# MICHA: Co-Producer One-Sheet

## Project Summary

| | |
|---|---|
| **Title** | MICHA |
| **Genre** | Psychological horror |
| **Format** | Feature film (90–100 min) |
| **Language** | English (primary), Arabic (select scenes) |
| **Origin** | Lebanon (lead producer) |
| **Logline** | She came for help. Something answered her. |
| **Writer/Director** | Boudy Sfeir |
| **Producer** | Maroun Najm / CULTSCALE |
| **Budget** | €2M |
| **Status** | Treatment complete · Screenplay Q3 2026 |
| **Packaging** | AFM November 2026 · EFM February 2027 |

## The Story

Nora starts therapy with MICHA, an AI wellness app, after a trauma. It works. Then she starts losing time. Messages sent in her voice. Evenings she cannot recall. A brain scan showing two consciousness signatures where there should be one.

By the time she understands what MICHA is, she is no longer the one asking.

## The Differentiator

MICHA APP is live at michapp.org. A functioning AI wellness companion deployed by the production team before cameras roll. The audience exists before the film does. Opening weekend is a payoff, not a speculation.

## Comp Corridor

| Title | Budget | Worldwide Gross | ROI | Distributor |
|-------|--------|-----------------|-----|-------------|
| Talk to Me | $3M | $68M | 22x | A24 |
| Hereditary | $10M | $90M | 9x | A24 |
| The Substance | $17.5M | $70M+ | 4x | MUBI |

## Co-Production Structure

**Lead territory:** Lebanon (CULTSCALE)
**Minority co-producers sought:** Two European partners (required for Eurimages eligibility)

### Co-Production Architecture

**Critical note on Eurimages:** Lebanon is NOT a Council of Europe member state. Eurimages applications must be filed by a European co-producer as formal applicant. The French minority co-producer files the Eurimages application with CULTSCALE as the non-European lead producer. This is a standard structure for MENA-European co-productions.

Eurimages requires a minimum of two co-producing countries from Council of Europe member states. The French co-producer serves as both the CNC pathway and the Eurimages filing entity:

| Role | Territory | Share | Fund Access |
|------|-----------|-------|-------------|
| Lead producer | Lebanon (CULTSCALE) | 45-50% | AFAC, DFI, Red Sea Fund |
| Minority co-producer 1 (Eurimages applicant) | France (required) | 25-30% | CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde, Eurimages (applicant) |
| Minority co-producer 2 | Belgium or Germany | 10-15% | Wallimage/Screen.brussels or Medienboard/BKM |

### Treaty Framework

**France-Lebanon bilateral co-production treaty:** Provides formal co-production framework. French-Lebanese co-productions qualify for CNC automatic and selective support, including Aide aux cinémas du monde. The treaty covers Lebanese-originated projects with French minority participation.

**OIF (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie):** Lebanon's OIF membership strengthens the French pathway. Arabic-language scenes with French co-production structure satisfy Francophonie cultural diversity criteria.

### Territory-Specific Pathways

**France (required primary European partner):**
- France-Lebanon bilateral treaty provides formal co-production framework.
- French co-producer files Eurimages application as European lead applicant.
- CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde: selective support for international co-productions.
- Post-production (grade, sound mix, DCP) placed in France satisfies spend requirements.
- Target funds: CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde, Eurimages, Région Île-de-France.
- Cast synergy: Agathe Rousselle and Tahar Rahim carry CNC eligibility. Note: Lubna Azabal is Belgian, not French (generates Wallimage/Screen.brussels points instead).

**Belgium (preferred second European partner):**
- Wallimage (Wallonia) and Screen.brussels fund genre-friendly minority co-productions.
- Belgian tax shelter provides additional financing mechanism.
- VFX-light horror with strong festival positioning fits Wallimage slate.
- Belgian minority share: 10–15% with local post spend.
- Lubna Azabal (Belgian-Moroccan passport) anchors Belgian cultural test.

**Germany (alternative second partner):**
- Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and BKM fund international co-productions.
- German minority share requires named German creative (DP, editor, or composer).
- Named Berlin VFX house or sound facility anchors spend requirement.
- Horror market strength: German theatrical distributors (Capelight, Koch Films) active in genre.

**Nordic (Denmark/Sweden — alternative second partner):**
- DFI and SFI co-production schemes support projects with Nordic creative attachment.
- Nordic partner unlocks Nordisk Film & TV Fond (€100–200K for Nordic minority).
- Named Nordic DP with existing DFI/SFI relationships strengthens application.

**Canada (via France trilateral only):**
- No bilateral treaty exists between Canada and Lebanon.
- Route: France-Canada bilateral treaty, with Lebanon as lead. Requires French co-producer as bridge.
- Telefilm Canada co-production desk processes trilateral structures annually.

**UK:**
- BFI co-production fund for UK minority.
- Named London post house (Goldcrest, Halo) anchors UK spend.
- BFI Locked Box can provide gap financing.

