DEFINITION
By Writing, we mean all the steps associated with the primary shooting essays, the research related to the development of the project and its writing by the author.

WHEN ?
Three commission sessions are organised per year following the announced calendar.
Before any project is submitted, contact the Secretary General – j.packer@cbadoc.be in order to pre-register the project. Due to the limited number of places in each commission, films will be pre-registered in the order in which they are received by the CBA. A few weeks before the submission date, projects in order will be asked to confirm or not the submission. Any withdrawals will allow projects on the waiting list to be included on the commission’s programme.

WHO ?
Status of the applicant: filmmaker or producer (1)

HOW MUCH ?
Maximum aid : 3750 € (excluding the value of the equipment loaned) + equipment for filming (for early shooting), image editing (for teaser).

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
The project must be submitted in PDF format in two distinct files, one with the artistic project, the other with the production details (see below). This can be uploaded to the CBA’s FTP server via the link that will be provided to you upon confirmation of submission by the CBA.
Two printed copies (NB prints, double-sided, without metal spiral) must be submitted on the date indicated in the confirmation e-mail to Christine Thonet at the CBA.
Appendices and additional information to the project (image portfolio, press kits, various documents) may also be provided in PDF format.

BUILDING THE APPLICATION
(The list of elements and their length is given as an indication)

PDF 1 : ARTISTIC PROJECT

• Letter of application from the author and/or producer summarising the nature and amount of the demand (the main axes of the project, the amount and services requested from the CBA, the expectations regarding the CBA’s involvement).
• Synopsis (15 lines max)
• Author’s note of intent (max. 2 pages). By note of intent we mean a synthetic note which specifies the author’s intentions in the cinematographic approach undertaken in this project.
• The director’s note: development of the cinematographic intentions and approach (sound, image, editing, mixing), development of the approach according to the subject, hypotheses of the narrative trajectory or film movement, development of the project’s constituent elements.
• Note of intent of the production.
• A state of progress of the film : early shooting, writing, development.
• A provisional schedule of the writing stage.
• If the author wishes, it is possible to present a link to previous films or excerpts from previous works in the form of a viewing link (with password). These will be accompanied by a description of the work or extract as well as its possible particular relevance to the submitted project.
• If the author wishes, it is possible to propose links to extracts of rushes or edited material in order to shed light on certain intentions or aspects of the project. They will be offered as a viewing link (with password) and their duration will not exceed 15 minutes.
• In the case of a second submission, clearly indicate the evolution of the project since the previous application.

PDF 2: PRODUCTION

• Standard project information sheet provided by the CBA (download HERE)
• A provisional budget for the writing phase.
• A financing plan for the writing phase.
• A status of the development and production of the project (what has already been done) and of the planned funding strategy (what still needs to be done). This point will mention co-producers, co-financing, all coproduction agreements, acquired or planned. It may include the history of steps taken so far or planned in the future to finance the writing phase. Additional information on this point may exceptionally be distributed after submission and before the project is examined.
• Copies of any letters of support for the project from co-producers, co-financers, broadcasters, scholarships, various forms of support.
• Reflection on the film’s potential audiences and on the strategies and means implemented to reach possible target audiences.
• An updated brief bio filmography and/or a complete CV of the director and the producer.
• Copy of the author’s contract if the project is submitted by a producer.

RESULTS OF THE COMMISSION
The results will be announced on the day of the commission’s session by the Secretary General (by phone, email or text message), who will then provide feedback on the commission’s observations and opinions at a layer stage. If the project is rejected, it may be resubmitted for a second reading after discussion with the Secretary General.

PLEASE NOTE
If the project is accepted, it will be the subject to a convention. A standard copy of the model convention is available on request a.declercq@cbadoc.be.
The writing support granted by the CBA implies the obligation to report regularly to the Secretary General on the progress of the project and to present the final result of the writing work within the year of the award of the support.
The producer guarantees that the project will be presented to the CBA in priority over any other potential partner in Belgium as co-production partner of the film.
The aid granted for writing can be cumulated with possible aid for subsequent production or post-production. Writing support does not commit the CBA to automatically support the film in a production stage.

(1) By producer we mean any SPRL, SA, SCRL or ASBL whose purpose is the production of films and which can justify significant and professional experience in the film production sector. An author’s contract with the filmmaker is compulsory. Independence of the producer from a publisher or broadcaster is required.

DEFINITION
By Production we intend all the artistic, technical and production steps intended to support the film’s production phase up to its public screening.

