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The Creative Europe MEDIA call CREA-MEDIA-2027-TVONLINE-2 supports creative documentary films and series intended primarily for television or online release. The call lists two submission cut-offs: 10 February 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time and 15 September 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time. Before choosing one, confirm the current call fiche, FAQs and submission details on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; its documents control the application.
What the call funds
The call is for creative documentary projects, either a single work or a series, with a combined duration of at least 50 minutes and a primary exploitation plan for television or online platforms. Its stated aim is to help audiovisual producers develop and produce strong projects with potential to circulate in Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international co-productions. The call summary describes these objectives and scope.
This is not simply a production-cost grant: the project needs a persuasive creative proposition, a credible financing plan and a distribution strategy suited to cross-border circulation. The call also emphasizes cooperation among operators in MEDIA-participating countries, artistic value, and innovation in content and financing that is connected to the distribution plan. These are stated priorities, not a guarantee of selection.
Deadlines and funding amounts
The call was published on 30 September 2026. It has two cut-offs, both at 17:00 Brussels time. The documentary topic’s allocation is indicative, and the overall call budget remains subject to final adoption of the EU’s 2027 budget. The figures below are those in the European Commission’s 2026 call summary, not guaranteed awards for any applicant. Check the call summary and official portal for updates.
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| Item | Published figure or date | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| First cut-off | 10 February 2027, 17:00 Brussels time | Call parameter published 30 September 2026 |
| Second cut-off | 15 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time | Call parameter published 30 September 2026 |
| Total TV and online content call budget | €23.3 million | European Commission call summary, 2026; call budget subject to final adoption of the EU’s 2027 budget |
| Indicative documentary topic budget | €1.864 million | European Commission call summary, 2026; indicative allocation |
| Requested project grant | €70,000 to €2 million | Range stated in the European Commission call summary, 2026 |
Which cut-off should you target?
The call information does not establish that either cut-off is strategically better. Choose based on whether the application and its supporting evidence will be ready in time—not on an assumption that one round is more favorable.
- Target the first cut-off if the creative package, financing commitments, co-production documentation and distribution materials can be completed and checked before 10 February 2027.
- Consider the second cut-off if you need more time to secure binding financing evidence or finalize the project package, provided the official calendar confirms the cut-off remains open and your project remains eligible.
For either date, leave time to verify the portal’s current forms, submission steps and time zone, and to resolve any missing signatures or supporting documents before submitting.
Eligibility and project checks to make early
The accessible call summary highlights several conditions that can shape a project’s eligibility. Treat them as preparation checks, not a final eligibility determination: the full call fiche and application forms control, and the official portal’s detailed text should be checked directly.
Format and intended exploitation
- The work may be a single documentary or a documentary series.
- The combined duration must be at least 50 minutes.
- The project must be intended primarily for television or online exploitation.
European creative and production contribution
The summary describes a points grid for significant participation by professionals who are citizens or residents of MEDIA-participating countries. Documentary criteria listed include the director or project leader, writer or creator, composer, production designer, cinematographer, editor, sound lead, filming location and post-production location. It states a threshold of more than 50% of applicable points; the theoretical total is 13 and may vary depending on which professionals are involved. Confirm the applicable roles, country rules and calculation in the official documents rather than estimating from this summary alone. The public-sector call summary sets out this overview.
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Financing evidence
The summary states that at least 40% of the estimated production budget must be secured from third-party financial sources, and that at least 50% of total estimated financing must come from MEDIA-participating countries. Producer or co-producer investment and the requested MEDIA grant do not count toward the stated 40% third-party threshold.
For third-party commitments, the summary describes contracts or recent binding signed letters showing the amount, rights granted and licence period. It also identifies a documentary evidence condition for tax-shelter financing. A co-production requires a co-production contract or deal memo. Because financing classification and evidence can affect eligibility, verify the exact definitions and required documents in the current call fiche and forms before relying on any commitment.
Broadcaster and rights provisions
The regional call summary describes restrictions on broadcaster exploitation rights and maximum return periods of seven years for pre-sales and ten years where a broadcaster is also a co-producer. It also says an ineligible broadcaster or other ineligible entity cannot be majority producer in terms of rights. These are consequential contract terms, and the summary alone is not sufficient to decide whether a particular deal complies. Check the official call documents and seek qualified legal advice where needed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to build a convincing application
Use the call’s stated priorities to make the application internally consistent: the creative concept, European contribution, financing choices and distribution strategy should reinforce one another. This is practical preparation guidance, not a substitute for the formal award criteria.
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- State the documentary proposition. Explain the subject, approach and creative value clearly, including what makes the project distinctive as a work rather than only why its subject matters.
- Show its cross-border potential. Identify the audiences and territories the project could reach, and explain why the subject, storytelling or partnerships support circulation beyond one national market.
- Connect financing to distribution. Explain why the proposed financing structure fits the intended release and rights plan. Make the relationship between partners, territories, rights and exploitation legible.
- Document the European contribution. Identify the relevant creative and production roles, their country connections and the production locations needed to demonstrate the project’s European dimension.
- Make commitments verifiable. Assemble the contracts or binding signed letters required for third-party financing, with the amount, rights and licence period visible; include co-production documentation where applicable.
- Describe concrete responsibility measures. Address environmental sustainability, gender balance, inclusion, diversity and representation with measures suited to this production, rather than relying on unsupported general statements.
Where to verify the rules and submit
Use the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and the current official call fiche, FAQs and submission forms as the authoritative references. The call information available for this explainer does not establish the full eligible-country list, complete scoring rubric, exact applicant eligibility or detailed form instructions. Confirm these items—and any amendments—before committing to a cut-off or submitting an application.
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