UNIJAPANCERTIFICATE

WHAT IS THE UNIJAPAN CERTIFICATE?
UNIJAPAN Certificate aims to promote co-production between Japan and other countries by
being the standard for official co-production in Japan.
WHY APPLY FOR THE UNIJAPAN CERTIFICATE?
It is needed to apply for Japan’s Co-production Subsidy (see diagram overleaf).
WHAT CINEMA FORMS ARE ELIGIBLE?
Live action and animated feature film projects
WHO SHOULD THE APPLICANT BE?
The Application must be made by a Japanese producer/production company
CERTIFICATION CRITERIA:A) Minimum Twenty percent (20%) production financing from JapanB) Minimum Five percent (5%) AND over 10 mil. JPY production financing from overseas
C) Minimum Three (3) points (as per chart below) creative contribution from Japanesenational or permanent residentD) Application from Japanese producer who receives or shares in main producing credit
E) Japanese producer must i) own or co-own copyright, ii) possess or have access to theoriginal master, and iii) be a revenue-share recipientF) Japanese and international distribution plan*Documents verifying items B) thru F) will be required.
Japanese Creative Contribution Points(3 POINTS NEEDED):[Live action][Animation](a)Director

2 points(a)Director

2 points(b)

Screenwriter

2 points(b)

Screenwriter

2 points(c)

Director of photography

1 point(c)

1 point(d)Composer1 point(d)(e)

Production designer

1 point(e)

Character designer
Animation director(CGI director)
Art director(f)Main cast (up to four)

1 point each(f)Original author

2 points(g)

Original author

2 points(g)

Composer1 point(h)Shooting in Japan

1 point

Total Points Available

10 points(i)

Post Production in Japan

1 point

Total Points Available15 points

1 point
1 point

APPLICATION PERIOD:•Applications will be accepted and processed year round. Films wishing to apply to theAgency for Cultural Affairs Co-production Subsidy, however, must apply for andobtain the UNIJAPAN Certificate first. (Note: Deadline for 2016 subsidy is Nov. 13, 2015)
Application Guideline and Application Forms (Japanese only) available on UNIJAPAN website.
For further information please contact UNIJAPANE-mail: copro@unijapan.org URL: http://unijapan.org/english/production/certificate.html
Phone: +81-(0)3-3353-4781 Attn: Takenari Maeda
UNIJAPAN is a non-profit organization established in 1957 by the Japanese film industry
under the auspice of the Government of Japan with an objective to promote Japanese cinemaabroad. In 2005 it merged with the organizer of Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

CO-PRODUCE with JAPAN & be eligible for a grant of up to 50 mil JPY.

How Japan’s Co-production Support Scheme Works:

CO-PRODUCTIONFOREIGN NATIONALPRODUCEREVALUATIONCERTIFICATION(3) APPLICATION(w/ CERTIFICATE)(4) FUND(after completionby deadline)(2) CERTIFICATE(1) SUBMISSION

JAPANESE PRODUCER /PRODUCTION COMPANYSELECTIONAGENCY FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRSSUBSIDY

FOREIGN NATIONALSUPPORT & INCENTIVES

Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government of Japan)
Co-production SubsidyOutline
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government of Japan) Co-production Subsidy (Bunka-choSubsidy) is a competitive grant for co-production projects that have Japanese involvement;
The program is not dependent on bi-lateral co-production treaties.
ELIGIBLE WORKS:•Live action and animated feature film projects (Same as UNIJAPAN Certificate)•Must have first obtained the UNIJAPAN Certificate (See overleaf for deadline))•Completion of film within the applicable financial year (April 1 – March 31) required
APPLICANT:
Application must be made by a Japanese producer/production company (Same entity thatapplies for the UNIJAPAN Certificate)
APPLICATION PERIOD:
Application deadline is in January and applicants are informed of funding decisions in April.
SUBSIDY AMOUNT/QUALIFYING EXPENDITURE(QE):•Subsidy Amount is 20% of QE•Maximum Subsidy Amount is 50 mil. JPY (approx. 416,000 USD)
•Projects with minimum QE of 100 mil. JPY (approx. 833,000 USD) are eligible•Expenses must be incurred within the financial year of the subsidy.
•QE is NOT restricted to expenses incurred within Japan.
•Some exclusions to QE are business/first class airfares, catering and other non-onscreen
costs. (For a full list see below website.)
PAYMENT OF SUBSIDY•The subsidy will be paid after completion of the film.
•Films must be screened to Bunka-cho as proof of completion before the end of the fiscal year.
•In addition to the screening a full set of accounts must be submitted for auditing prior topayment.
For more information on Bunka-cho Subsidy please refer to their website (in Japanese only):
http://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/geijutsubunka/eiga/seisaku_shien/