About ESFUF
The European Solidarity Fund For Ukrainian films (ESFUF) is an initiative proposed by the CNC to the other EFAD members during the Cannes General Assembly in May 2022.
After having supported various actions for Ukraine → at national and European level, EFAD and its members wanted to unite forces to launch a dedicated support for Ukrainian filmmakers, to help them completing their films or developing new projects, while fostering coproductions.
Since its launch, at the 2023 Berlinale, the Fund has supported 37 projects, of which 24 were in development stage and 13 in finalisation stage.
In 2024, the Fund, which welcomed new contributors, has been renewed for an additional year. It now brings together 20 partners→ from 19 different countries to support Ukrainian filmmakers.
Its budget has been increased to reach 1.5M€, paving the way for a strengthened support to the Ukrainian film industry this year.
How to apply
Supported projects
The partner authorities
- Belgium: Cinema and Audiovisual Centre of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (CCA)
- Croatia: Croatian Audiovisual Centre
- Cyprus: Deputy Ministry of Culture
- Denmark: Danish Film Institute
- Estonia: Estonian Film Institute
- France: Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC)
- Germany: Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)
- Greece: Greek Film Centre
- Hungary : National Film Institute Hungary
- Ireland: Screen Ireland
- Italy: Ministry of Culture
- Latvia: National Film Centre of Latvia
- Lithuania: Lithuanian Film Centre
- Luxembourg: Film Fund Luxembourg
- Netherlands: Netherlands Film Fund
- Norway: Norwegian Film Institute
- Portugal: Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA)
- Spain: Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA)
- United Kingdom: UK Global Screen Fund of the British Film Institute (BFI)
- EFAD (Europe): European Film Agency Directors association
The CNC acts as coordinator of ESFUF, managing the fund together with the Steering Committee composed of all the partner authorities.
The Jury Members
The jury members in 2024
President
- Georges Goldenstern, Artistic director (France)
Members
- Simone Baumann, Producer, Managing Director of German Films (Germany)
- Javier Estrada, Film critic, (Spain)
- Līga Gaisa, Producer (Latvia)
- Anita Juka, Producer (Croatia)
- Teona Mitevska, Director (North Macedonia)
- Anthelme Vidaud, Film studies academic (France)
Alternate members
- Zane Balčus, Film studies academic (Latvia)
- Timon Koulmasis, Director (Greece)
- Lisa Marie Russo, Producer (United Kingdom)
The jury members in 2023
President
- Marianne Slot, Producer (Denmark)
Members
- Simone Baumann, Producer, Managing Director of German Films (Germany)
- Dariusz Jabłoński, Director and producer, President of European Producers Club (Poland)
- Timon Koulmasis, Director (Greece)
- Ilmar Raag, Director (Estonia)
- Ineke Smits, Director (Netherlands)
- Audrius Stonys, Director (Lithuania)
