The European Commission has published two new Calls for Proposals within the support framework of the European audiovisual sector called MEDIA 2007. The calls have a total budget of 7.9 million euros. The calls are for Support to Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution and Support for the implementation of Pilot Projects.

The MEDIA Programme 2007 has as its main objective to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector in the framework of an open and competitive European market favourable to employment, including by promoting links between audiovisual professionals.

The measures covered by the the first Calls for proposals EACEA/09/08 include Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution:

• Video on Demand: service enabling individuals to select audiovisual works from a central server for viewing on a remote screen by streaming and/or downloading.
• Digital Cinema Distribution: digital delivery (to an acceptable commercial standard) of ‘Core Content’, i.e. feature films, TV films or series (fiction, animation and documentary) to cinemas for theatrical exploitation (via hard disc, satellite, online).

The Call for proposals concerned with support to Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution will dispose of a total budget of 5.9 million euros. The maximum duration of the projects is 18 months.

The second Calls for Proposals EACEA/08/08 in support for the implementation of Pilot Projects has a predetermined budget of 2 millin euros to finance the following measures:

• Distribution: new ways of creating and distributing European content via non linear services.
• Open Media Production Environment.
• Previously funded Projects: Projects which have received funding under a previous MEDIA Pilot Projects Call for Proposals.

With respect to the beneficiaries, this notice is aimed at European companies whose activities contribute to the attainment of the above objectives. Applicants will be able to apply to both Calls for Proposals however, must be established in either one of the 27 countries of the European Union, the EFTA countries, Switzerland, or Croatia.

Applications must be submitted to the Executive Agency for Education Audiovisual & Culture (EACEA) no later than 14 July 2008 for the Call in Support to Video on Demand and Digital Cinema Distribution and no later than 7 July 2008 for the Call in Support for the implementation of Pilot Projects.

Both Calls for Proposals in full can be found, along with solicitation forms on the  MEDIA programme website.