Grant announcement: Scriptwriting grant for documentary films

Application period

The application period ends on January 7, 2021 at midnight.

The aim of the support

The aim of the Finnish Film Foundation is to promote the diverse and professional production of films in Finland. The Foundation’s values include participation, pluralism, cultural diversity and artistic freedom.

The aim of the scriptwriting grant is to promote the production of high-quality, diverse and innovative films in Finland. The purpose of the scriptwriting grant is to support the preparation of a screenplay into further development and finally production.

To whom?

The scriptwriting support may be granted to a professional scriptwriter or a team of writers.

For what purpose and how much?

The scriptwriting grant is meant for the writing and related research of a documentary film based on an artistic plan.

How much?
The monthly support is €1,900 per month and the maximum support is 12 months / 20 400,00 €.

Previous support decisions may be viewed from the Foundation’s support decisions page.

How to apply?

Applications are submitted to the application system by submitting the application and appendices to the Finnish Film Foundation before the deadline noted in the call for applications. Applications submitted after the deadline are transferred to the next application period.

New applicants must register in the application system. New registrations are processed within a week.

Applicants fill in an application in the application system that consists of an electronic application form and the necessary appendices that are uploaded into the system.

Instructions for the application system

Prior to submitting an application, the applicant must carefully read the relevant grant announcement and support guide.

Appendices

Obligatory application appendices:

• A scriptwriting plan following the Foundation’s template
• A more detailed description of the content
  For documentary films, the description may be
  – a free-form description of the idea, topic or possible protagonists / a version of the script
• The scriptwriter’s word and project plan

Forms

Applicants should start preparing the application well before the deadline.

How are the applications evaluated?

The scriptwriting grant is discretionary. The support may be granted for the writing of a work that creates an artistic whole and is based on cultural values originating in cultural identity.

The evaluation and comparison of the applications is based on an overall assessment that considers the purpose of the funds, the grounds mentioned in the grant announcement and available funds in the budget.

The project’s content and expressive and artistic merits are evaluated as a whole and evaluation takes into consideration the applicant’s artistic and professional qualifications for completing the project. Other support previously granted by the Film Foundation to the applicant is also taken into account.

Special conditions

• The Film Foundation may request further information if it deems it necessary for the decision-making process.
• A prerequisite for the grant is that the recipient has complied with possible earlier support agreements and met their conditions.
• The Film Foundation oversees the use of the support and has the right to audits concerning the payment and use of the support.
• The recipient must submit the finished work created with the help of the support as an appendix into the Foundation’s online application system.

Support cannot be granted if the application is insufficient and the required information is not uploaded into the online application system despite requests to do so.

Decisions

The Finnish Film Foundation’s Board decides on the scriptwriting grant based on the presentation of a Film Commissioner.

Applicants receive a written notification.

Grant decisions are made on week 9.

The decision is based on the act of government funding for the advancement of cinema (1174/2018), the Act on Discretionary Government Transfers (688/2001) and the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003).