News

We are pleased to inform you that the Call for Applications “COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE 2025” will open on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024 with a deadline to submit your application by MONDAY,  FEBRUARY 24, 2025 (7:00 PM CET).

In 2025, the COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE budget will amount €1,5 Mio.

Initiated in 2021 by Europa Cinemas with the support of Creative Europe/MEDIA, this flagship scheme aims to reward outstanding innovative and collaborative projects implemented by Network members from the same country or at a European level.

COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE seeks to support projects which have the potential to inspire other exhibitors in the Network and beyond. Successful projects will need to offer evidence of potential impact on the film sector in areas such as the promotion, circulation and visibility of European films; audience development and young audience growth in particular; and enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of cinemas in their own markets and communities. Among the main priorities of the scheme are social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and the development of data-analytics and digital marketing tools.

Since its launch, 51 projects across Europe have been supported. They have focused on enhancing audience engagement, improving sustainability, diversifying programming, and fostering collaboration across the cultural and digital sectors to adapt cinemas to evolving challenges. You can explore all the projects here.

IMPORTANT - The Collaborate to Innovate Guidelines have been adapted for the forthcoming 2025 Call for applications:

• Europa Cinemas financial contribution has been increased to a maximum amount of €120,000 per project.
• A cinema will no longer be able to submit an application or participate in two consecutive editions of the program, whether as a coordinator or as a partner venue.

NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION:

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

TEMPLATE OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE BUDGET

TEMPLATE OF MANDATE TO BE SIGNED BY EACH PARTNER

SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 – 7.00PM (CET)

PLEASE NOTE SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

• APPLICATION DOCUMENTS ARE TO BE DULY FILLED IN AND SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2025 (7:00 PM CET). APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL BE INELIGIBLE.

• NEW: EUROPA CINEMAS' FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WILL AMOUNT TO AN INCREASED MAXIMUM OF €120,000 PER PROJECT AND WILL NOT EXCEED:
  • 70% of overall costs for projects submitted mainly by applicants from A and B countries, and where the main expenditure of the project will be in A and B countries.
  • 80% of overall costs for projects submitted mainly by coordinators and partners from C and D countries.

• PROJECTS CAN EXCEPTIONALLY INVOLVE NON-MEMBER CINEMAS IF THE APPLICATION INCLUDES THE REQUIRED MINIMUM NUMBER OF EUROPA CINEMAS PARTNER THEATRES AS MENTIONED IN PART C OF THE GUIDELINES.

• A GROUP OF CINEMAS/EXHIBITORS CAN ONLY SUBMIT ONE PROJECT.

• A CINEMA CAN ONLY BE PARTNER IN ONE PROJECT.

• NEW: A CINEMA CANNOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION OR PARTICIPATE IN TWO CONSECUTIVE EDITIONS OF THE PROGRAM, WHETHER AS A COORDINATOR OR AS A PARTNER VENUE.

• PROJECTS CAN ONLY BE SUPPORTED ONCE.

• APPLICATION FORMS, INCLUDING BUDGET AND MANDATE, NEED TO BE COMPLETED ONLINE.

DO YOU NEED A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION/REPLICATION WHEN BUILDING YOUR OWN PROJECTS?

The Audience Development & Innovation Labs and Europa Cinemas Network Conferences provided an excellent opportunity to showcase a variety of Collaborate to Innovate projects through panels and workshops. We trust that these presentations will serve as a valuable source of inspiration and a model for your own projects.

All live streams of the sessions are available on our YouTube channel:

• 23d Network Conference in Vilnius (2024):

1. Workshop 1- MAKING A SUCCESS OF SUBSCRIPTION MODELS

• 22nd Network Conference in Paris (2022):

1. Workshop 1 - COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE
2. Workshop 2 - WINNING BACK THE AUDIENCE
3. Workshop 4 – HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

If you plan to implement new and original initiatives in your region - aiming at developing new audiences (particularly young ones), using new digital technologies, subscription models, improving environmental sustainability, contributing to social cohesion within your structure or in your communities - please go ahead and send us your application!

COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE Guidelines were designed with the active support of Network members. They are available in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.

We will be launching a series of zoom sessions on January 15 and 16, 2025 where the Guidelines will be presented and you will be able to raise questions about the process, procedures and rules of the scheme. You can register here for these sessions.

If you are unable to attend these meetings, but need any additional information or clarification, please do not hesitate to have a look at the FAQs or to contact us: collaboratetoinnovate@europa-cinemas.org.

Exclusive to members of the Network, the Call for applications is a great opportunity to highlight the diversity, vitality and creativity of your work, projects and cinemas!

COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE is an exciting and important scheme, not just for the Europa Cinemas Network but for the film industry. We look forward to your applications!