as a tentative plan for how to position the film internationally
10) Agreement of Distributors for three territories, if attached. Or deal memo or letter of interest from distributors
11) Draft of an Audience Design Strategy and description of the overall distribution plans by each distributor and/or each country. The drafted Audience Design Strategy must demonstrate innovative approaches, key areas of focus and concrete ideas (see the list of eligible costs below and in form B)
12) Detailed Distribution & Audience Design Strategy Budget for each country
13) Financing plan for Distribution & Audience Design Strategy including the support from the TFL Audience Design Fund for each of the 3 territories/globally
14) Production timeline and release timeline in each of the three countries of distribution
15) Rough cut in English version or with English subtitles (link to an on-line streaming platform), if available

IMPORTANT REMARKS

The Awarded projects must indicate Creative Europe and TorinoFilmLab support in the opening and closing credits, as well as in all promotional, communication and advertising materials, by displaying the Creative Europe Logo (together with the caption “with the support of the Creative Europe – MEDIA Programme of the European Union”) and the TorinoFilmLab Logo (together with the caption: “funded by TorinoFilmLab”).

4. Application and Selection Procedure

Click here to access the online application form and submit your project no later than May 25^th, 12:00 p.m. CET (Midday). Registration on the TFL Visitor Page is required to submit the application.

The pre-selection will verify whether the project matches the eligibility criteria. Skype interviews with applicants may be required. A Selection Committee will evaluate the shortlisted projects on the basis of the following elements:

1- Innovative Audience Design/Engagement Strategy Plan as well as a Distribution Strategy for each territory/Diversity of media platforms used
2- Accuracy of the release timetable for each territory
3- Cost efficiency of the described strategies.

The 3 selected projects will be announced within two months from the deadline of the Call. The main points of evaluation are the quality and feasibility of the audience design strategy for the release of the films. We look at the specific strategy for the three territories, but we also value ideas that are trans-national, meaning that they will grow in strength the more the film is distributed in different countries, as to build up a real trans-national participation.

5. Coordination and follow-up of the Audience Design Strategy

Up to 10% of the Award of € 45.000 must be allocated to employ an Audience Designer/Strategy Coordinator, freely chosen by the production/distribution/sales company, who will follow and support the implementation of the AD-strategy in the 3 territories, as well as monitor and collect data around the releases of the film, to be reported back to TorinoFilmLab by June 1^st 2023.

The Company awarded has to demonstrate that the Audience Design Strategy has been implemented and deliver information and materials to measure the impact of the strategy in relation to the defined goals, with qualitative and quantitative results (see form C).

6. Contract and Payment of the funding

The TFL Audience Design Fund Award of € 45.000 will be assigned to the European company presenting the awarded project. The Amount must be allocated from a minimum of € 7,000 to a maximum of € 15,000 for each territory (to be confirmed upon the budget plan of each distributor).

The Award payment will be transferred in two phases:
- 70% of the grant will be paid before the release in the first territory (three weeks prior to the starting date of activities relating to the Audience Design Strategy indicated by the grant recipient for the first territory of release) and after submission of the Audience Design Strategy approved by TFL staff, including the proposed split of the grant in the 3 territories;
- 30% of the grant will be paid after the release of the film in the second and third territory upon presentation of receipts or invoice copies of expenses corresponding to the whole amount of the grant and in reference to eligible costs. Before paying the final installment, TFL will also ask the team / the Company to measure the impact of the various activities, so as to be able to map and gather experience on which of the activities were more efficient.

7. Eligible costs

The TFL Audience Design Fund will support the Audience Design Strategy accompanying the release of the film. The eligible costs are those connected to the creation and execution of the AD-strategy, as developed in the audience engagement strategy, and subsequently finalized and implemented by the right holders and their partners. The eligible costs are listed in Form B.

Workshop, on-line sessions and TFL Meeting Event

The attendance of the film team to the consultancy sessions and the TFL Meeting Event is compulsory.

- Online brainstorm session September 2021 (date TBD)

- Online workshop: October 18^th - 22^nd 2021

- Online follow up session: November 2021 (date TBD)

- Online follow up and reporting session: Spring 2022 to December 2022

The project selected for the Audience Design Fund will take part in the TFL Meeting Event, our co-production forum attended every year by over 200 European and international professionals (producers, distributors, sales agents and broadcaster) and will be granted visibility thanks to the TFL Catalogue.

Due to the epidemic of Covid-19 and any possible mutation of it, we draw your attention to the fact that TorinoFilmLab may have to cancel the residential workshop(s) or postpone it to another date in response to the recommendations of health and government organizations. In such a case, TorinoFilmLab will notify the participants of its decision without delay. In case of cancellation, the sessions will be held online.

INFO

For information about the financial aspects: Daniele Segre - daniele.segre@torinofilmlab.it
For general information: Greta Fornari - greta.fornari@torinofilmlab.it

* Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

** Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.

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FAQ

In which stage of the project can I apply for the Audience Design Fund?
The project must be in pre-production, production or post-production stage. *Projects premiered in one of the A-list film festivals (Berlinale, Cannes, Locarno, Toronto, Venice, Rotterdam) can exceptionally be presented.
The film must be scheduled to be completed and released in at least 3 territories by May 30^th, 2023.

Do I need to apply with a signed agreement with three distributors?
Not necessarily, but at least with a deal memo with a real intention of distribution, accompanied by a distribution strategy and a budget. The distribution deal can be theatrical and/or digital, as long as connected to a specific territory.

Does the minimum share of 20% coming from MEDIA countries have to be the share of one co-producer or can several co-producers from more than one MEDIA country add their shares to reach 20%?
The minimum share of 20% coming from MEDIA countries can be the result of several co-producers.

Can part of the grant be held by the applicant as a refund?
The applicant (Sales Agent or Producer) who manages the grant can take up to 7,5% of the fund for overhead expenses.

Is the production of a DCP, teaser, trailer, EPK, theatrical or sales poster, etc., eligible costs?
No. Please see the list of eligible costs in form B. These costs can only be eligible if directly connected to specific events or actions included in the Audience Design strategy (not eligible DCP copies for festival submissions, national distribution etc.).

What is an innovative Audience Design Strategy?
It is a written, adjustable, plan that will follow a film project through its production and distribution stages, serving as a flexible roadmap to be updated and documented as needed towards and beyond the initial release. The strategy will identify the most relevant and desired audiences and goals for each territory and globally, as well as outline concrete ideas and content for specific actions and materials that will be budgeted in line with the overall distribution strategy of the film.
The audience strategy draft proposes relevant steps and timing for how and where to engage and reach the prioritized audiences from the stage the film is at during the Fund Consultancy and onwards, considering the specific premieres, festivals, streaming releases etc. for each territory. By defining the core of the project and using a 360-degree view on the project’s resources and outreach, the audience design team process aims to develop innovative, content inspired, digital and social media campaigns and to produce dedicated audio-visual and text-based communication materials aimed at supporting the global promotion of the film by connecting it to and making it relevant for its potentially most engaged audiences.

We recommend checking out the pdf-publication Audience Design - An Introduction, for further inspiration about what questions to ask about your project in order to kick off its audience journey. The 2nd half of this online book suggests concrete strategy tools to help develop an initial plan.

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List of supported projects

TFL AUDIENCE DESIGN FUND

3 distribution grants of € 45.000 each and tailored consultations to reach, build and engage audiences at the moment of distribution.

THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IS CLOSED

INFO
greta.fornari@torinofilmlab.it
daniele.segre@torinofilmlab.it

Supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union