Applications open for Teledoc Project – Netherlands

Directors are challenged to develop an author’s vision for a film that is both cinematographically distinctive, innovative and ambitious. This collaborative project of public broadcasters, NPO, CoBO and the Film Fund is aimed at directors and producers who have proven themselves in the field of the independent long author’s documentary. Artistic freedom, ambition, trust and short procedures are central to Teledoc.

A maximum of 6 contributions for development and a maximum of 4 contributions for realisation of Teledocs are awarded annually. There are 3 submission rounds per year, depending on the number of awards there may be 4, spread over the year (February, June, October and possibly December).

Funding Information 

• A detailed draft budget for development/research/writing money and/or test recordings is submitted by the producer to the Film Fund and CoBO simultaneously after approval. The producer provides an explanation of the most important items within the budget. Separately, it must be indicated for each function who will do the work.
• The following guidelines apply to the development budget:
  • A maximum of €45,000 will be allocated to the selected plans for research script development and test shooting awarded.
  • If recordings are made in this phase, the budget requirements for realization apply, without storage.
  • Producer fee and overhead together amount to a maximum of 17.5% and are calculated on the development costs, excluding producer fee and overhead.
  • The salary costs of the producer(s) are part of the budget items producers fee and possibly overhead.
  • Compensation per km driven €0.33.
  • The contingency item is not part of the development budge
  • The producer will send CoBO a copy of the script and/or writing agreement.
  • The final statement must be accompanied by a copy of the invoices and payments made expenses.
  • The development contribution is paid in two installments: 80% upon signing of the contract, and 20% after delivery of the plan and approval of the final settlement.

Eligibility Criteria

• Submission of proposals for development is open to both independent documentary producers together with a director as well as for directors alone.
• Producers and creators are in principle not affiliated with a broadcaster.
• Submission for realization is only possible after a development application has been approved within Teledoc by the team of producer and director.
• The director and the producer cannot be one and the same person.
• The production company must have been established and active in the Netherlands for at least 2 years and the producer who legally represents the production company must have relevant work experience in the professional film and television sector. In the context of this project, the producer must have produced at least 3 documentaries, of which at least 1 long documentary of at least 70 minutes, all three of which have been released in Dutch cinemas and/or film theaters for a paying audience and/ or have been broadcast on national television.
• The director must have demonstrable, relevant work experience in professional film and television sector: at least 3 documentaries: 2 documentaries of at least 50 minutes plus 1 documentary of at least 70 minutes to have been directed, broadcast on regional or national television and/or released in Dutch cinemas and/or film theatres for a paying audience.
• In the event that the director has been selected for an international A-festival, or has won a Golden Calf or another comparable directing award for documentary directing, the required lengths no longer apply, but the number of 3 documentaries as experience remains required.
• When a director independently submits a proposal for development and this is selected, a recognized producer will be sought in consultation with the broadcaster and the Film Fund with whom the film can be further developed.
• In principle, a producer can produce a maximum of 2 Teledocs simultaneously (realization) and/or to develop.
• A director can be involved in a maximum of one Teledoc at a time. Directors with a Teledoc in the final phase of completion can submit a new plan for development after consultation with CoBO.

Application Requirements

• Applications are submitted to CoBO.
• A development application consists of 2 A4 pages with the synopsis of the intended Teledoc, plus 2 pages of explanation, including at least a motivation and vision on the direction, and CV/filmography of the director and (if already a team) of the producer, including telephone number and e-mail address.
• The CV must show whether the applicants meet the criteria. The filmography must include therefore of the mentioned films it should be indicated:
  • the lengths;
  • broadcaster and date of broadcast;
  • cinema circulation data (number of screenings, theatres, visitors);
  • and any festival selections and awards.
• Pages are easy to read and must include a (working) title, date and page number.
• Relevant previous work should be viewable via a hyperlink in the CV.
• Of the subject (main characters/organizations or main person(s) involved in the film plan) a signed declaration of consent or cooperation must be enclosed. A declaration of consent is necessary if cooperation of a person or access to the subject is required for the documentary. This consent may in no way result in substantive influence on the documentary by the person or organization involved. This consent must sufficiently guarantee this cooperation. The application will be checked for this.
• The whole (plan, explanation and CVs) does not exceed 4 pages, excluding any declaration of consent.
• In some cases an application will not be eligible for processing:
  • Film proposals that do not meet the aforementioned requirements will not be considered.
  • Film proposals previously rejected by the Film Fund and film proposals previously submitted for Teledoc are excluded, unless a public broadcaster or Film Fund grants permission for a new submission.
• Film proposals that have already received a subsidy from the Film Fund or another fund for development are excluded, with the exception of plans with a granted Oase contribution.

For more information, visit Dutch Film Fund.