The Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities (CAACI) is an international agency for the Ibero-American region, specializing in audiovisual and cinematographic production. The aim of the CAACI is the development of the cinematographic field within the audiovisual sphere of the Ibero-American countries, and integration through an equitable participation in regional cinematographic activity.

On the other hand, the association of the European Film Agency Directors (EFAD) brings together 37 film and audiovisual agencies from 36 European countries (European Union Member States as well as well as Iceland, Norway, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Bosnia and Herzegovina). EFAD members are providing national support for audiovisual and cinematographic creation in Europe and the effective distribution of European works across Europe and internationally.

In the final statement of the EFAD/CAACI meeting held in Toulouse on March 2016 one of the proposals was the launch of a jointly funded co-development grant in order to encourage collaboration at an earlier stage, increase the number of genuine artistic co-productions and to build a structured partnership between Europe and Latin-America. It was agreed that this grant should be awarded in the framework of some major festivals’ professional forums.

Considering that the San Sebastian Festival is one of the biggest film events in Europe and that its Industry Club already acts as a hub between our two continents by organizing the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, it seems the perfect place to introduce this joint initiative, the EFAD-CAACI co-development grant. Its name was changed in 2020 for DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe).

Consequently, the DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) will be awarded in the framework of the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum taking place on 25, 26 and 27 September 2023 during the 71st San Sebastian Film Festival. The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) will be awarded by an international jury to one of the projects selected in the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum.

The conditions ruling the DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) are detailed in the following Regulation:
 

ARTICLE 1 - Objective of the regulation

The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) aims to make a contribution to the cooperation between Europe and Latin-America in the field of the film industry. This contribution takes the form of a co-development grant, awarded under the following conditions.

ARTICLE 2 – Eligibility criteria

The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) is open to projects that have been selected to participate in the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum.

The DALE! AWARD (Development Latin America-Europe) is aimed at supporting development costs of the selected project.

The project must be designed to become a co-production involving at least one European and one Latin American country.

Special attention will be paid to projects designed to be a co-production between new co-production partners, that is to say, partners from countries from Europe and Latin America that do not usually cooperate .

The project needs to have a specific connection:

• with Latin America when it is a project submitted by a European producer;
• with Europe when it is a project submitted by a Latin-American producer.

This connection may be based on any relevant element: cultural content of the script, foreseen shooting locations, cast or crew, etc.

ARTICLE 3 – Commitment of the beneficiary

Once production of the project is completed, the grant beneficiary must include in the credits of the definitive copy:

• a reference of the DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe);
• the EFAD logo;
• the CAACI logo.

The logos will be available on the official websites of these Organizations. The beneficiary shall inform EFAD and CAACI about the completion of the project and of any useful information about its exploitation and performances (selection in festivals, awards, theatrical releases, VoD availability…)

ARTICLE 4 – Selection procedure

The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe), will be awarded by an ad hoc jury composed of one representative of CAACI, one representative of the EFAD and one representative designated by the San Sebastian Film Festival.

The decision taken by the jury will be final.

The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) award will be announced on September, 27th 2023.

ARTICLE 5 – Grant and payment criteria

The amount of the DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) is 20,000 euros. The amount actually received may vary due to banking costs, which could be deducted.

The grant takes the form of a non-refundable subsidy. It will be paid in two installments:

• 50% upfront;
• 50% after submission of a co-production contract only and not before the period of three months following the first payment.

The DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe) carrying 20,000 euro gross will be handed over either as a bank cheque, as an international cheque, or as a bank transfer to the majority producer of the winning project. It will only be paid in euros.

ARTICLE 6 – State aid rules

In order to comply with European State aid rules, the amount of the grant coming from European authorities will be considered as de minimis aid*. The beneficiary will have to fulfil a statement of de minimis aid received.

ARTICLE 7 – Dispute resolution

All doubts arising from the interpretation of these rules and regulations will be solved by EFAD and CAACI jointly.

*EC Regulation 1407/2013 (de Minimis Aid Regulation) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union 24 December 2013