Each prize awarded amounts to €25,000.
Candidates must submit a file that includes:
Project description (see general rules and specific rules for each category)
Biography/CV of the main participants in the project
Full project budget
Precise use of the prize funds in the project: Priority will be given to projects that need the Foundation's support to materialize, but the Foundation may also choose to be the first to believe in the presented projects and offer initial support.
Application files must be submitted by January 15 either by email to info@fondationbdl.com or by mail to: Fondation Bernard de Launoit, Avenue Albert 130, 1190 Brussels, Belgium.
- The project must either be in progress, in which case its completion must occur within 12 months after the award is granted or be planned for the future, in which case its completion must occur within 24 months after the award is granted. If the project is not completed within the allotted time, the Foundation reserves the right to review the reasons for its non-completion or partial completion and may request the return of the awarded prize.
- Candidates must be between 18 and 35 years old at the time of application and must not be over 35 years old during the awards ceremony.
- Candidates can be either individuals or legal entities; in the latter case, the primary individuals involved in the project must be between 18 and 35 years old.
Cinema Category (2025)
Awarded in 2025, with application deadline January 15, 2025.
The Bernard de Launoit Prize for Cinema supports Belgian or international film initiatives in the fields of fiction or documentary. Covering several categories of the Foundation, the Cinema Prize can support a first original production, a film project related to music, adventure, or art, or a work
focused on culture and youth. It will always support original and ambitious film productions.
Specific requirements:
- A feature-length documentary or fiction film (over 60 minutes)
- First or second film
- Based on a written screenplay with Belgian production or co-production (even if minority)
- The film must be in one of the Belgian national languages (French, Dutch, or German)
- All film projects are accepted regardless of genre, provided they explore themes of adventure, discovery, or culture (visual arts & music).
- The project's feasibility criteria will also be evaluated.
Application file must include:
An author’s/director’s note of intent (1 page max)
A synopsis (1 page max)
The complete screenplay or a developed treatment for a documentary
A moodboard
A budget
A letter of commitment from the producers and partners
Mountain Adventure Category (2025)
Awarded in 2025, with application deadline January 15, 2025.
The Bernard de Launoit Prize for Mountain & Adventure seeks to support a specific project initiated and carried out by young people in their quest for adventure, emphasizing the crucial importance of exploration and, more specifically, its values of commitment, respect for people and the environment.
The program is open to all relevant adventure disciplines. Candidates must not only demonstrate a spirit of exploration but also present an original project, whether individual or collaborative, with a clear objective. Priority will be given to projects that have the potential for significant personal
growth, while always respecting the human and moral values passed down by great explorers and adventurers.
If you are ready to take on the challenge and push the boundaries of your adventure dreams, we encourage you to apply.
The application file must include:
A note of intent (1 page max)
A project description
A project timeline
A budget
Visual Arts Category (2026)
Awarded in 2026, with application deadline December 31, 2025.
The Bernard de Launoit Prize for Visual Arts supports, promotes, or rewards the work of Belgian visual artists or those residing in Belgium for more than 3 years, aged between 18 and 35.
All disciplines within the Visual Arts are accepted (painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, performance, digital arts, visual arts). The works must be part of an established creative process. The grant will be awarded to artists for an ambitious and significant project that will contribute to the development of their artistic practice.
The Foundation will support the production of works within the framework of a specific institutional project, the publication of a book/catalog for an exhibition in Belgium and/or abroad, or the participation of an artist in a group or solo exhibition in an institution in Belgium or abroad. It is also open to original and ambitious proposals that, through their project, aim to bring together the various disciplines of the Foundation.
The application file should be written in French, Dutch, or English and must not exceed 10 pages, in the following order:
Personal details of the candidate (name, first name, date and place of birth, and a copy of their ID or residence permit)
A CV presenting their educational background, professional experiences, and artistic journey
A motivation letter from the candidate along with a detailed description of their artistic project for which they are applying (complete description, images, and budget)
A presentation of several works that demonstrate the artist’s work
Classical Music Category (2026)
Awarded in 2026, with application deadline December 31, 2025.
The Bernard de Launoit Prize for Classical Music supports ambitious musical projects and initiatives that aim for excellence and have a societal impact. Whether through openness, sharing, or transmission of music, it is essential that the projects contribute to an inclusive, accessible, and
contemporary vision of classical music. The projects can be led by known or unknown personalities, potentially creating bridges with other disciplines or musical genres. The key criterion is societal impact and how the project breaks with the elitist and exclusive stereotypes often associated with this genre.
The project presentation file must include: