TalentScope Documentary Funding Scheme

The program starts with an intensive one-on-one session with the curator. During this session, the customized program is made concrete based on the research questions and a work plan is worked towards its content. Based on the work plan, substantive expertise can be deployed throughout the year, inspiration can be gained and travel and/or research wishes can be fulfilled.

In addition, the program includes the following fixed components:

• A visit to an international documentary festival or market, such as those organised annually by SEE NL and the Film Fund.
• During IDFA’s International Project Space in July 2025, a program will be put together that connects with – and is valuable to – the director’s process.
• In November 2025, the directors will receive full accreditation during IDFA and will independently follow their own festival program, compiled by the curator.
• The program will conclude in the spring of 2026 with a curated film program and/or public presentation by the directors in the Documentary Pavilion.

Funding Information

• The following can be requested for TalentScope Documentary:
  • A contribution of max. €37,000 for the development of your long documentary plan.
  • A contribution of max. €5,000 for additional research or making test recordings
  • A contribution of max. €2,500 for translation and other costs
  • Only if the applicant is a production company: max. 17.5% in producer fee & overhead on the total development costs deemed eligible by the Fund.
  • The TalentScope program facilitated by IDFA (including festival visit).

Eligibility Criteria

• TalentScope Documentary focuses on experienced (youth) documentary directors who have proven themselves with previous work and who want to deepen and enrich their authorship:
  • The director must have made at least 1 majority Dutch long documentary longer than 55 minutes;
  • The director’s previous work (short or long) has also been selected for festivals from the TalentScope Documentary festival list.
• An application for TalentScope Documentary can be submitted by an independent production company or, in exceptional cases, independently by a director.
• If the application is made by the director, the following applies:
  • The application can be submitted independently by a director (who meets the entry requirements under Who is this scheme for?), provided that he or she (in the opinion of the board) has demonstrable and sufficient production experience in realizing documentaries in the professional Dutch film and/or television sector, which have been released.
• If the application is made by the producer, the following applies:
  • The applicant is an independent production company (a legal entity, not a sole proprietorship or general partnership) that has been established for at least 2 years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and that produces and exploits films and other audiovisual productions on a continuous basis.
  • The production company is represented by a producer who, as majority producer, has been primarily responsible for the realisation and release of at least one independent, non-commissioned film production (>70 min) in the professional Dutch film and/or television sector.
  • The producer representing the production company is not the same person as the director and/or screenwriter of the film.

Application Requirements

• General:
  • Completed and signed application form
• Content-related:
  • Explanation TalentScope: substantiation of the director regarding motivation, commitment and research questions for the entire process
  • Documentary plan
  • Synopsis
  • Director’s vision
  • Manufacturer’s explanation (if applicable)
  • Viewing material of own work
  • CVs and filmography
• Commercial:
  • Development budget & financing plan
  • Chamber of Commerce extract

For more information, visit Dutch Film Fund.