Hubert Bals Fund increases development support for 20 film projects, backing new work from ‘Pepe’ director

The Hubert Bals Fund has announced development support grants for 20 film projects, expanding its grant allocation from 15 projects last year, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter. The fund described the increase as notable amid broader concerns that development financing is increasingly strained across international film markets.

The selection includes a new film project from a director credited for the film “Pepe,” the report said. Beyond that specific credit, the announcement centers on the fund’s role as a development-stage supporter, aiming to move projects from early concept into more concrete production planning, script development, and financing readiness.

In its statement accompanying the announcement, the fund said it was able to increase its grant allocation for this cycle. The Hollywood Reporter report framed the decision in terms of continuity and stability for filmmakers during a period when, the fund argued, development funding faces growing pressure.

The Hubert Bals Fund’s development grants are designed for projects seeking early support rather than finalized production budgets. That distinction matters for filmmakers and the broader production ecosystem because early-stage backing can affect who can keep working on a script, secure additional development services, and negotiate later financing packages.

The new round comes as film funding and development pipelines continue to be influenced by uneven theatrical and streaming demand, shifting co-production strategies, and cost pressures that affect which projects advance. For cultural institutions and audiences, development-stage decisions also shape what kinds of stories reach later stages of production and distribution.

In the near term, the fund’s selected projects are expected to move through individualized development tracks tied to the grants, with filmmakers using support to strengthen creative and production plans. The grant announcements also serve as a public accountability checkpoint for the fund’s allocation, indicating which projects were prioritized for development support in this cycle.

The full list of projects, and any further details about grant amounts or program requirements, would be expected to be published by the fund alongside the announcement. Filmmakers and industry partners are likely to monitor subsequent updates on how the supported projects progress toward production and financing milestones.