WHEN ?
Three commission sessions are organised per year following the announced calendar.
Before any project is submitted, contact the Secretary General – j.packer@cbadoc.be in order to pre-register the project. Due to the limited number of places in each commission, films will be pre-registered in the order in which they are received by the CBA. A few weeks before the submission date, projects in order will be asked to confirm or not the submission. Any withdrawals will allow projects on the waiting list to be included on the commission’s programme.

WHO?
Status of the applicant: producer (1)

HOW MUCH ?
Maximum aid : 15000 € (excluding the value of the equipment loaned) + equipment for filming, editing, sound editing and color grading.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
The project must be submitted in PDF format in two distinct files, one with the artistic project, the other with the production details (see below). This can be uploaded to the CBA’s FTP server via the link that will be provided to you upon confirmation of submission by the CBA.
Two printed copies (NB prints, double-sided, without metal spiral) must be submitted on the date indicated in the confirmation e-mail to Christine Thonet at the CBA.
Appendices and additional information to the project (image portfolio, press kits, various documents) may also be provided in PDF format.

BUILDING THE APPLICATION
(The list of elements and their length is given as an indication)

PDF 1 : ARTISTIC PROJECT

• Letter of application from the author and/or producer summarising the nature and amount of the demand (the main lines of the project, the amount and services requested from the CBA, the expectations regarding the CBA’s involvement).
• Synopsis (15 lines max)
• Author’s note of intent (max. 2 pages). By note of intent we mean a synthetic note which specifies the author’s intentions in the cinematographic approach undertaken in this project.
• The director’s note: development of the cinematographic intentions and approach (sound, image, editing, mixing), development of the approach according to the subject, hypotheses of the narrative trajectory or film movement, development of the project’s constituent elements.
• Note of intent of the production.
• A state of progress of the film (what has already been shot).
• Development of the planned narrative structure or film movement. This can take the form of a continuous text, structure or script depending on the type of film.
• A provisional schedule of the creation, production and post-production phases as well as the target delivery date.
• If the author wishes, it is possible to present a link to previous works or excerpts from previous works in the form of a viewing link (with password). These will be accompanied by a description of the work or extract as well as its possible particular relevance to this project.
• If the author wishes, it is possible to propose links to extracts of rushes or edited material in order to shed light on certain intentions or aspects of the project. They will be offered as a viewing link (with password) and their duration will not exceed 15 minutes.
• In the case of a second submission, clearly indicate the evolution since the previous application.

PDF 2: PRODUCTION

• Standard project information sheet provided by the CBA (download HERE)
• The total budget and a funding plan for the film including the finishing stages mentioning co-producers, co-financing, broadcasting agreements, acquired or planned. Additional information on this point may exceptionally be provided at a later date during the examination of the project.
• A status of the development and production of the project (what has already been done) and of the planned funding strategy (what still needs to be done). This point will mention co-producers, co-financing, all coproduction agreements, acquired or planned. It may include the history of steps taken so far or planned in the future to finance the project. Additional information on this point may exceptionally be distributed after submission and before the project is examined.
• Copies of any letters of support for the project from co-producers, co-financers, broadcasters, scholarships, various forms of support.
• The distribution/promotion strategy. Detail a distribution/promotion plan for the film in Belgium and abroad (festivals, cinemas, non-commercial circuit), cultural sector, TV broadcasters, international distribution). Specify the intended promotion tools. Specify the possible support expected from the CBA to achieve these goals.
• Reflection on the film’s potential audiences.
• An updated brief bio filmography and/or a complete CV of the director and the producer.
• Copy of the author’s contract.

RESULTS OF THE COMMISSION
The results will be announced on the day of the commission’s session by the Secretary General (by phone, email or text message), who will then provide feedback on the commission’s observations and opinions at a layer stage. If the project is rejected, it may be resubmitted for a second reading after discussion with the Secretary General.

PLEASE NOTE
Co-production financial aid granted to a project can only be released upon signature of a co-production contract between the CBA and the executive producer, provided that the financing plan is covered. A model of this contract is available on request from the CBA a.declercq@cbadoc.be.
For projects selected by the Commission for financial support, the free loan of film equipment constitutes an additional service contribution of the CBA valued in the co-production.

(1) By producer we mean any SPRL, SA, SCRL or ASBL whose purpose is the production of films and which can justify significant and professional experience in the film production sector. An author’s contract with the filmmaker is compulsory. Independence of the producer from a publisher or broadcaster is required.

