The new support Programme of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre for the international promotion and domestic theatrical distribution of Greek cinematic works, with a total budget of €1.25 million, is hereby announced.

The Programme is addressed both to films distributed in cinemas across Greece or premiering internationally, as well as to projects in development participating in recognised international professional programmes.

The Programme consists of four Actions:

Action I – Distribution Support

This action focuses on supporting Greek cinematic works scheduled for theatrical release in Greece. It builds on the successful process of the previous period, now significantly enhanced with a substantial budget increase—from €100,000 to €300,000—effectively strengthening the momentum of new Greek releases.

Action II – Support for Cinemas Screening Greek Films

This action constitutes the major innovation of the new Programme and represents a substantial investment in cinema theatres themselves—the meeting point between Greek cinema and its audience.

With a budget of approximately €700,000, Action II introduces for the first time a modern and efficient support model that directly rewards cinemas for screening Greek films.

Specifically, it aims to actively support cinemas across the country in order to strengthen the presence of Greek films in their programming, attract new audiences, and offer regular viewers a broader range of choices.

The Programme draws on successful European practices and has been adapted to the specific characteristics and needs of the Greek market.

Participating cinemas will commit to regularly screening Greek productions and will receive funding proportionate to the number of tickets sold for these screenings.

The application platform for this action will open in September 2026 and will concern screenings of Greek films in cinemas during the period January–August 2026.

Action III – International Premiere Support

This action aims to support the international promotion of Greek cinematic works selected for international premiere at recognised international film festivals and their respective markets, regardless of whether they are co-productions of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre.

For 2026, the maximum funding amounts—higher than in previous years—are categorised into three Tiers, depending on the size and significance of the festivals:

Tier A: €13,000 – €20,000

Tier B: €7,000 – €12,999

Tier C: €5,000 – €6,999

Action IV – Support for Participation in Work-in-Progress & Co-Production Markets (Pitching Forums)

Within the broader strategy to strengthen the international presence of Greek cinema, a new action is introduced to support the participation of Greek projects in development in recognised international work-in-progress programmes and co-production markets (pitching forums).

The aim is to present projects to international sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers, with the ultimate goal of fostering their development and international trajectory.

Eligible projects include fiction and documentary films (short and feature-length), animation, and VR projects at the pre-production or post-production stage, which have been selected to be presented as work-in-progress or at a pitching forum within a recognised international film festival or audiovisual industry event, regardless of whether they are co-productions of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre.

The funding amount for participation in a work-in-progress screening is determined by the competent Unit of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre, with a maximum of €3,000.

The full regulations governing the above Programme are available on the official website of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre: www.ekkomed.gr

The Programme is implemented by the Promotion and Distribution Unit of Greek Cinema of the General Directorate of Greek Cinema of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre.

Applications for the above Actions open on Wednesday, 27 February 2026, via the platform: https://e-services.ekkomed.gr/

, accessible also through the EKKOMED website via the “e-applications” button.

View the Announcement here (In Greek)

View the Programme for the Promotion & Distribution of Greek Cinematic Works here (In Greek)