Production guidelines

Download the production guidelines in pdf format (161 KB)

Aims & objectives

The Agency aims to provide new opportunities for Welsh filmmakers to get their films produced, increasing the range and number of films made. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting new and yet to be established talent, focusing on writers, writer/directors, directors and producers, and projects where our investment makes a meaningful contribution.

The Agency offers:

• Project specific advice and assistance in identifying, preparing for, approaching and dealing with targeted potential third party financiers, distributors and/or sales agents and industry markets;
• Assistance in profiling talent with third party financiers, distributors, commissioners and at market events;
• Co-financing for a minimum of 2 – 3 low budget films per annum;
• Support for new talent with experienced production personnel and mentors where appropriate, facilitating access to hands-on production training opportunities where possible;
• Advice and information regarding industry opportunities, working with training organisations to facilitate access wherever possible;

Please see the Agency's Production Strategy for further information on funding priorities.

Eligibility

Applications for funding will be accepted at any time and at any stage of packaging the production, provided they are made by a production company, as opposed to an individual.

Applicants may apply for one of two levels of support: Production Funding or Completion Funding.

The Agency is unlikely to commit funds to projects until some partnership funding is in place. However, if the project is of interest in principle we will work collaboratively with the producer in order to facilitate the identification and potential raising of partnership funding. To this end, letters of interest, noting the Agency's potential involvement, may be issued, although these will not be circulated as a matter of course. Furthermore, when a project has raised some /most of its partnership finance, but has yet to complete its financing, we may issue a letter of intent, by way of a stronger indication of the likely provision of funding, prior to proceeding to a full offer. Again, these letters will not be issued as a matter of course, but rather as a serious demonstration of the Agency's desire to proceed with a given project, that may be used in further approaching would-be co-financiers /distributors and/or sales agents.

The Agency may fund up to 50% of eligible production costs, up to a maximum of £200,000 per project. Similarly, a cap of 50% of the budget for work yet to be completed applies for Completion Funding, however, in these instances we would not ordinarily consider offering funding in excess of £50,000. Funding may be combined with other Lottery sources, provided that the total Lottery contribution does not exceed 50% of the budget.

Selection criteria

When selecting projects the following criteria will be considered:

• The quality, potential and originality of the work;
• The benefit to Welsh filmmakers and level of participation of key Welsh talent;
• The viability of the project in terms of budget and partnership funding and the capability of the key creative personnel;
• The project's ability to qualify as a British film, under the terms of the Films Act 1985 (Amended 1999). Please refer to the DCMS website for further information.
• The project's market appeal. The application should clearly show an identifiable and reachable core audience appropriate to the budget.

In addition to the above, the National Lottery Act 1993 (Amended 1998) establishes directions for assessing applications that the Agency is required to apply. Please see Appendix 1.

Application procedure

Applicants will be asked to complete and submit an application form which can be downloaded from the website and submitted as a hard copy, or you can contact the Agency if you would prefer a hard copy to be sent to you.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Funding decisions

Applications for funding up to £25,000 will be made by the Chief Executive, Head of Talent & Talent Development Executive.

Decisions on funding applications between £25,000 and £50,000 will be made by the above and the Agency Board's Chairman.

Funding decisions above £50,000 will be subject to Board approval.

All decisions will be confirmed in writing.

When a project is unsuccessful a brief explanation will be included.

Where a project is considered to have potential, but may not be sufficiently advanced to trigger an offer of funding, a letter of interest or intent may be issued (as above).

Offer letters will detail specific conditions of funding in addition to being subject to standard Agency terms.

Awards and conditions

An offer of funding remains open for a set period of time, which will be detailed in the offer letter. If drawdown of funds does not commence within this period, the funding offer may be revoked.

Projects awarded funding are subject to a production agreement defining a payment schedule and recoupment terms that will be agreed on a project-by-project basis. We will ordinarily expect to recoup pro rata with other equity financiers, and in any event no less favourably that any other public finance. Standard Lottery conditions (which will be circulated with any offer letter) will also apply.

Projects will be principally progressed through the Chief Executive Officer, with the support of the Head of Talent, in collaboration with producers. The Agency will take a hands-on, creative approach, although we recognise that the degree of support required will vary according to the circumstances of each project.

The Agency will need to approve all funding arrangements and significant changes to the project. It may withdraw or reduce funding in the light of such changes.

Contact details

If you have any queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of your project prior to application, please contact:

Britt Harrison
Head of Talent
The Film Agency for Wales
33-35 West Bute Street
Cardiff
CF10 5LH
E-mail: britt@filmagencywales.com

Appendix 1

The National Lottery Act 1993 (Amended 1998) outlines key criteria to be taken into account when considering applications for funding. The Agency interprets these as follows:

Artistic quality

The Agency seeks to support original and dramatic filmmaking.

Public benefit

This may be achieved by diversifying the range of cinematic material provided; profiling new talent or increasing the representation of previously under-represented communities for example.

New developments

Lottery funds are not permitted to be substitutional. That is, they should not replace alternative sources of funding available to a given project. Instead, they may be used to lever additional investment in projects. Our funding can be used in partnership with other Lottery funders, subject to an overall cap of 50% from Lottery sources.

Financial viability

We will take into consideration the financial viability of the project and the compatibility of the various financial components with Lottery funding terms. Applications will need to be appropriately budgeted for the project's target audience and eventual market.

Partnership funding

In most cases, applicants will need to show written confirmation of partnership finance and details of terms and conditions. Production funding is unlikely to be offered unless an element of partnership funding is already in place.

Clear demand

The Agency seeks to support film projects that demonstrate a likelihood of gaining distribution. Projects that seem unlikely to get distribution are unlikely to be of benefit to the public and would therefore fail against Lottery funding criteria. The Agency aims to support a broad range of film genres and budgets but in all cases projects should be appropriately budgeted to reflect their likely audience potential. Applicants will be expected to include sales figures, supplied by an established sales agency.

Effective management

The Agency is accountable for the expenditure of public funds and must therefore satisfy itself that the applicant is likely to deliver on budget and schedule and use the funds for the purpose intended.