DEFINITION
Post-production refers to all the stages after the shooting ; image editing, sound editing, pre-mixing, mixing and colour grading.

WHEN ?
Five commission sessions are organised per year following the announced calendar.
Before any project is submitted, contact the Secretary General – j.packer@cbadoc.be in order to pre-register the project. Due to the limited number of places in each commission, films will be pre-registered in the order in which they are received by the CBA. A few weeks before the submission date, projects in order will be asked to confirm or not the submission. Any withdrawals will allow projects on the waiting list to be included on the commission’s programme.

WHO?
Status of the applicant: producer (1)

HOW MUCH ?
Maximum aid : 7500 € (excluding the value of the equipment loaned) + equipment for editing, sound editing and color grading.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
The application will consist of a rough-cut and an application in PDF format in two distinct files, one with the artistic project, the other with the production details (see below). This can be uploaded to the CBA’s FTP server via the link that will be provided to you upon confirmation of submission by the CBA.
Two printed copies (NB prints, double-sided, without metal spiral) must be submitted on the date indicated in the confirmation e-mail to Christine Thonet at the CBA.
Appendices and additional information to the project (image portfolio, press kits, various documents) may also be provided in PDF format.

BUILDING THE APPLICATION
(The list of elements and their length is given as an indication)

A ROUGH CUT
You will need to provide a rough-cut as advanced as possible, lasting a maximum of 1.5 times the planned final duration of the film via a viewing link. We advise the applicants to precede the film with information indicating the steps that remain to be done and the progress of the film.

PDF 1 : ARTISTIC PROJECT

• Letter of application from the author and/or producer summarising the nature and amount of the request (the main lines of the project, the amount and services requested from the CBA, the expectations from the workshop, etc.)
• Synopsis (15 lines max)
• Author’s note of intent (max. 2 pages). By note of intent we mean a synthetic note which specifies the author’s intentions in the cinematographic approach undertaken in this project.
• Note of intent of the production.
• Vimeo link with the rough-cut and password.
• Clarifications, if any, on the envisaged narrative structure or the final film movement and the changes to be expected in relation to the proposed rough-cut.
• A provisional schedule of the post-production phases and the target delivery date.
• If the author or author wishes, it is possible to propose towards previous works or excerpts from previous works in the form of a viewing link (with password). These will be accompanied by a description of the work or extract as well as its possible particular relevance to this project.

PDF 2: PRODUCTION

• Standard project information sheet provided by the CBA (download HERE)
• The total budget and a funding plan for the film including the finishing stages mentioning co-producers, co-financing, broadcasting agreements, acquired or planned. Additional information on this point may exceptionally be provided at a later date during the examination of the project.
• A status of the post-production of the project (what has already been done) and of the planned funding strategy to finish the film. This point will mention co-producers, co-financing, all coproduction agreements, acquired or planned. It may include the history of steps taken so far or planned in the future to finance the project. Additional information on this point may exceptionally be distributed after submission and before the project is examined.
• Copies of any letters of support for the project from co-producers, co-financers, broadcasters, scholarships, various forms of support.
• The distribution/promotion strategy. Detail a distribution/promotion plan for the film in Belgium and abroad (festivals, cinemas, non-commercial circuit), cultural sector, TV broadcasters, international distribution). Specify the intended promotion tools. Specify the possible support expected from the CBA to achieve these goals.
• Reflection on the film’s potential audiences.
• An updated brief bio filmography and/or a complete CV of the director and the producer.
• Copy of the author’s contract.

RESULTS OF THE COMMISSION
The results will be announced on the day of the commission’s session by the Secretary General (by phone, email or text message), who will then provide feedback on the commission’s observations and opinions at a layer stage. If the project is rejected, it may be resubmitted for a second reading after discussion with the Secretary General.

PLEASE NOTE
Co-production financial aid granted to a project can only be released upon signature of a co-production contract between the CBA and the executive producer, provided that the financing plan is covered. A model of this contract is available on request from the CBA a.declercq@cbadoc.be.
For projects selected by the Commission for financial support, the free loan of film equipment constitutes an additional service contribution of the CBA valued in the co-production.

(1) By producer we mean any SPRL, SA, SCRL or ASBL whose purpose is the production of films and which can justify significant and professional experience in the film production sector. An author’s contract with the filmmaker is compulsory. Independence of the producer from a publisher or broadcaster is required.

