Financing, Budgets and Justification of Film Projects

Overview

This micro-credential equips students to analyze and manage the financial and economic viability of film projects, integrating budgets, financing, and industrial sustainability. It provides training in the preparation of detailed budgets, financing plans, and financial reports, as well as in co-production strategies and resource optimization. Furthermore, it develops negotiation and cost control skills, enhances employability in production companies and audiovisual projects, and positions the University of La Laguna as a leader in specialized training in executive production and financial management of film.

Goals

Analyze and manage the financial and economic viability of film projects, understanding the relationship between budgets, financing and industrial sustainability.
Prepare detailed budgets, financing plans and financial reports adapted to public calls for proposals, co-production funds and requirements of production companies, festivals and platforms.
Design financing and co-production strategies, considering national and international sources and the optimization of resources in complex projects.
Apply advanced negotiation and cost control tools, ensuring the technical and financial viability of productions.
To improve the employability of students, facilitating their integration into production companies, film commissions and audiovisual projects at the local, national and international levels.
To position the ULL as an academic benchmark in specialized training in executive production and financial management of film projects.

Access requirements

A university degree is not required to access this micro-credential. However, students wishing to access it must meet the following access requirements:

Be between 25 and 64 years of age at the start date of training.
Have at least a High School Diploma or equivalent professional certificate.
Have a National Identity Document or equivalent document that proves residence permit in Spain, at least during the period in which the microcredential is developed.

Academic program

Contents

Introduction to film financing
Main models of film financing at the regional, national and international levels.
Relationship between project type, budget, and financial strategy. The role of the executive producer in defining the financing model.
Film budgeting
Structure of the film budget and breakdown by line item. Preparation of budgets consistent with the artistic and production scope of the project. Relationship between budget, shooting schedule, and cost control.
Public funding
Analysis of the main lines of public funding for film. Access criteria, compatibility between funding programs, and preparation of the necessary financial documentation for application and justification.
Private financing and tax incentives.
Introduction to private investment in film, pre-sales, and agreements with platforms. How tax incentives work, with special attention to the Canary Islands regime and its impact on project financial planning.
International co-production and financing
Co-production as a financing tool. Basic models of national and international co-production and their impact on the budget, financial plan and project structure.
Financial plan and economic control
Design of the financing plan and cash flow. Budget monitoring, expense control and basic notions of economic justification to funding entities.

Methodology and activities

Theoretical classes: expository, explanatory or demonstration sessions of the contents and knowledge.
Seminars, workshops, or other complementary activities (discussion forums, simulations, etc.): monographic sessions that encourage student participation. These are supervised by the course instructors.
Work: preparation of a study, essay, work… proposed in the subject, either individually or in a group following established guidelines.
Independent work: independent and self-regulated activity of the student based on the documentation and guidelines proposed in the subject, preparation of classes and exams, preparation of final reports, internship reports…
Presentations, debates and defenses of works and projects: activity through which students present works, exercises, projects… based on established criteria, demonstrating sufficiency and maturity in the acquisition of the planned competencies.
Assessment: continuous assessment tests and final exams. Tests may be in person or online, and may be written, oral, or consist of practical exercises.

The methodology would be as follows:

Lectures/expository method: presentation or explanation by the teaching staff.
Seminars: completing exercises, solving problems or practical cases, others.
Individual work: individual preparation of assignments/projects/reports, portfolio,
Group work: group preparation of assignments, projects/reports, …
Assessment: written tests, oral tests, practical tests, …
Exhibitions, debates and presentation of works and projects: activities supervised by the teaching staff.
Active methodologies: cooperative learning, project-based learning, flipped classroom, service learning, game-based learning, case studies, problem solving… These are aimed at making learning a participatory process and are based on student agency.

Evaluation criteria

Attendance, participation or attitude in teaching activities, seminars, tutorials, etc.: monitoring student attendance and participation in teaching activities, carrying out activities during teaching sessions.
Written works, memoirs, internship reports, and projects: a document prepared on a topic or activity carried out, following the instructions established by the teaching staff.
Oral presentation and defense of topics, assignments, etc.: oral presentation on a topic related to the micro-credential content or on the results of an assignment, exercise, or project, followed by discussion with the teaching staff. This can be done individually or in a group.

General information

Credits: 2 ECTS

Duration: 22/04/2026 – 05/05/2026

Teaching modality: In person

Location: Off-Film School. C/Pintor Martín González, Nº5. Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Registration fee: €54

Valued at: €180

Registration

More info and registration help

The cost of tuition for this Microcredential will be subsidized by the 'Plan for the development of university microcredentials', investment 6 of component 21 of the Addendum to the 'Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan', financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU, year 2025.

Flexibility

Short courses available in various formats (in-person, online, or hybrid). Ideal for learning without interrupting your professional life.

Employability

Content created and delivered by professionals and experts in the field, designed for immediate application.

Certification

Endorsed by the University of La Laguna. You will receive an official ECTS certificate, valid in the European Higher Education Area.

Teaching staff

José Miguel Viña Hernández

Producer at El Viaje Films, where he specializes in preparing national and international calls for proposals and performs marketing and design work for film projects. He is also co-director of the Institute for Film Training and Research.

David Fuenterfia Rodríguez

Professor in the area of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising at the ULL. His research focuses on the analysis of contemporary audiovisual media, film and the relationships between visual culture, media and emerging technologies.

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Financing, Budgets and Justification of Film Projects