Immerse\Interact Grant Scheme (Netherlands)

The Immerse\Interact Grant Scheme is a collaboration between the Creative Industries Fund NL and the Netherlands Film Fund. The goal is to enhance cross-overs, including in digital culture, film and design, between both funds. Immerse\Interact explores the future of storytelling within the world of immersive media, like VR, MR and AR. Interactive media productions can also be supported.

The grant scheme is open to projects initiated by professional makers, collectives and producers. The applicant has a demonstrable track record in the field of immersive and interactive media and is listed in the register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The level of the amount applied for depends on the applicant’s main activity.

Scope and Objective

• This scheme is a collaboration between the Creative Industries Fund NL and the Netherlands Film Fund. The scheme contributes to enhancing crossovers between the sectors served by both funds.
• This scheme applies to project proposals from producers and independent makers based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands that focus on developing, realizing and distributing artistically high-quality, immersive and/or interactive audiovisual productions. Projects result in physical and/or virtual presentations, products or installations, intended for an audience.
• The scheme complements the Fund’s following general objectives:
  • promoting artistic quality and the development of artistic quality;
  • stimulating experiment, research, reflection and debate;
  • promoting talent development;
• The scheme complements the Netherlands Film Fund’s following guidelines:
  • Innovation
  • Talent Development

Funding Information

• Grant applications can be for artistic projects with a supporting cinematic component, in which storytelling, both fiction and non-fiction, in relation to interactive (web-based/mobile) or immersive technologies (XR, room-scale projections), is central.
• Within Immerse\Interact, a grant can be provided for both development and realization:
  • development
    • The contribution is meant for research implementation, optimization of an artistic concept and other preparatory activities prior to the actual production phase. The result of the development phase is a usable prototype.
    • development contribution for producers
      • € 25,000 per project. An additional maximum of €5,000 for coaching may be applied for if, in the opinion of the board, the need is well substantiated in the application. For the coaching contribution, both you and the coach write a motivation for the collaboration. They also ask for the coach’s CV.
    • development contribution for individual makers
      • € 15,000 per project. In addition, a maximum of € 5,000 for coaching may be applied for. This coaching contribution must form part of the total amount applied for (a maximum of € 20,000) and be included the budget. For the coaching contribution, both you and the coach write a motivation for the collaboration. They also ask for the coach’s CV.
  • realization
    • realization contribution for producers
      • Please note: in this phase, the producer may not also be the director, screenwriter or designer.
      • A maximum of € 125,000 per project for the production costs. The Fund’s contribution is a maximum of 85% of the production budget.
    • realization contribution for individual makers
      • A maximum of € 35,000 per project.

Eligibility Criteria

• A grant will only be provided when the following conditions have been met:
  • the applicant is professionally active within the film or creative industry and is registered as such in the Commercial Register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce or one of the Chambers of Commerce that fall within the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
  • the applicant has a demonstrable track record in the field of immersive media forms;
  • there is a budget deficit and, in the board’s opinion, the need for a grant has been demonstrated;
  • in the case of a realization contribution, the grant is a maximum of 85% of the total budget, including any development costs;
  • based on the applicant’s working method, it can reasonably be expected that the goals set by the applicant will be achieved;
  • the applicant did not fall short in complying with its grant obligations in the context of a project for which the Creative Industries Fund NL or the Netherlands Film Fund previously provided a grant.
• With respect to the codes prevalent in the sector, in this scheme it means that:
  • applicants, both producers and independent makers, apply the Fair Practice Code.
  • if a cultural institution acts as a producer, it applies the Governance Code for Culture;
  • in the application, producers describe how they relate to the Diversity and Inclusion Code.

Ineligible

• No grant is provided to or for:
  • institutions that have a structural grant relationship with the Dutch Government;
  • projects that have already been subsidized under one of the Fund’s other grant schemes, with the exception of a starting grant;
  • projects that have already been subsidized under one of the Netherlands Film Fund‘s other grant schemes;
  • projects initiated by applicants who, during the project period, have already received support for the implementation of their development plan under the Talent Development Grant Programme for the Creative Industry from the Fund;
  • projects for which, at the time of the application, an application is already being processed under another Fund’s grant scheme;
  • activities that have already taken place or started before the date of the decision;
  • projects for which an application is submitted again, after having been rejected by the board entirely or partially, with no changes in circumstances or new facts being specified by the applicant;
  • projects for which grant applications have already been submitted twice before within this scheme’s same phase (development or realization) and which were rejected or negatively assessed;
  • applications that are not submitted on time or that are incomplete;
  • study or training course projects;
  • activities and costs directly related to the founding of a company or organization;
  • activities that do not go above and beyond the regular business activities.

For more information, visit Creative Industries Fund NL.