Current fair pay toolkit film and AV production ready for 2026

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FairPACCT’s Film/AV Production Chain Table has updated the fair pay practice instruments that have been in effect since 2025. The new versions are effective Jan. 1, 2026.

New tool added

New to the package is the Guide to Roles in Film and AV Production. This guide offers workers and clients a practical starting point for a clear job description. In outline, the tasks and activities of a large number of roles are described per department and categorized by level of difficulty, with each level linked to an appropriate zzp starting rate. The Guide is consistent with the Assignment Compass developed with the help of Bureau Berenschot and, for completeness, also includes the reference functions and derived functions described therein. Both the Guide and the current version of the Assignment Compass, in which some descriptions have been clarified, have been validated by Social Finance Matters.

Purpose and application

As of Jan. 1, 2025, the film and AV industry must work according to a collective bargaining agreement or – in the absence of one – a (related) fee guideline to comply with fair pay.

The fair pay practice instruments for film and AV production are intended for sector-wide application by market parties and other players in the sector. They support fair negotiations and careful contract formation between clients and contractors and contribute to transparency, a more level playing field and further professionalization of the sector.

The tools apply to audiovisual productions in the form of short films, feature films, documentaries, animated films, innovative media productions, and drama, documentary and animated series.

To ensure that contractors are not paid below the minimum lower limit for a contract, the most current versions of the fair pay practice tools should always be applied. This is not optional. The study “Additional costs of fair pay in the film and audiovisual sector“ by PPMC Economic Advice (April 10, 2025) shows that a major catch-up is needed to enable fair pay in the Dutch film and audiovisual sector. The cost of realizing fair pay rises on average to 40% for feature films and 67% for documentaries, representing about 23% of the total production costs.

Overview of current fair pay tools film and AV sector (as of 2026)

Assignment Compass film and AV production – Version 3.0 (December 2025)
With the Assignment Compass, you determine the level of gravity of the tasks and work of a specific assignment using level indicators, reference functions and derived functions. This level is indicated by the letters A through K. Each severity level is associated with an appropriate zzp starting rate. In version 3.0, in conjunction with the new Guide Roles in Film and AV Production, several descriptions of reference functions and derived functions have been textually improved.

Guide to Roles in Film and AV Production – Version 1.0 (December 2025)
The Guide complements the Assignment Compass and outlines the duties and activities of a large number of roles for each department. For completeness, reference functions and derived functions from the Assignment Compass are also included. Using the level indicators in the Assignment Compass, all roles were classified by severity level (A to K), with each severity level linked to an appropriate zzp starting rate.

Guideline zzp start rates film and AV production – December 2025
The tables contain the indexed zzp start rates per hour (excluding VAT). The rates are linked to the severity levels A through K from the Assignment Compass and apply as the lower limit for fair pay as of Jan. 1, 2026. The corresponding indexed gross salaries are also included for reference.

Timesheets zzp assignments film and AV production – version 2.0 (December 2025)
The Timesheets for 13 departments allow you to estimate, before you start an assignment, how much effective time you expect to spend on main work and on preparatory and completion work.

Guide for safe and healthy working conditions in the AV sector – Version 2.0 (December 2025)
The Guide provides principles for ensuring physical and psychosocial safety during development, pre-production, shooting and post-production. Version 2.0 is unchanged in content and updated in design, in line with the other practice tools of the Film/AV Production Chain Table.

AV Industry Terms of Reference – version 3.0 (December 2025)
The Framework of Terms contains clear and neutral definitions of terms that frequently recur in negotiations of (contract) agreements. Version 3.0 has been expanded with new terms and explanations.

Guide to the application of zzp starting rates for film and AV production – Version 2.0 (December 2025)
The manual provides a six-step explanation of how to arrive at a well-substantiated opening bid using the fair pay tools and how to properly prepare for the conversation with the client.

The Chain Table Film/AV production

Since September 2022, the Film/AV Production Chain Table has been working within the fairPACCT program of Platform ACCT to develop fair pay practice tools as part of the further elaboration of the Fair Practice Code and the Audiovisual Sector Letter of Intent, led by independent chair Doreen Boonekamp.

Participants in the Film/AV Production Chain Table: Nederlandse Audiovisuele Producenten Alliantie (NAPA), Nederlandse Content Producenten (NCP), Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), College van Omroepen (CoO), Kunstenbond, FNV Media & Cultuur, Dutch Production Association (DPA), Dutch Directors Guild (DDG), Auteursbond, Netwerk Scenarioschrijvers, Dutch Screenwriters & Directors (DS&D), ACT actors’ interests (ACT), the Dutch Agents Association (NAA), Dutch Association of Cinema-Editors (NCE), Netherlands Society of Cinematographers (NSC), Dutch Film Sound Association (DFSA), Art, Costume and Make-up & Hair professionals (ACM), FijnWeekend and Post supervisors Netwerk Nederland (PNN).

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