Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg: Funding Films

Welcome to Germany's Capital Region! We love to fund your great Film & Serial Projects

"The Story of My Wife"

MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG (MBB)

More than 300 films and series are being shot here every year!
Highly skilled crews
Excellent production conditions on the highest international standards
Most exciting film location in Germany
Berlin culture and lifestyle

WHO CAN APPLY?

German-based producers

WHAT CAN BE SUPPORTED?

Development, production, digital film production and distribution (P+A for German cinema releases) for national and international films and high-end drama series

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applications must be submitted before shooting
Projects must show commercial potential

REGIONAL SPEND

Minimum 100% of the funding must be spent in the region

DEADLINES AND DECISIONS

5 application deadlines per year
Decisions 6 weeks after each deadline
Applications for VFX funding are accepted all year round

SOFT LOANS

Funding is provided as a soft loan and must be repaid if the film is economically successful
Medienboard funding can be combined with any other national or international funding

"The French Dispatch"

THE GERMAN FEDERAL FILM FUND (DFFF)

DFFF offers 2 different automativ rebates on every Euro spent in production costs in Germany.

Film must be theatrically released in Germany while respecting the holdback periods
The film needs to pass a “cultural test”
Applications must be submitted 6 weeks before shooting

DFFF I

20% TO 25% AUTOMATIC GRANT ON EVERY €
SPENT ON GERMAN PRODUCTION COSTS!

WHO CAN APPLY?

Producers based in Germany
International coproductions with German producers

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum budget: €1 million for features;
€2 million for animation; €200,000 for documentaries
20% grant if the German budget share is less than €8 million
25% grant if the German budget share is higher than €8 million
75% of financing must be in place
For international co-productions: German participation must be at least 20%. If total budget is higher than €25 million, a German share of €5 million is sufficient
Max. grant €4 million

MINIMUM GERMAN PRODUCTION COSTS

25% of the project´s total budget must be spent in Germany. If budget exceeds €20 million, a minimum spend of 20% in Germany is required.

DFFF II

25% OF THE GERMAN PRODUCTION COSTS MAX €25 MILLION PER PROJECT!

WHO CAN APPLY?

Production service providers i.e. studios or VFX service-providers based in Germany

REQUIREMENTS

Feature films & animated/VFX-driven films
Minimum production costs €20 million
Minimum German production costs €8 million
€2 million German production costs for animated features or VFX-driven films

→ Grant up to 25% of the German production costs max. €25 million

DETAILED INFORMATION
www.dfff-ffa.de

How to finance your next Film in Berlin-Brandenburg?

DFFF I

Your budget: €20 M
German spend: €5 M
Automatic DFFF I rebate (20%): €1 M
Selective Medienboard loan: up to €1 M

DFFF II

Your budget: €50 M
German spend: €20 M
Automatic DFFF II rebate (25%): €5 M
Selective Medienboard loan: up to €1 M

"Babylon Berlin Season 3"

GERMAN MOTION PICTURE FUND (GMPF)

Grants for International Co-Productions and High-End Series

Financial support is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant
Grant is for 20% of the eligible German costs and max. €2.5 million

FEATURE FILMS FOR TV/VOD

WHO CAN APPLY?

Producers based in Germany

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum production costs: €25 million, minimum German participation: 40% or €13 million (inapplicable if German costs for digital filmmaking exceed €3 million)
75% of financing must be in place
Applications must be submitted before shooting
The film needs to pass a “cultural test”
Initial release on TV and/or VOD platform accessible in Germany

DETAILED INFORMATION
www.gmpf-ffa.de

HIGH-END DRAMA SERIES

WHO CAN APPLY?

Producers based in Germany

REQUIREMENTS

A continuing, fictional plot with at least 6 consecutive episodes (season)
German broadcasters’ share cannot exceed 60%, not filmed in German, the maximum involvement may be 70%
Production costs per episode minimum €1.2 million
The German production costs must be at least 40% of the costs or at least €10 million (inapplicable if German costs for digital filmmaking exceed €3 million)
The series must be accessible in Germany on TV and/or VOD platform
In the case of series, funding up to €4 million is possible when German costs are at least €20 million

"1899"

Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission

Whether issue at hand is feature film, highend drama series, television, advertising, or student film, the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission (bbfc) is the first stop for film teams aiming to shoot in the capital region. The commission provides contacts for film-permit applications, information on film-permitting procedures, and advice on film-location issues.

Contact

Christiane Raab
Head of Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission (bbfc)

c.krone-raab@medienboard.de

Tel: +49 331 74387 31

Mob:+ 49 172 8533 838 location@medienboard.de

Mareike Hube
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission

Service and Locations

Tel: +49 331 74387 30
location@medienboard.de

Daniel Hasler
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission

Service and Locations

Tel: +49 331 74387 30
location@medienboard.de

Sandra Bellin
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission

Public Relations

Tel: +49 331 743 87 33
s.bellin@medienboard.de

"Berlin Alexanderplatz"

Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

The Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg is one of four MEDIA information offices in Germany, and is an important industry partner for all issues relating to the Creative Europe Programme. Producers, distributors, cinema operators, festivals and other companies in the audiovisual sector can here obtain information about MEDIA funding and assistance with submitting applications to Brussels. The MEDIA Programme is a part of Creative Europe, an EU programme for the support of the audiovisual sector and Europe’s cultural and creative industries.

Contact

Susanne Schmitt
Head of Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

info@ced-bb.eu

Uta Eberhardt
Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

Tel: +49 331 74387 50
info@ced-bb.eu

Mirja Frehse
Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

Tel: +49 331 74387 52
info@ced-bb.eu

Josephine Meissner
Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg

Tel: +49 331 74387 52
j.meissner@ced-bb.eu