Funding Films
WELCOME TO GERMANY'S CAPITAL REGION!
WE LOVE TO FUND YOUR GREAT FILM & SERIAL PROJECT!
MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG (MBB)
THE FILM FUND FOR GERMANY'S CAPITAL REGION
- 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 (VFX) 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 GERMAN FEDERAL FILM FUND (DFFF)
DFFF OFFERS 2 DIFFERENT AUTOMATIC REBATES ON EVERY € 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!
- 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?
AN EXAMPLE
- 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
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
- 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
Contact Medienboard
Christian Berg
Head of Film Funding
Commissioner for Cinemas, Distribution, International Co-Productions, AnimationTel: +49 331743 87 23
Anja Dörken
Funding Executive
Newcomers, Development, ProductionTel: +49 331 74387 24
Veronika Grob
Funding Executive
Focus on Newcomers, High End Series, Development, ProductionTel: +49 331743 87 21
Dr. Teresa Hoefert de Turégano
Funding Executive
International Co-Production, Development, Experimental FilmTel: +49 331743 87 25
Brigitta Manthey
Funding Executive
Development, Production (especially Eastern European Co-Productions), German-Polish FilmTel: +49 331 743 87 22
Daniel Saltzwedel
Funding Executive
High End Series, Drama and Development and Production of documentary formats (national/international)Tel: +49 331 74387 80
Oliver Zeller
Funding Executive
Focus on Digital Film Production, International Co-Production, High End Series, Production, DevelopmentTel: +49 331743 87 86
Contact BBFC
Christiane Raab
Head of Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission (bbfc)
c.krone-raab@medienboard.deTel: +49 331 74387 31
Mob: + 49 172 8533 838
Mareike Hube
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission
Service and LocationsTel: +49 331 74387 30
Daniel Hasler
Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission
Service and LocationsTel: +49 331 74387 30
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 that want to shoot in the capital region. The commission provides the right agency contacts for film-permit applications, information on film-permitting procedures, and advice on film-location issues.
Contact Creative Europe Desk
Josephine Meissner
Assistance Creative Europe Desk Berlin-Brandenburg
Tel: +49 331 74387 52
