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++ €60 million in funding for games, XR, other innovative audiovisual content and serial formats ++ Funding has generated €170 million in regional investment ++ An additional €45 million invested in media events ++ Berlin-Brandenburg remains a key hub for developing the next generation of audiovisual content ++

#MBBFunded

Berlin / Potsdam – It is an anniversary year for Medienboard! For 20 years, new media content in the fields of games, serial formats, XR and other innovative content has been supported through dedicated funding programs. Much has happened during this time: production and distribution models have fundamentally changed, technological innovations have been enthusiastically explored to create unique projects, new genre trends have emerged, and fresh creative voices have been discovered. Together, film and new media funding have helped establish the Capital Region as Germany's and one of Europe's leading media hubs.

Actively shaping the transformation of the media sector has been one of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg's core responsibilities. Twenty years of funding demonstrate a clear impact: €60 million invested in 800 new media projects has led to numerous start-ups, company relocations, and success stories involving emerging talent, awards, and international recognition, while generating €170 million in investment for the region. In addition, €45 million has been invested in media events, awards, talent initiatives and festivals. Through this support, New Media Funding has created important platforms for the audiovisual creative industries, provided professional development opportunities for the future of media production, and showcased the region far beyond its borders.

++ Games in the Capital Region: From Funding Pioneer to Germany's and Europe's Games Capital ++ Recognizing the industry's potential early on, MBB became one of the first funding institutions in Germany to support game development and production, introducing a dedicated funding guideline in 2022. Over the past 10 to 15 years, Berlin's games industry has experienced remarkable growth. Today, the Capital Region is among Europe's most sought-after development hubs and, with 350 game studios and 3,300 employees, is Germany's largest games cluster.

From innovative indie titles and serious games to internationally successful productions, numerous studios have successfully entered the market with support from MBB. Companies such as Paintbucket Games (Through the Darkest of Times, The Darkest Files), Toukana Interactive (Dorfromantik), and Jo-Mei Games (Sea of Solitude) demonstrate that indie games from Berlin-Brandenburg are not only at home in the region but successful worldwide.

++ XR and Other Innovative Content: The Capital Region Establishes Itself as an International Hub ++ Berlin-Brandenburg continues to explore new worlds. As one of the first funding institutions to support XR, MBB recognized early the potential of a technology that is now redefining the boundaries between film, games, art, and digital media.

What began with the first funded projects and events has grown into a globally connected XR ecosystem. XR is now firmly established at film festivals, gaming events, and cultural projects, while increasingly becoming a key economic driver for the entire media industry. Berlin-Brandenburg is playing a central role in this development: MBB-funded XR experiences tour internationally, premiere at major festivals, and receive prestigious awards. Projects such as From the Main Square, Le Bal de Paris, and Emperor have won top honors at Venice Immersive.

++ Serial Formats "Made in Berlin-Brandenburg": Innovative Stories, New Platforms and Future Technologies ++ The Capital Region is among Germany's leading locations for the development and production of serial content. MBB recognized the importance of serial storytelling early on and has supported the next generation of series creators since 2015, right at the beginning of Germany's streaming boom.

The focus has been on emerging talent, diverse perspectives, innovative storytelling approaches, and projects that connect platforms and genres. This also includes formats at the intersection of content and technology. Today, the Capital Region is part of a thriving series ecosystem, ranging from TikTok productions such as Der korrekte Diener, award-winning documentaries and comedy formats including German Cocaine Cowboy and Angemessen Angry, to television and streaming successes such as MaPa, Wir sind jetzt, and The Wagner Brothers – Two Brothers, One Dream.

>> 20 Years of Innovation <<
Explore the timeline of the most important milestones, projects, events and achievements.

Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises of the State of Berlin:

“The media industry is also undergoing profound transformation. Games, extended reality and digital content 'Made in Berlin' are not only successful nationally and internationally but are increasingly driving innovation far beyond the creative industries. They have become a significant economic factor for our city. Berlin's leading role in these future-oriented sectors is also the result of the interdisciplinary funding policies of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, supported by both state governments. We see this positive development as a clear mandate. That is why we recently increased games funding by an additional €1 million and are supporting the sector as a whole through our House of Games initiative with more than €4 million. We want to build on Berlin's extraordinary momentum and establish the metropolitan region as the next-generation Games and Media Capital Region.”

Martina Klement, Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Climate Protection and Europe of the State of Brandenburg:

“Over the past 20 years, New Media Funding has played a decisive role in establishing Babelsberg and Brandenburg as internationally visible innovation hubs for the audiovisual media industry. This is where pioneering technologies and content are created, from virtual production to immersive XR applications. The MediaTech Hub with MTHCon, Studio Babelsberg, the Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF Film University and EPI demonstrates the successful interaction of creative industries, research and technology, making our region unique and internationally competitive.”

Sarah Duve-Schmid, CEO Film Funding and Spokesperson, Medienboard:

“Looking back at the last 20 years, one cannot help but marvel at the speed and scale of change in the media world. The idea that we could not only watch films and series on smartphones but also produce them would have sounded like science fiction two decades ago. It is all the more exciting that Berlin-Brandenburg has evolved into a place where creative ideas and technological innovation naturally go hand in hand. MBB has accompanied this transformation for many years and continuously adapted its funding instruments. Our special thanks go to policymakers for their trust and ongoing support. Berlin-Brandenburg recognized early on the importance of investing in innovation, helping to ensure that our film, series, games and XR industries remain creatively leading, technologically competitive and economically successful.”

Helge Jürgens, CEO New Media Funding, Medienboard:

“Since 2006, New Media Funding has been continuously expanded and is now demonstrating its impact. The Capital Region's media industry has undergone a major transformation that brought both change and growth. The region has professionalized, global players and numerous new companies have established themselves, and its enormous creative potential has contributed to the success of the digital audiovisual industries. We are proud of the rapidly growing games sector, the many successful series productions, and the international attention generated by immersive formats. In addition to the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, we extend our sincere thanks to the funding committee, which has been doing outstanding work this year, and to the ILB media team, which has supported our funding projects with great care and dedication for two decades. Last but not least, we thank the developers, producers, creatives, companies, partners and companions along the way for the outstanding content that we are proud to support through our funding programs.”