Immerse\Interact XL Grant Scheme

The Immerse\Interact XL Grant Scheme is a collaborative grant scheme of the Creative Industries Fund NL and the Netherlands Film Fund. Within this grant scheme, we are looking for distinctive, ambitious projects within the interdisciplinary media landscape that are able to reach an international audience. The XL contributions can be used for activities that set out to achieve grand international ambitions, to realize a higher level of quality in production and to give scope for ground-breaking media research in an international context.

New projects, but also projects with international potential that have already received a contribution from the Immerse\Interact Grant Scheme, can apply.

Film and audiovisual producers with a demonstrable international track record in the field of interactive storytelling or immersive media forms (360-degree videos, virtual reality, augmented reality) can apply for an XL contribution.

Applicants should be legal persons established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in an EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland. One-man businesses or general partnerships are not considered to be legal persons in this context. The applicant’s principle activity is developing or producing film and/or audiovisual productions within the Netherlands.

Immerse\Interact versus Immerse\Interact XL
In addition to the XL round, it is also possible to submit an application on 11 September for a regular development or realization contribution through the Immerse\Interact Grant Scheme.

You can submit an application for a primarily Dutch film project:
- with a supporting cinematic component;
- with the contribution being necessary to realize an artistic project in the field of both fictional and non-fictional digital storytelling;
- if the project’s form specifically relates to immersive (360-degree video, VR, AR) and/or interactive media (web-based, gaming, mobile). Crossovers in the form of transmedia productions and installations are also eligible.

Both new projects and projects that have already received a development and/or realization contribution in the context of Immerse\Interact and that are still in the financing or development phase are eligible. Projects that have been rejected twice for an Immerse\Interact realization contribution are not eligible.

Applications within the Immerse\Interact XL Grant Scheme are handled by the Netherlands Film Fund. In order to prepare the application, it is important to acquire the right information based on the regulations and protocols (see Downloads) and this checklist.

In assessing XL projects, the following is taken into account:

- the artistic concept of the project, with due attention given to the narrative, the narrative structure and any interactive possibilities;
- the vision in terms of immersion and/or interaction, including an elaborated intended user experience (user journey);
- the look and feel of the project, with due attention given to the design and cinematic quality;
- the technical set-up of the project;
- the team members involved in the production phase;
- the set-up and explanation of the budget and financing - to what extent are they sound and is the end product feasible?;
- the release plan: intended target group, explanation about reach, online or physical place of screening, communication and distribution strategy - given the focus on international reach, a substantial amount of the budget must be allocated to international distribution, marketing and communication;
- an international track record, based on e.g. international collaborations, such as co-productions, and/or international screenings or letters of intent in that regard, and/or selections, e.g. for festivals, galleries, exhibitions or shows, and/or international prizes and press coverage;
- the feasibility of the national and international distribution plan;
- the positioning of the project in relation to existing productions;
- the possibilities for free screenings and non-exclusive exploitation.

Please note: these are not the attachments required for the application. The requisite attachments are specified in the application form and must be added so that the project can be processed.

The advisory committee checks every application for grant stacking. Applicants that are being supported with a long-term grant are expected to demonstrate what bearing this grant has on the application for Immerse\Interact XL. This also applies to co-producers and other collaboration partners that are specified in the budget.

submission
Applications can only be submitted digitally to the Netherlands Film Fund from 3 July 2023. The grant desk checks whether applications are complete and meet the formal requirements laid down in the General Regulations. Only fully completed applications that are submitted before the deadline will be processed. Applications should be drafted in Dutch and/or English.

Projects that have previously received a realization contribution from the Immerse\Interact Grant Scheme have to add an extra column with the XL costs to the previously approved production budget. In addition, any substantive and production changes made in relation to the previous realization application need to be explained.

assessment
The production and grant desk departments review the production and commercial aspects of the applications. If your application file meets the conditions, it will be submitted to an independent advisory committee, which will assess the application. The Immerse\Interact advisory committee issues advice to the Film Fund’s board.

Click here to see who is part of the advisory committee.

decision
The boards of the Film Fund and the Creative Industries Fund NL will take account of the advisory committee’s advice in their decision on the application. You will be notified of the result by means of a written decision.

All relevant regulations for Immerse\Interact can be found on the Film Fund webpage (in Dutch only)