Geneva audiovisual incentive scheme

Contact the Film Office of Fondation Genève Tourisme & Congrès, which will assist you in preparing your application. Applications must be submitted using an online form, with documents prepared using the official templates. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Documents using the official templates:

• detailed list and total amount of projected expenditure in the Canton of Geneva;
• detailed list of projected eligible salaries, talent fees or other fees;
• signed declaration of compliance, completeness and undertaking.

Production file:

• synopsis and latest version of the screenplay (or treatment, artistic or narrative bible);
• available visual material (storyboard, teaser, pilot, presentation);
• detailed project budget and detailed budget for the Geneva-based activity;
• detailed list of the workforce in Geneva (roles, periods of activity, remuneration and liability to Geneva cantonal tax);
• evidence of financing already secured (letters of intent, bank loans, etc.);
• complete technical and artistic information sheets;
• list of planned filming locations and dates in Geneva (full addresses);
• proposed distribution or release strategy;
• evidence of the chain of title (option, acquisition and author agreements, etc.);
• where applicable: co-production agreement and allocation of expenditure, and agreement with the audiovisual service company;
• for immersive or interactive digital creations: any document useful for assessing the project, including a prototype, technical document, technical architecture, user-experience document or interactive presentation. 

Your application is forwarded to the Cantonal Audiovisual Commission, which verifies on the basis of your projected budgets that the conditions are met (70% financing, registered office, absence of exclusion criteria, expenditure threshold, eligible expenditure and duration of activity). On this basis, the Department issues a preliminary decision on the project’s eligibility in principle.

• Start within 4 months of the preliminary decision. After this deadline, a new application must be submitted. 
• Keep the Department informed of the project’s progress (duty to cooperate). In the event of non-compliance, the preliminary decision may be revoked. 
• Report without delay any change to the project affecting the eligibility criteria. A material change requires a new preliminary decision. 
• Keep all supporting documents (invoices, proof of payment, contracts and call sheets) from the first day. 

Within 3 months of completing the project, you must submit: 

• the work in its final form, if available; 
• the detailed final statement and final list of expenditure in Geneva, with all supporting documents (invoices, proof of payment, contracts and receipts); 
• the final list of salaries and fees paid, with contracts, together with the related social security contributions; 
• the call sheets and final filming schedule; 
• the final list of filming locations in Geneva; 
• the final accounts for the Geneva-based activity, audited and certified as accurate by a fiduciary firm; 
• the signed declaration of compliance, completeness and undertaking. 

The Commission issues a final advisory opinion on whether the completed project conforms to the project submitted. Fondation d’aide aux entreprises verifies the eligibility of the invoices and calculates the effective reimbursement amount. The Department then issues its award decision. If the submitted file is incomplete, the Department decides solely on the basis of the documents in its possession, which may result in a reduced reimbursement.