Development application

The International Sámi Film Institute’s intention with this grant scheme is to support professional filmmakers who make short films, documentaries, feature films and series with the development leading up to production. Also interactive productions, games and XR productions.

The purpose of the development grant is to ensure that the project maintains the best possible quality.

Furthermore, it shall form the basis for the assessment by ISFI of whether additional funding should be given, if applied for, to the production of the film project.

The applicant can be a writer, director, producer or a group of these with a Sami background. Development grants can be awarded to individual writers or directors who write scripts, or to producers or a group of these. If the grant recipient is a producer, he or she must attach an agreement with the script writer, if required by ISFI. The grant recipient must document how and what the funds are spent on.

Development grants can be offered to limited liability companies (AS, AB, Oy) or sole proprietorships if the application is below NOK 200,000.

Central roles in the project must be held by Sami; in that either the producer or co-producer, and director or script writer define themselves as Sami or speak Sami.

The applicant and the recipient of the grant must be Sami production companies.

In order to apply for a script grant from ISFI, it is a requirement that the Sami -writer, -director or – producer submits the application.

ISFI makes an overall assessment of the project on the basis of the project’s artistic quality and the criteria set by these regulations.

The grant is linked to Sami culture and language. Projects applying for grants must comply with the following:

• The project must be developed in Sami in its entirety.
• Central roles in the project must be held by Sami; in that either the producer or co-producer, and director or script writer define themselves as Sami or are speak Sami.
• The project must have a Sami theme.
• Priority is given to projects with children and young people as the target group.
• The main language in the film must be Sami.

ISFI makes a discretionary assessment of whether the project meets the requirement of Sami affiliation and Sami language.

The development grant is usually disbursed in two parts; 75% is paid when the grant recipient has accepted the conditions of the grant in writing, and 25% is paid after the project report for the grant has been approved by ISFI.

Being awarded the development grant does not guarantee further support for production, but it is possible to apply for a grant for the same project later.

If ISFI provides further support to the project, the development grant is considered part of the overall grant.

The grant offer from ISFI is valid for three months after the offer has been made. If the grant recipient has not accepted the conditions of the grant within three months, the grant will be withdrawn without notice.

You can use the budget and final report form when applying for a development grant.

There are no application deadlines for development grants and applications are processed continuously.

Application processing time is normally 6 weeks.

Complaints of ISFI decisions can be made to the Ministry of Culture in Norway.

There are no application deadlines for development grants and applications are processed continuously.

Application processing time is normally 6 weeks.

Applications generated and approved before January 1, 2024, remain in the previous portal and will not undergo migration to the new application portal. The reporting process remains unchanged for those tasked with reporting on grants obtained through the old portal. Conversely, applications approved in this new portal will be reported within this platform.

If the grant is disbursed in two parts, you must report in time or apply for an extension.

Applications generated and approved before January 1, 2024: The report shall be submitted via email to rapport@isfi.no with reference to the grant reference number.

Mandatory attachments in relation to the reporting

• Financial statements
  The financial statement shall show all expenses for the project. If you are reporting on a travel grant, you shall instead submit receipts documenting the expenses in relation to the budget. Expenses for food and driving are not covered.
• Project funding
  Specify and explain what funding the project has and who is funding the project.
• Project financial report
  An audited financial report for the project is required if the grant is NOK 200 000 or more. If not, the accountant must sign all financial statements.
• Development grant
  In relation to the report for a development grant you must submit the potential pilot, script and other material which is completed in relation to the project implementation.

Missing report / Breach of guidelines

If the grant recipient breaches the guidelines or ISFI does not receive the report and financial accounting may be of significance to the allocation of future grants. The breach in this context means violating ISFI’s guidelines, if the grant is not used in accordance with the rules that are set for the grant, and/or failure to comply with decisions made by ISFI. In the event of a breach as mentioned above, ISFI may also choose to impose these sanctions:

• Ceasing payment of the grant for the project in question
• Ceasing payment of the grant for other projects under the grant recipients’ direction
• Requiring repayment of all or part of the grant
• Imposing a quarantine of 3 years or less on allocating new grants
• In the event of a significant breach, ISFI shall impede any form of funding for the project with immediate effect.