Acquisition of Rights
The program helps American publishers cover the costs of acquiring the rights to French fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, and comic works for English translation. Please note that you can only apply for this program if no advance has been paid to the French publisher. If you plan to apply, you must negotiate a deferred payment with the French publisher when signing the contract.
Beneficiaries are selected by the Institut français, with a preference given to books published in the past ten years. The grant is paid directly to the French publisher and cannot exceed the amount of the first advance for acquiring the rights. The grant amount ranges from €500 to €5,000. Read more about the program here.
How to Apply If You Are a Publisher Based in the United States
American publishers wishing to apply for the grant should fill out the online application form, and provide the following documents:
- A signed, balanced budget (download template here and send pdf version)
- A signed copy of the acquisition of rights contract with the French publisher (pdf)
All digital materials should be sent to: acquisitionofrights@villa-albertine.org
The next call for applications will be open from July 15 through September 1, 2026.
The commission will select grantees on October 1st, 2026 and results will be announced by late October / early November.
For any questions, please contact:
Laure Poupard
Program Officer, Books & Ideas