The German production community has welcomed plans for a major escalate to the country’s production incentive programme. The German government ha
The German production community has welcomed plans for a major escalate to the country’s production incentive programme.
The German government has earmarked a near 100% escalate in funding for the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF I and II) and German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) from 2026.
Funding for the two production incentive schemes would rise from €133m annually to €250m from next year and for the three years from 2027-2029.
The funding escalate was set out in the German government’s 2026 draft budget passed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet and unveiled by Germany’s finance minister Lars Klingbeil, following agreement with the minister of state for culture and the media Wolfram Weimer.
Klingbeil said: “Germany has a wonderful film scene. We want to be a top location for film and series productions that are internationally successful. That’s why we are boosting film production in Germany: with higher amounts of film funding, combined with incentives for producers and investment obligations for the providers of media services. Film funding is very well-invested money in culture in Germany.”
An industry alliance of the German Film Academy, the German Producers Alliance, the documentary filmmakers association AG DOK and the independent producers association PROG Producers of Germany was united in welcoming the government’s decision.
Speaking in his position as the chairman of the German Film Academy, producer Martin Heisler of Berlin-based Flare Film said that the step taken by the modern coalition government after just 100 days in office gave “a strong signal to the industry”.
“The fact that the additional funding will flow from January 2026 and is secured until 2029 creates the urgently needed planning security – a decisive boost for Germany as a film hub,” he explained. “It underlines the cultural and economic importance of our industry and creates reliable conditions for working at a high level and remaining internationally competitive – this is good news for producers and filmmakers from all disciplines.”
In February, the rebate on the DFFF or GMPF schemes increased from 25% to 30% of approved German production costs.
Recent projects supported by the DFFF I and DFFF II schemes have included Helena Hufnagel’s Agnes & Amir, Sophie Heldman’s Miss Pirie & Miss Woods, David Twohy’s Riddick 4: Furya and Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, while the fifth season of Babylon Berlin and Disney+’s Zehn% – Call My Agent were among the series supported by GMPF.
COMMENTS