The JVF provides grants to independent documentary makers from developing countries. In addition to individual film projects, the Fund also supports projects that promote local documentary production and distribution in general, such as workshops, documentary film festivals and educational programs. The Fund does not only provide financial support, but also plays an advisory role.
Grants and selection rounds
The JVF provides individual grants of up to €5.000 for script and project development, €17.500 for production and post-production, or €15.000 for other activities (distribution initiatives, documentary film festivals and documentary workshops). Selection rounds take place twice a year, with application deadlines on 15 January and 15 May.
Selection
The selection committee considers each project it receives on a merit basis and bases its decisions on the originality of the idea, the cinematic quality and the project's potential. In its evaluation of projects, the Fund attempts to distribute grants across a wide variety of regions. For formal criteria, please see our selection criteria.
Selection committees are made up of renowned filmmakers, commissioning editors and producers. See who are in selection committees.
JVF supported films at IDFA
Each year, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) screens a large part of the year's harvest of completed films supported by the fund. Jan Vrijman Fund supported films may be selected in Competition or in the main section Reflecting Images - Panorama. Read more about last year's harvest here.
JVF supported films at major international film festivals
Films made with the support from the Jan Vrijman Fund can be seen at international festivals all over the world. Each year, JVF supported films are screened at, among others: the Berlinale, Thessaloniki, Locarno, Toronto and Pusan film festivals.
The Jan Vrijman Fund is looking for creative documentaries and documentary events in developing countries. When selecting projects, the fund strives to have a minimum of 18% of the selected projects from countries from the two left columns on the DAC list (Least Developed Countries and Lower Income Countries). Furthermore applicants should be aware that the fund’s current budget does not allow to select more than 8% of the projects submitted.
Application Deadlines
The Jan Vrijman Fund gives financial support twice a year.
Application deadlines are January 15 and May 15.
To apply you need to:
Read the regulations below to see if your project meets the basic criteria
Fill out an entryform (available at MyIDFA)
Send all requested materials depending on the category that you’re applying for to janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl (see all categories and requested materials below)
Regulations
The director should have the nationality of a developing country and live and work in a developing country, as defined on the DAC list. In addition the production company attached to the project must be based in a country on the DAC list. PLEASE NOTE: as of June 2008, filmmakers from Croatia cannot apply anymore.
If a production company from a non-DAC list country is attached to the project, it is also necessary that the project has a producer and production company in a developing country. In this case, the application to the fund must be filed by the producer in the developing country.
A project can be submitted only once for the category Script and Project Development and once for the category Production and Post-production.
Projects rejected for a production contribution can apply again for a post-production contribution, but only if the application is accompanied by a rough-cut of at least 20 minutes.
If a project is selected, the contribution must be spent in a developing country and all distribution rights for the Benelux countries must be reserved for the Jan Vrijman Fund.
When applying for Other Activities, the event must take place in a country on the DAC-list. Also the organiser and organisation of the event must be based in a country on the DAC-list.
The event should not take place or start within three months after the deadline.
In the category Other Activities the following countries can not apply anymore: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
Entry forms must be filled out in English, and all additional material should be in English as well. Only for applications coming from French-speaking African countries and Haiti, the Fund offers the possibility to submit the applications in French.
The application should preferably be sent by e-mail as a file attachment. It is also possible to send the application by regular post.
Applications must be in our office no later than on the date of the deadline. DVD’s and vimeo or youtube links can arrive until 1 week after the deadline. Make sure that the documents and additional materials are complete and clearly marked with the project title.
Questions?: Please first check our Frequently Asked Questions before emailing our office at janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl.
Categories
Script and Project Development
A contribution for Script and Project Development can be spent on research and on the development of a script and/or on the production of a trailer. The maximum contribution for script and project development is €5.000.
Applications should be accompanied by:
Entryform (to be filled out on MyIDFA)
Application Form Script and Project Development
If posible max. 1 DVD with previous work.
Production and Post-production
The maximum contribution for this category is €17.500.
Applications should be accompanied by:
Entryform (to be filled out on MyIDFA)
Application Form Production and Postproduction
DVD with audiovisual material from the project with english subtitles OR a link to Vimeo or Youtube. (i.e. a trailer, an edited sequence, an introduction of the character(s)) NO HD DVD.
Filmmakers from African countries (except South Africa) can also send stills of the project (by email) instead of audiovisual material.
In case of an application for post-production only (after shooting is finished): a DVD with the rough cut or edited sequences of at least 20 minutes with english subtitles OR an upload on Vimeo or Youtube.
In case of a co-production: a copy of the signed co-production agreement.
Other activities
PLEASE NOTE that, in the category Other Activities the following countries cannot apply anymore: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico.
Furthermore preference will be given to initiatives from countries from the two left columns of the DAC list (the Least Developed Countries and Other Low Income Countries) or countries in conflict areas.
The Jan Vrijman Fund is looking for local documentary related events which stimulate the documentary film climate in developing countries. The following activities will be considered for financial support:
Distribution initiatives: Film screenings, preferably of local or regional documentaries, such as mobile cinemas, travelling film festivals or special screenings in remote or conflict areas. Overall, the fund is receptive to alternative and innovative ideas, as long as these are well-founded in a clear plan of implementation.
Documentary film festivals: Film festivals that aim to promote the documentary film genre and that act as a meeting point for local filmmakers and audiences.
Documentary workshops: Workshops for filmmakers and/or producers from non-Western countries as defined by the DAC list, dedicated to documentary script development, production and/or distribution and sales.
The maximum contribution is €15.000.
Applications should be accompanied by:
- Entryform (to be filled out on MyIDFA)
Moreinfo: http://www.idfa.nl/industry/markets-funding/vrijman-fund/about/funding.aspx
