Western Norway Film Fund provides support for short fiction in the production phase. Support can be given in the development phase for animated films, with an emphasis on the visual development. 

Production grants are given for projects that have been fully developed up to a production decision, on the basis of the received application, the script and project description.

Based on a manuscript or project description, support is provided for the development of the project until a production decision can be made.

This grant scheme is intended to develop projects to a level where producers and financiers can decide on production. Western Norway Film Fund considers a development project to be an independent project that must be budgeted and described independently of production.

Development funding for documentaries can be awarded in several rounds. Here, emphasis is placed on the further possibilities for full financing and completion of the project up to the finished production. When assessing second and, in exceptional cases, third time development support, particular emphasis is placed on the launch strategy and distribution platforms.

Production support for documentaries is granted after a comprehensive assessment of the script, production description, pilot, financing plan and progress plan. A marketing and launch plan is also considered. Production support may also be considered in cases where there is no distribution agreement in place.

When supporting the production of documentary series, particular emphasis is placed on distribution agreements.

Production support is provided for co-productions where the regional production company applies as a minority producer. The emphasis here is on the extent to which the grant promotes increased competence, network building and use of the region's resources.

In the case of co-productions with projects from other Norwegian regions, the regional minority producer is the applicant. Support may be provided for production, and only exceptionally for development.

Significant regional anchoring is emphasized here, based on key functions or other industry-enhancing benefits or skills enhancement that benefit the region. If the company has a local co-producer, the co-producer must be responsible for the local share of the production. However, grants to production companies outside Western Norway Film Fund's jurisdiction will depend on the total number of applications at any given time.

Based on a written draft idea or synopsis, a development grant may be awarded to prepare a treatment or manuscript. In some cases, support may also be given for preliminary studies or research.

Grants are awarded based on an artistic assessment and the projects' regional anchoring. The scheme prioritizes projects that have come a long way in their financing and with solid implementation capacity, and aims to ensure quality and continuity in regional production. For drama series, it is required that a screening platform is confirmed as the main financier.

Interactive productions are computer games or other digital audiovisual productions that require user participation.

Support for game development is considered with an emphasis on the script/storytelling and the visual concept/design document. It is a prerequisite that the support must be the first step in the development of the game concept.

Applicant must:

• Have their main work in Vestland or Møre og Romsdal counties.

• Have audiovisual production as their main purpose.

• Be registered in the Register of Business Enterprises or the Register of Legal Entities.

• Have an office address in the region and pay taxes to municipalities in the region.

• Not have the public sector as the main owner or have significant business ties to the primary viewing platform for the project.

• As a general rule, the enterprise must be organized as a limited liability company.

• Companies that are not registered within Western Norway Film Fund geographical area, can in special cases be considered for support based on the connection to and use of local resources - see section on co-production.

Western Norway Film Fund cannot support:

• Marketing and launch support, subtitling. These areas should normally be included in the production application.

• Student films or productions where key stakeholders or creatives are students or school pupils.

• Commissioned films, commercials, music videos.

• The applicant must be able to document that the necessary rights to carry out the project exist

• Project description

• Idea sketch/synopsis/treatment

• Defined problem and goal description

• Calculation for the project (budget)

• Financing plan

• Progress plan

• Key staff members including CV for producer, director and screenwriter

• See other requirements defined in RegPortal and under separate supplementary guidelines for the relevant scheme

• CV of producer and company

• Co-production: CV of co-producer and company, and co-production agreement

• Staff list, including CVs for key functions such as direction, script, photography

• Script and synopsis

• Project description

• Director's and producer's note

• Filming schedule with estimated completion of the film or series

• Progress schedule

• Marketing strategy

• Distribution or exhibition agreement

• The applicant must be able to document that they have the necessary rights for the project.

• Name of registered accountant (for grants over NOK 200,000: also name of state-authorized auditor)

• Calculation/budget with approved film chart of accounts (found in calculation form from NFI. Read here for important information)

• Financing plan

• Cash flow plan with specification of self-financing

• Spend

• Drama series: confirmation of viewing platform as main financier

Grants must be accompanied by a written declaration from a registered accountant stating that accounting will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines.

For commitments over NOK 500,000, a written declaration from a state-authorized auditor must also be submitted stating that the audit will be conducted in accordance with the guidelines. For amounts under NOK 200,000, simplified accounting kept by the grant partner may be approved, but a signature from the company's general manager is required.

Project accounts must be kept in accordance with section 3 of the "Regulations concerning grants for audiovisual production" or section 3 and section 7-2 of the "Regulations concerning grants for the development, launch and dissemination of computer games" and the Guidelines for financial management.

The production company is obliged to familiarize the accountant and any auditor with the guidelines for Western Norway Film Fund, the regulations and the guidelines for keeping film accounts.

Applications are registered and approved by our production advisor who checks the formal requirements.

Applications are further processed by our Film Consultant. During this phase, applicants may be asked for updates and possibly clarifying meetings. The applicant may also request a meeting with the consultant during this period.

The film consultant then gives his/her assessment and, together with our CEO, a recommendation is prepared and presented to the board for final decision.

Applications for stipends / film cultural events are assessed by our Head of Industry in consultation with our CEO, and reported to the board as briefing matters.

Supported projects are published on this website and in our newsletter.

