Lucca Mortis grant allocation
Based on the application file submitted – the application had the highest number of points in the application round, the renowned names associated with the film and the wonderful opportunity for Dutch film professionals to be able to work on this film – the application was approved. The only thing missing was confirmation that the film would also be shown in the Netherlands in addition to foreign cinemas. Therefore, the decision stipulated that the co-producer had to be able to demonstrate before the final determination of the grant that the film will be shown in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands Film Fund can make these kinds of assessments based on the applicable rules in the regulations. As the Film Fund, we do not want to pull the plug just like that if work for Dutch professionals depends on it. Filmmaking is an unruly process with many variables that is often realised under high pressure and in a highly competitive working environment. Furthermore, there is an important safety net: the grant is only definitively determined upon final settlement and the film project must demonstrably have met all conditions.
Grant is provided conditionally
During the filmmaking process, the Film Fund disburses part of the grant on multiple occasions when the Dutch co-producer can show that expenditure has demonstrably benefited Dutch professionals for their work on, among other things, editing, sound design, special effects, post-production. In this way, Dutch cast and crew can also be paid during the long process of filmmaking. The Film Fund checks this during the filmmaking process on the basis of cost statements submitted by the producer.
Under this scheme, the disbursement of grant funds is always conditional. Upon final settlement, afterwards, we check whether all conditions have been met and whether that grant can actually be claimed. Only then is the grant award final. This final settlement is always audited by independent accountants. In the case of Lucca Mortis, the film has not yet been released. As soon as a film has had its premiere, the Film Fund arrives at a final assessment. If a film does not materialise and a film is not released, this will have consequences upon the definitive determination of the grant, with the ultimate consequence that the grant is partially or entirely withdrawn.
Media coverage
As a national cultural fund, we want to be able to account transparently and carefully for why a film does or does not receive a grant and how we monitor this. Media reports have raised questions about whether the Film Fund should have supported this film. We take this seriously and will accordingly examine how we can strengthen our assessment process and our monitoring where necessary. In doing so, we will also critically examine whether the conditions of the Film Production Incentive are still sufficiently aligned with large international projects submitted to us via Dutch co-producers.