Gender Incentive

GENDER INCENTIVE 2025

Taking into account the findings of the Third Austrian Film Gender Report, the supervisory board of the Austrian Film Institute adopted the Gender Incentive scheme effective as of 1 January 2025. The evaluation showed that the proportion of women increased in almost all key crew positions that contributed Gender Incentive points.

Full details of the current Gender Incentive scheme from 2025 onward can be found in the downloadable documents (available in German only).

€ 30,000, automatic Gender Incentive

If the production funding of a project entitled to reference funds° is contracted and the project shows a certain significant proportion of women employed as Heads of Department in the following positions: production, directing, script, cinematography, line production, editing, script consulting, production design, original score, sound recording, sound design, sound mixing, color grading, lighting, VFX and animation, the production company automatically receives additional funding of €30,000. The staffing of the relevant crew positions is verified through the film credits.

These funds may be used for the script or project development of new projects featuring women in at least two of the following three departments: Production, Directing, and Screenwriting.

As part of the online production funding application, applicants complete the Gender Incentive Crew List to determine the project’s Gender Incentive score. Following the approval of selective funding, a production company acquires entitlement to the Gender Incentive upon reaching the required points threshold and the conclusion of the production agreement.

The Gender Incentive funds may be reinvested in a new script or project development within two years of the contract date. Any unused funds expire irrevocably after this period. Applications for the use of these funds are not tied to specific submission deadlines. Please submit applications online under either Team Script Development or Project Development.

10% plus, Gender Incentive on performance basis

Further the reference film funding amount will be raised by 10%, if a project hits the target value according to attachment F of the funding guidelines and acquires a title to automatic funding on a performance basis. These additional funds are available to the producer under the general rules governing reference film funding and must be used for new projects featuring women in at least two of the three head departments production, direction and script writing.

°A project is eligible for reference funding if (1) it has an Austrian majority share in financing and/or lead production responsibility (delegate producer); and (2) at least three of the four positions directing, screenwriting, cinematography and editing are filled by individuals who are either Austrian citizens, permanent residents of Austria, or nationals of EU, EEA, or Swiss member states treated as equivalent.

If an Austrian majority share in financing and/or lead production responsibility (delegate producer) is not achieved, a film may nevertheless qualify for reference funding if it attains exceptional economic success or festival success as defined in Sections 7.6.2 and 7.5.3 of the Funding Guidelines.