Western Norway Film Fund receives annual grant letters from KUD, through NFI, and from our owners (Bergen municipality, Møre og Romsdal and Vestland county councils) with guidelines and focus areas.

Grants to projects are awarded following an overall assessment with emphasis on artistic quality. Key functions such as script, direction and producer/production company from the region are prioritized. Western Norway Film Fund is also looking at how the projects contribute to a generally good activity in the entire film field in the region. Decisions are based on an overall assessment of and prioritization between applications. Artistic, production, financial, technical and market considerations are taken into account, as well as the degree of innovation in relation to comparable projects, transfer value and dissemination.

Western Norway Film Fund must also prioritize talents and those seeking development and project support for the first time. Priority can be given to projects that are considered to be talent-building.

Western Norway Film Fund may also prioritize applications based on gender equality goals or other focus areas or guidelines that grant partners have imposed on the center. These must be stated in the general information at Western Norway Film Fund's .

Applications are assessed and prioritized in each application round within a given financial framework.

Successful applications are sent a grant contract with relevant information. Applications that are rejected will receive a rejection letter.

All communication goes through RegPortal (RegPortal - Western Norway Film Fund).

Western Norway Film Fund has 5 ordinary application deadlines for development and production per year, with a processing time of up to 7 weeks. Final decisions are made by Western Norway Film Fund's board. Application deadlines and dates for board meetings are announced on the film center's website. Applications for competence-building measures are assessed on an ongoing basis. Grants are published on the film center's website, in newsletters and in press releases.

Applications must be submitted via RegPortal. If a grant is awarded, you will receive a grant contract and other information about payment and reporting in RegPortal. Grants from Western Norway Film Fund are paid against an EHF invoice. Updates and reporting must also be done via RegPortal.

Language - all applications must be sent in writing to Western Norway Film Fund in Norwegian, unless otherwise agreed.

The cultural test - to be considered, the application must be for a cultural product. A cultural product is an audiovisual work that meets at least three of the conditions in the cultural test, see the regulations for details.

Gender balance - in otherwise equal conditions, priority is given to projects with underrepresentation in leading functions (director, script, producer). The goal is for the gender balance in these functions to be 50-50.

The applicant is obliged to familiarize themselves with the guidelines and regulations in force at any given time.

Decision made by Western Norway Film Fund can be appealed. In accordance with Forvaltningsloven §28 and §29, the decision can be appealed within 3 weeks from the decision has been received. Western Norway Film Fund's Board of Directors is the first appeals body, and the final appeals body is the Complaints Board for Media Matters (Medieklagenemda).

The complaint must be in writing and include:

• Reference to the decision being appealed

• Reason for the complaint

• Changes requested

• Date and signature

Complaints are sent to the Board of Directors at Western Norway Film Fund (post@vestnorskfilm.no), which, cf. Section 33 of the Public Administration Act, can reverse the decision. If the decision is upheld, the board prepares the case and sends it to the Media Complaints Board. 

Western Norway Film Fund aims to strengthen the expertise and sustainability of the film industry in the region. In addition to grants, Western Norway Film Fund initiates and organizes regional, national and international initiatives, in close dialogue with the industry itself.

Western Norway Film Fund provides grants for skills development and capacity building initiatives that promotes the audiovisual industry in the region.

Priority is given to initiatives that strengthen or develop the applicant's competence and professional development and/or the project's funding, distribution or launch strategies.

Support is provided for skills development and capacity-building, such as travel support, participation fees for courses, trainee stipends, mentor stipends and other intiatives that strengthen the regional industry. 

Skills enhancement and industry development initiatives

Priorities and commitments will at all times be dependent on the center's available grant funds, and will be seen in the context of the center's other schemes and priorities. In the event of high demand, grants for measures that strengthen the development of specific projects that have received support from Western Norway Film Fund will be prioritized. Mentoring grants and courses for personal development may be given lower priority in this context.

• Participation (formerly called travel support)

• Grants

• Capacity building measures

Western Norway Film Fund does not provide subsidies:

• Educational pathways or to people in education

• Trips with the sole purpose of awarding/receiving an award

• Translation of scripts for participation in courses or workshops

• Actors and characters

• Other measures that are part of a film project's development or production application

• Initiatives supported by the NFI or other regional centers

• If the film has received launch support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Western Norway Film Fund does not provide travel support for the same festival

Talent Development

Western Norway Film Fund shall have an overall overview of film offerings aimed at children and young/young talents in the region. Subsidies are also given to film initiatives aimed at this group, initiated and run by external parties.

Priorities

• Events and initiatives run by other parties

• Initiatives for the 12 to 30 age group

• Leisure activities 

Film Culture

Western Norway Film Fund can provide grants for local film events in the region. The initiatives must benefit the public.

Western Norway Film Fund does not provide subsidies:

• Ordinary operation of festivals or similar.

Treatment

Industry applications are dealt with administratively by the Head of Industry, in consultation with the CEO. 

Application deadline Talent Ung and Film Cultural Events:

Annual, see calendar and updates on the website.

Application deadline, other schemes:

At least three weeks before the event. Applications are processed continuously and within 4-6 weeks.

Terms and conditions for grants

The grant is paid in the following installments: For participation in financing forums, markets, festivals etc. the amount is paid in full. Other schemes are paid in two installments (70/30).

Reference is also made to the grant contract.