This year’s funds of FERNSEHFONDS AUSTRIA almost exhausted after first application date – grants of EUR 10 m applied for

Press release dated 7 February 2014

Grant applications for 32 television film projects amounting to a total of around EUR 10.5 million were submitted in the first round of applications for the Austrian Television Fund (FERNSEHFONDS AUSTRIA), which ended on 28 January. “This is the highest grant volume applied for since the establishment of the fund 10 years ago,” said Mr Alfred Grinschgl, Managing Director of RTR’s Media Division and person in charge of the allocation of funds. “This year around EUR 14 million are available for television film grants. Even though I assume that we won’t be able to accept all applications in full – for various reasons – I suppose that we will have to invest clearly more than half of this year’s grant budget for projects submitted on the first application date, while being aware that we will have three more application dates this year,” Mr Grinschgl continued. “I would be very pleased if the funds for the Austrian Television Fund were increased – as provided for by the government programme – hence further fostering Austria’s positive development as a film location,” Mr Grinschgl concluded.

As of the first application date, grant applications for six films, three series and 23 documentaries were submitted. The overall production costs of all projects amount to around EUR 51 million. Award decisions are expected for the end of March 2014.

Further information about television film projects supported by the Austrian Television Fund (FERNSEHFONDS AUSTRIA) as well as about the application dates 2014 are available on RTR’s website at www.fernsehfonds.at.