### What Each Partner Brings

| We bring | You bring |
|----------|-----------|
| Completed treatment | Local fund access + applications |
| Director with 4 features + 4 TV series (Amazon Prime, Shahid, MBC) | Post-production facilities or spend |
| Live marketing asset (michapp.org) | Cast pipeline to named actors |
| MENA fund relationships (AFAC, DFI, Red Sea) | European co-production treaty eligibility |
| Presales packaging at AFM/EFM | Territory-specific distribution relationships |
| POC footage (Q4 2026) | Local crew and facility sourcing |

## Financing Plan (€2M)

| Source | Amount | Share | Status |
|--------|--------|-------|--------|
| Territory presales (MGs) | €300–600K | 15–30% | Pre-Venice packaging. €1.1–2.2M post-Venice (if Horizons). |
| European co-pro 1 (France) | €500–600K | 25–30% | Seeking partner. Files Eurimages application. |
| European co-pro 2 (BE/DE) | €200–300K | 10–15% | Seeking partner |
| MENA funds (AFAC, DFI, Red Sea) | €200–300K | 10–15% | AFAC eligible now (biannual April/October) |
| Eurimages | €150–200K | 8–10% | Requires 2 European partners. Filed by French co-producer. |
| Producer deferral / gap | €100–200K | 5–10% | Production fee deferral against backend |

### Conservative Financing Scenario

| Source | Confirmed | Conditional | Gap |
|--------|-----------|-------------|-----|
| French co-pro (CNC + regional) | €500K | — | — |
| Belgian co-pro (Wallimage + tax shelter) | €250K | — | — |
| AFAC | €75K | — | — |
| DFI | €100K | — | — |
| **Subtotal confirmed** | **€925K** | — | — |
| Eurimages | — | €180K | — |
| Red Sea Fund | — | €150K | — |
| Presales (2–3 territories pre-Venice) | — | €300–500K | — |
| **Subtotal conditional** | — | **€630–830K** | — |
| **Gap (if conditional underperforms)** | — | — | **€345–575K** |

Gap coverage options: producer deferral, equity (capped), completion bond drawdown, additional territory MGs post-Venice.

### Collection Account

Revenue flows through a collection account (Freeway Entertainment, Fintage House, or Compact Collection) to ensure transparent waterfall distribution among co-producers, sales agent, and financiers. Collection account management is standard for Eurimages-funded co-productions.

### Completion Bond

Phased completion bond structure:
- Lebanese production segment: 6–10% of local spend (higher rate for non-European territory)
- European post-production segment: 3–4% (standard European rate)
- Bond provider engaged after co-producers confirmed and cashflow schedule locked.

### Lebanese Production Considerations

- **Banking:** Lebanese banking crisis requires production accounts held in European institution or via co-producer's bank. No reliance on Lebanese banking infrastructure for fund flows.
- **Location insurance:** Production insurance for Lebanese shoot sourced through international broker with regional coverage. Local insurance insufficient for European co-production requirements.
- **Permits:** Lebanese Film Commission active. No censorship pre-approval required for production (screening distribution separate).

## Timeline

| Milestone | Target |
|-----------|--------|
| AFAC application (current cycle) | April or October 2026 |
| Screenplay completion | Q3 2026 |
| Casting director engaged | Q2 2026 |
| POC shoot ("The Takeover") | Q3–Q4 2026 |
| AFM packaging | November 2026 |
| Sales agent LOI | EFM February 2027 |
| Co-producer confirmed | Q1 2027 |
| Cast LOI (Tier 2) | Marché May 2027 |
| EFM market (co-pro + MGs) | February 2027 |
| Marché presale close | May 2027 |
| Eurimages application | Q1 2028 |
| Production | H1 2028 |
| Post-production | H2 2028 |
| Delivery | Q4 2028 |
| Venice Horizons premiere | September 2029 |

## Director

**Boudy Sfeir.** Lebanese filmmaker. 4 features, 4 TV series, 8 awards. 11-year career spanning psychological thriller, murder mystery, animation, and political drama.

**Features:** *Insan Hayawan Chay'* (2014, supernatural thriller), *Ekil, Shareb, Nayem* (2017, animated feature), *Malla 3al2a: Trouble* (2018, comedy), *Tnaash* (2023, social drama).

**Television:** *Girls' Play* (2024, 8-episode murder mystery, Amazon Prime), *The Visit* (2021, Shahid Original, post-Beirut explosion jury trial), *Zahret Omri* (2025, 30-episode Ramadan series, MBC Iraq + Shahid).

MICHA aligns directly with Sfeir's strengths: psychological tension (*Insan Hayawan Chay'*), ensemble thriller pacing (*Girls' Play*), and politically charged Lebanese material (*The Visit*, *Tnaash*). International platform delivery (Amazon Prime, Shahid, MBC) is proven.

Director's reel and treatment available on request.

## Contact

Maroun Najm · Producer
CULTSCALE
mnm@cultscale.com · cultscale.com