23/12/2024 - Thanks to the last minute greenlight, the support of the German Federal Film Board is secured

The German Bundestag (© Deutscher Bundestag/Tobias Koch)

In Germany, a new German Film Law (FFG) will come into effect on 1 January 2025. The German Parliament greenlit the Federal German Film Law in the last session of the year 2024. After days and weeks of uncertainty, the German industry is breathing a sigh of relief that film support is secured. The German Film Law is the first pillar of a comprehensive reform. Further pillars of the concept include investment obligation acts as well as tax incentives. Due to the end of the government coalition and the resulting early election, both laws can‘t be passed anymore in this legislative period.

Thanks to the final decision of the former parties of the German government - consisting of the Social Democrats (SPD), the Green Party and the Free Democrats (FDP) -  the first central pillar of this reform was passed in the German parliament at the last minute on Thursday night. This issue was the top priority for the German film industry because the continued existence of the levy-financed German Federal Film Board (FFA) is now secured. 

"I am delighted that the German Bundestag has passed the amended Film Law in these politically turbulent times“, commented Peter Dinges, Chairman of the German Federal Film Board. "This brings into force a central pillar of film reform that is urgently needed by the film industry. The bundling of federal film funding under the umbrella of the FFA, faster and more transparent funding procedures and a strengthening of the FFA's self-administration are a good prerequisite for the film industry and politicians to be able to quickly tackle the other necessary reform steps together, in particular the establishment of an internationally competitive incentive model. The modernised FFA is ready to support this to the best of its ability."

When the amended Film Funding Act comes into force on 1 January 2025, the FFA's levy-financed film and distribution funding will largely be awarded according to the reference principle. A film or cinema collects reference points according to certain criteria, for the value of which funding can initially be awarded and then used. As a new feature of the new 2025 film law, screenwriters and directors will also receive reference funds in future. The FFA will define the procedure for cinema funding in a guideline, while commissions will continue to decide on funding through the Minority Co-Production Fund, the Franco-German Film Agreement and the Film Heritage Funding Programme.

Moreover, Claudia Roth, the Minister of State for Culture and Media, announced that the funding quota for the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) will be increased to thirty percent of the German production costs. "The German film industry faces tough international competition. Outstanding filmmakers need good framework conditions“, said Jörg Kukies, Federal Minister of Finance, who wants to adjust the guidelines with effect from 1 February 2025.

"What a milestone for the German film and television industry“, emphasised Jörn Böhning, CEO of the Produktionsallianz. The producer‘s association considers the increase in existing federal funding to thirty percent without a cap as an excellent signal for production companies and studios in Germany. The Produzentinnenverband also underlines that the adoption of the new Film Funding Act represents an important step towards a restructured funding system. But the independent German Producer‘s Association criticised the last-minute changes of the law, which were made by the FDP. "We regret that the FFG doesn‘t address anymore the issues of diversity, gender equality, inclusion, anti-discrimination and sustainability in the film and cinema industry“, said Alexandra Krampe, board member of Produzentinnenverband. 

Incentive funding from the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) will remain in place in 2025 and even be raised to thirty percent of German production costs as of 1 February. "The increase in the funding quota for the DFFF and GMPF is good news for German filmmakers“, concluded Peter Dinges. "Until the introduction of a real film funding allowances act, it will help Germany as a film location to better compete internationally for the best conditions for film productions."