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The fairPACCT Film/AV Production Chain Table has updated the fair pay practice instruments that have been in effect since 2025. The new versions will take effect on January 1, 2026.
New tool added
New to the package is the Film and AV Production Role Guide. This guide provides workers and clients with a practical starting point for a clear assignment description. The tasks and activities of a large number of roles per department are described in broad terms and classified by level of seniority, with each level linked to an appropriate freelance starting rate. The Guide aligns with the Assignment Compass developed with the assistance of Bureau Berenschot and, for the sake of completeness, also includes the reference functions and derivative functions described therein. Both the Guide and the current version of the Assignment Compass, in which a number of descriptions have been clarified, have been validated by Social Finance Matters.
Purpose and application
Since January 1, 2025, the film and AV sector must operate according to a collective labor agreement or – if one is lacking – an (associated) 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 diligent contracting 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 animation series.
To ensure that contractors are not compensated below the minimum threshold for an assignment, the most current versions of the fair pay practice instruments must 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 significant effort is needed to make fair payment possible in the Dutch film and audiovisual sector. The costs for achieving fair pay rise to an average of 40% for feature films and up to 67% for documentaries, which amounts to approximately 23% of total production costs.
Overview of current fair pay tools for the film and AV sector (from 2026)
Film and AV Production Assignment Compass – version 3.0 (December 2025)
With the Assignment Compass, you determine the level of seniority of the tasks and activities of a specific assignment based on level indicators, reference functions, and derivative functions. This level is indicated by the letters A through K. Each level of seniority is linked to an appropriate freelance starting rate. In version 3.0, in conjunction with the new Film and AV Production Role Guide, various descriptions of reference functions and derivative functions have been textually improved.
Film and AV Production Role Guide – version 1.0 (December 2025)
The Guide complements the Assignment Compass and describes the tasks and activities of a large number of roles per department in broad terms. For the sake of completeness, the reference functions and derivative functions from the Assignment Compass are also included. Based on the level indicators in the Assignment Compass, all roles are classified by level of seniority (A through K), with each level linked to an appropriate freelance starting rate.
Freelance Starting Rates Guideline for Film and AV Production – December 2025
The tables contain the indexed freelance starting rates per hour (excluding VAT). The rates are linked to the seniority levels A through K from the Assignment Compass and serve as the minimum threshold for fair pay as of January 1, 2026. For reference, the corresponding indexed gross salaries are also included.
Timesheets for Freelance Assignments in Film and AV Production – version 2.0 (December 2025)
With the Timesheets for 13 departments, you can estimate, before starting an assignment, how much effective time you expect to spend on core activities and on preparatory and concluding work.
Guide to Safe and Healthy Working in the AV Sector – version 2.0 (December 2025)
The Guide provides principles for ensuring physical and psychosocial safety during development, pre-production, the shooting period, and post-production. Version 2.0 remains unchanged in terms of content and has been updated in design, in line with the other practice instruments of the Film/AV Production Chain Table.
AV Sector Conceptual Framework – version 3.0 (December 2025)
The Conceptual Framework contains clear and neutral definitions of terms that frequently recur in negotiations regarding (service) agreements. Version 3.0 has been expanded with new terms and explanations.
Manual for Applying Freelance Starting Rates in Film and AV Production – version 2.0 (December 2025)
The manual provides a six-step explanation to arrive at a well-founded opening bid using the fair pay tools and to conduct the conversation with the client well-prepared.
The Film/AV Production Chain Table
Since September 2022, the Film/AV Production Chain Table has been working within Platform ACCT’s fairPACCT program on the development of fair pay practice instruments as part of the further elaboration of the Fair Practice Code and the Audiovisual Sector Letter of Intent, under the leadership of independent chair Doreen Boonekamp.
Participants in the Film/AV Production Chain Table: Netherlands Audiovisual Producers Alliance (NAPA), Netherlands Content Producers (NCP), Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), Board of Broadcasters (CvO), Kunstenbond, FNV Media & Culture, Dutch Production Association (DPA), Dutch Directors Guild (DDG), Authors’ Guild, Screenwriters Network, Dutch Screenwriters & Directors (DS&D), ACT actors’ interests (ACT), the Netherlands Agents Association (NAA), Netherlands 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 Network Netherlands (PNN).
