Zürcher Filmstiftung: Werkbeitrag, Projektentwicklung, Herstellung (Zurich Film Foundation)

The money

Amount

Up to CHF 1,000,000Werkbeitrag: a CHF 30,000 stipend to an author, at most once every four years. Development in three stages of up to CHF 10,000, CHF 70,000 and CHF 90,000, capped at CHF 100,000 in all. Production up to CHF 1,000,000 including development, as a conditionally repayable loan.

What it is

Grant or repayable

To apply

Free

Who can apply

Applicant

A writer alone or a production company

Where you write

In Switzerland

Rules

Screenwriters tax-resident in the canton of Zurich for at least two years, with one long film written as main author and co-financed by a recognized funder, may apply alone for a Werkbeitrag and for development stages one and two. Production companies need two years of head office in the canton (or a Zurich-resident author or director if based elsewhere in Switzerland), a company legal form and a completed feature or festival shorts. Applications are written in German.

Stages

Writing, development, production and distribution

Formats

Feature, Documentary, Animation, Short, Series

Language of the application

German

When to apply

The next closing date is Jan 11, 2027. The dates below are the current cycle's, as the funder states them. Files close at 11:59 pm on the online platform; Werkbeiträge can be filed only in the January and July rounds.

Dates are as the funder states them. Check the time of day and the time zone on the official page.

What it gives besides money

A right to an oral explanation of the decision from a committee member; a CHF 15,000 continuity credit for Zurich-resident authors whose feature wins a production grant.