The CBA is open to all requests for coaching or expertise for projects in the process of writing (readings, advice, workshops), production, post-production (editing viewing, etc.) or completed films (festival strategy, distribution advice). Contact j.packer@cbadoc.be

In addition to the Commission’s decision, the CBA may grant support for filming, editing, mixing and color grading equipment for projects that ask for it. The list of equipment is available on the “Equipment & infrastructure” section of this website.

This support may take the form of
1. a free loan (excluding maintenance costs and subject to the availability of the equipment). This type of support will result in a contract and, at the end of the loan, in a specific convention detailing the contribution, the valuation and the terms and conditions for mentioning the CBA’s support in the credits.
2. a loan at a preferential rate ( subject to the availability of equipment).

To apply for this support, simply send a demand to matos@cbadoc.be. The request will be examined by the Secretary General and the person responsible for the equipment. A positive decision will depend on the availability of the equipment and the appreciation of the demand (nature of the project, urgency and extent of the demand).

It is understood that the loan of equipment in no way commits the CBA to financially support the project if it is subsequently submitted to the commission, nor to distribute it or include it in the catalogue once it has been completed.

The terms and conditions of the loan, the rates for rentals and the amounts for valuation and maintenance costs are available on request to the person responsible for the equipment at matos@cbadoc.be.

In the event of a refusal of support, the CBA equipment remains available for hire at the usual rate.

The workshop is a place of questioning that seeks to help formulate the questions at stake in the projects and encourages a personal point of view. It is not a workshop for writing applications but a space for thinking about films.

The scheme is only open to 1st or 2nd films submitted by the author alone or accompanied by a producer. Projects developed within the framework of a school (exercises, graduation films, etc.) are not eligible.

A call for projects is organised each year in July.
Eight projects are selected at each call for projects.

The selection is made by the two coaches accompanying the project: Marta Bergman (Director, filmmaker, teacher) and Olivier Burlet (Producer, teacher).

The scheme is intended for projects by authors in the early stages of writing and who need support.

The work of the workshop is independent of the CBA commissions. Supported projects may be submitted to the CBA commission at a later date.

Workshops will be held in french. Applications must be submitted in french.

Each selected project may benefit from :

• a support programme of 6 work sessions with one of the two coaches
• a financial support of €1000 for each of the selected projects
• assistance with equipment (location scouting, filming, editing)
• support in connecting with a future producer for the project.

Documents to be provided :

• A free text of presentation of the project in max. 2 pages that describes the initial driving force of the project, the desire, the intentions, the personality of the project and the point of view of the author.
• a CV of the filmmaker

Timeframe for the 2022 Call for Projects :

Projects must be sent by PDF before September 5th 2022 at 10:00 noon to the following address j.packer@cbadoc.be.
The projects received will be pre-selected by the coaches who will invite pre-selected filmmakers to a final selection interview (in person or by video conference).
The selected filmakers will be informed of the selection of projects supported on 19th September.
The 6-session support programme will begin the week of 3rd October and end the week of 20 December 2022 at a rate of one session every 15 days (there are no sessions during school holidays). We stress that candidates must be able to devote time to their projects this autumn and that it is imperative that they respect the appointment schedule agreed with the coach.

WHAT?
The scheme is intended for projects by authors after shooting or in the rushes stage. The idea is to help projects that the authors have worked on alone (shooting, beginning of editing) and that need expertise to move on to a new stage in their work. It consists of a few work sessions with a mentor, an editor chosen and paid by the CBA to accompany the evolution of the project and pass a stage in the editing (discussion around the material, work on a narrative structure, etc.). The idea is to pave the way to a rough cut. The CBA provides the supported project with the editing facilities. A first rough cut can then be later submitted to the commission for light postproduction by the filmaker.

WHO?
Projects may be submitted by the filmmaker or by the production company accompanying him/her.

HOW?
A pre-selection of projects will be made by the Secretary General and the accompanying editors of the scheme on the basis of the submission of a short production file, an artistic form to be completed and a selection of material.

– The artistic questionnaire must answer 3 questions and may not exceed 3 pages in total.

1. What is the subject of the film?
2. What is the movement of the film (its dramaturgy)?
3. What problems do you think you will face in editing?

– The production project will include a budget, a financing plan for the project so far, a schedule, a technical sheet (with film crew, partners, synopsis) and the filmmakers’ CV

– The author will also submit images for the pre-selection: either 20 minutes of selected rushes, or a model of the first 10 minutes of the proposed film + 10 minutes of a selection of rushes ? The precise modalities will be published in the call for projects.

WHEN?
For all submissions, please contact the CBA beforehand to check the submission procedures and possibilities.