STATE SUPPORT

Following genres are eligible for funding by the Bulgarian National Film Center:
* Development and production of feature films (over 70 minutes), short features (between 15 and 30 minutes), short and feature length documentaries and animation;
* Minority co-productions;
* Local theatrical distribution of Bulgarian movies (including supported minority co-productions);
* Festivals and other cinema events;
* International promotion of Bulgarian films (participation of films and filmmakers at international festivals and other major cinema events).

Only companies registered according the Bulgarian Trade Law and registered as producers, distributors or exhibitors at the National Film Center – Bulgaria can apply for funding.

The state support is allocated to film projects, selected by a National Commission of experts on a competitive basis.

For 2011 the secured amount of the state support for the Bulgarian film industry is 5,2 millions of Euro. According the law :

* at least 10 % (0,52 millions of Euro for 2011) of the funding is for support Local theatrical distribution of Bulgarian movies (including supported minority co-productions);

* up to 5 % (0,26 millions of Euro for 2011) of the funding is for support of festivals, other cinema events and international promotion of Bulgarian films

* up to 5 % (0,26 millions of Euro for 2011) of the funding is for support of special film projects on subjects, proposed by Ministry of culture;

* at least 80 % (4,16 millions of Euro for 2011) of the funding is for all type of film production (feature film, documentaries, animation + minority co-productions). Up to 20 % of this amount (0,83 millions of Euro for 2011) is for support of minority co-productions.

The legitimate level for support of majority Bulgarian productions is:

- at least 30% of the average budget from previous year for the type of film production (feature film, documentary or animation);

- up to 50 % of the budget of the film project, but for low budget productions the legitimate amount is up to 80 % (The definition for low budget film production according to the Bulgarian Film Law is “A Film with a budget up to 60 % of the average budget of an European movie for the previous year based on the database provided by the European Audiovisual Observatory.)

According the signed contracts for funding the producer has the obligation to pay back to the agency up to 5 % from the received amount. This recoupment is dutiful from the revenue generated after the recoupment of the own investment and other private equity funding.

Every year the Bulgarian National Film Center has;

* up to four deadlines per year for minority co-productions;

* one deadline per year for co-productions with TV broadcaster with national coverage.