Good practice:

A Funding Programme for Animated Projects

Until 2017, the ICEC supported audio-visual production through a general programme including feature films (documentary, fiction & animation), tv series, mini-series as well as tv animated series. The support for animation projects rarely exceeded 7% of the total funds allocated.
In 2017, and after lengthy discussions with the sector, the ICEC launched the 2017-2020 Audiovisual Strategic Plan, implementing a specific line of support for animation productions, including television and feature film productions intended to be released in theatres. With this programme, specific criteria have been set -appropriate for animation-, more funding have been allocated to animation, and projects are selected by a specialized evaluation committee.
The aim was to strengthen the animation industry in Catalonia through strong public support and an increasing number of animated projects supported.
Independent production companies benefit directly from this initiative, but the entire Catalan animation sector is also boosted, with a consequent increase in employment in the region.

The investment in the production of animation audio-visual works grew from €800,000 in 2016 to €2,490,000 in 2020. The implementation of this programme from 2016 to 2019 did not require additional human resources:
2016: AV department employees: 10
2017-2018-2019: AV department employees: 9

The number of animated projects supported per year rose from 3 in 2016 to 10 in 2020. In 2016 2 calls were launched with a total support amount of 7.6M €. Animation projects received 792.905€. After the implementation of the new animation line, the results were as follows:
2017: € 1,442,070 granted to 4 series.
2018: €1,300,000.00 granted to 2 series & 2 films.
2019: €1,300,000 granted to 2 series & 1 film.
2020:€ 2,490,000 granted to 6 series & 4 films.

The implementation of specific lines of support for animated productions dynamizes the AV sector in a territory: animation produces young and qualified employees, and can strongly strengthen the industrial sector of any territory, as it is not subject to the physical presence requirements as live action productions are. If these grants are also harmonised with the calls for proposals from other public agents that finance animation and eligible criteria are aligned with other national or pan-national public grants, the ecosystem of the animation sector could grow in a sustainable way. It is recommended to adapt the eligibility criteria (location of the production company, expenditure in the territory, cultural references, hiring of workers and service enterprises, guaranteed % of funding, involvement of local broadcasters guaranteeing the project will be seen-, or participation of other production companies) according to the particularities of the territory.