Apply for funding for the production of a feature film or documentary

If you want to produce an artistically outstanding feature-length fiction or documentary film, you can receive funding under certain conditions.

Are you a producer of a planned feature film or documentary? Then you can apply for federal film funding to produce the film. The funding is awarded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).

Funding is provided for the production of a feature-length film or documentary with a running time of at least 79 minutes. The film must not be in production yet.

Grants of up to 500,000 EUR are awarded, and in justified exceptional cases, up to 1,000,000 EUR.

As a rule, only feature films and documentaries with production costs of up to EUR 5,000,000 are funded. In justified exceptional cases, films with higher production costs may also be funded.

Your film must, among other things, demonstrate a "substantial German cultural imprint" within the meaning of the BKM film funding guidelines. This includes, for example, the original German language of the film, the origin of the director, the registered office of the production company, as well as the financing and initial theatrical release in cinemas in Germany.

Projects that are to be funded with university resources cannot be supported, for example, practical exercises and graduation films.

If your project was not considered in a previous jury session, you may resubmit it once. In this case, you must have developed it further in essential aspects and explain in detail in a separate attachment what you have changed. Changes are not necessary if formal reasons were decisive for the rejection that no longer exist.

You must submit the application for funding online via the federal portal.

Online application:

• Go to the website of the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de.
• Access the online form. The online form will guide you step by step through the required information and necessary documents.
• Upload the required documents in PDF file format, maximum 10 megabytes per file, and submit the application.
• The BKM is checking your funding application for formal eligibility.
• The independent jury will review your submission and recommend a selection for funding by the BKM. You will receive a preliminary notice from the BKM stating whether your project has been recommended for funding or rejected.

If your project has been recommended for funding:

• The Federal Film Board (FFA) handles the grant administration. Further details will be communicated to you in the preliminary funding notice from the BKM.
• You can only begin film production after the funding notice from the FFA has become legally binding.
• To receive the grant notification from the FFA, you must, among other things, secure the financing of the film and submit corresponding proof as well as any additional documents required. Corresponding information will be provided to you along with the preliminary notice from the BKM.
• Upon completion of the film, you must submit a proof of use. This refers, for example, to the final financial statement as well as complimentary copies of the film.
• Keep the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) and the German Federal Film Board (FFA) continuously informed about theatrical releases, festival participations, awards and nominations, and other details.
• After the film has been produced, you must submit a copy of the film to the Federal Archives and have it registered in accordance with the Federal Archives Act.

You can find the current submission deadlines on the BKM website. The application must be submitted to the federal portal by the deadline.

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An action against the decision can be brought before the Administrative Court of Cologne within one month of notification.