The Commission has published the first three calls for proposals under the Creative Europe MEDIA 2022, which has €226 million of EU funding available this year. It aims at supporting the recovery of the audiovisual industry and strengthening its competitiveness both within Europe and worldwide. More calls will be published in the coming weeks and months.

Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton said: “In 2022, we will intensify our support to Europe’s cultural and creative sectors, heavily hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Today we announce the first of a long series of funding opportunities to stand by this crucial sector both through and beyond its recovery. Creative Europe will invest in innovation with digital technologies and in new types of content, from high-end TV series to virtual reality.”

The Creative Europe MEDIA programme has introduced three new calls for proposals in relation to: (i) video games and immersive content development; (ii) networks of European festivals; and (iii) MEDIA 360°, to support existing industries, new talents and markets, as well as to promote cooperation among different sectors.

In addition to these initial calls representing €41 million under the MEDIA umbrella, a call focused on media literacy has also been published, representing €2.4 million in EU funds. Several other calls within the three strands of the Creative Europe Programme will be published in the Commission’s Funding and Tender opportunities Portal.

The budget for the 2022 Creative Europe is €385.6 million, an increase of about 30% compared to 2021. To read the Commission’s press release in full, click here.