GERMAN FEDERAL
FILM FUND
DFFF
GERMAN MOTION
PICTURE FUND
GMPF
AT A GLANCE
2022
The Empress Tár
More Than Ever Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert Holy Spider
A MESSAGE
from Minister of State Claudia Roth
Germany has produced a number of exciting, moving and fascinating feature
films and high-budget TV series that have enjoyed international success. These
successes have been largely thanks to the outstanding creative work of people
in the industry. They are not just good at what they do but frequently exceed
expectations, enthralling viewers both at the cinema and in front of their screens at
home. Creative talents in the film industry also benefit from first-class production
conditions in Germany. As Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and
the Media, I ensure that our funding instruments are up to date and appropriate
to the needs of the industry. In 2022, there was so much demand for support from
the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF)
that funding surpassed the record amounts awarded in 2021 – a year that, with its
pandemic-related risk and rising production costs, was enormously challenging and
difficult for the film and creative industries.
I am glad that in these politically and economically difficult times, film-makers have
not lost the courage to keep taking on and completing new projects. This in turn
motivates me to keep striving for the best possible production conditions for the
industry. In view of the fierce competition, however, we cannot afford to be content
with our achievements, but must make the reforms necessary to ensure that Germany’s
film industry remains successful in the future.
Claudia Roth, Member of the German Bundestag
Minister of State for Culture and the Media
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
AT A GLANCE
The DFFF and the GMPF are automatic funding schemes through which funding is awarded in the form of a grant.
Applications may be submitted at any time, as long as they are received at least six weeks before shooting begins.
Funding may be granted if the application documents are complete, the criteria set down in the test of cultural
characteristics are fulfilled, and 75 % of the film’s financing has been secured. If these requirements are met,
the application will be accepted on condition that sufficient funds are available.
DFFF I DFFF II
Producers of feature, documentary and animated Production service providers hired to produce a film
films are eligible to apply. or film segment are eligible to apply.
Grants: Grants:
Grants may be worth up to 20 % of approved German Films: up to 25 % of the approved German production
production costs, or up to 25 % if the German production costs, up to a maximum of € 2.5 million.
costs exceed € 8 million. If the project has been granted
funding from the German Federal Film Board (FFA) or Eligibility requirements:
from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture ● Total production costs of at least € 20 million.
and the Media (BKM), then the grant increases to 25 % or ● German production costs of at least € 8 million; for
30 % respectively. Maximum funding is € 4 million. animated films, German production costs of at least
€ 2 million.
Eligibility requirements: ● The film must be commercially released in German
● Total production costs for feature films of at least cinemas.
€ 1 million, for documentary films € 200,000 and for
animated films € 2 million.
● The film must be commercially released in German
cinemas.
● At least 25 % of the total production costs must be spent
in Germany; if total production costs are more than
€ 20 million, then at least 20 % must be spent in Germany.
● Generally, the German share of funding needs to
amount to 20 % of total production costs.
GMPF Eligibility requirements:
● Total production costs for fictional series of at least
Producers of series and films that are not intended for
€ 30,000 per minute or at least € 1.2 million per
first release in cinemas are eligible to apply.
episode and at least € 7.2 million per season.
Grants: ● Total production costs for documentary series of
Series: up to 20 % or 25 % of the approved German at least € 9,000 per minute or at least € 360,000 per
production costs. The size of grants varies depending episode and at least € 1.65 million per season.
on the German production costs and the number ● Total production costs of at least € 20 million.
of points in the test of cultural characteristics. ● At least 40 % of the total production costs must be
The maximum amount is € 10 million. spent in Germany.
Films: up to 20 % of the approved German production ● Must be screened on German TV or be available via
costs, up to a maximum of € 2.5 million. video-on-demand platforms accessible in Germany.
FUNDING IN 2022
In 2022, the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) funded a total of
156 national and international theatrical films and high-budget series – the most productions they have ever
funded in a single year.
Funding from these two instruments of the Federal Government’s cultural budget led to a total of € 879 million in follow-
on investment in Germany – more than ever before. Part of the Federal Government’s NEUSTART KULTUR assistance
programme for cultural institutions, the “Ausfallfonds I”, played a central role in the pre-production and production of
films and series again in 2022. Federal funding from the Ausfallfonds I provided financial security against disruptions to
production caused by COVID-19 for a total of 93 productions, including 69 receiving DFFF grants and 17 receiving GMPF
grants. Since 2020, 233 projects have been registered for federal funding from the Ausfallfonds I.
DFFF I: € 50.2 million in funding – DFFF II: € 28.9 million in funding – for major
more international projects than in 2021 international productions and elaborate VFX
for blockbusters
The 107 projects which received funding of
€ 50.2 million from the DFFF I included 71 feature films, Once again, high-budget international films were
33 documentaries and 3 animated films. Among the made with the support of DFFF II funding for German
71 German productions were the film Someday We’ll Tell production service providers. Among others, the US-
Each Other Everything by Emily Atef (based on the novel of German production The Hunger Games: The Ballad of
the same name); the romantic comedy Trauzeugen by Finn Songbirds and Snakes was awarded maximum funding of
Christoph Stroeks; the film Kannawoniwasein! by Stefan € 19.1 million. In addition, German VFX service providers
Westerwelle (based on the children’s book of the same were given funding for creating elaborate visual effects,
name); the animated film Tafiti – Ab durch die Wüste by including for the films The Flash, starring Ezra Miller, and
Nina Wels; and the documentary film Teaches of Peaches Shazam! Fury of the Gods, starring Zachary Levi (both
(about the Canadian Electroclash artist Peaches) by based on the DC Comics characters of the same name).
Philipp Fussenegger and Cordula Kablitz-Post.
GMPF: € 84.4 million in funding –
Among the 36 international projects were the thriller Berlin
more projects funded than ever before
Nobody (Germany-USA) by Jordan Scott; the drama Samia
(Italy-Germany) about the Somali athlete Samia Yusuf
Thanks to the GMPF’s increased budget, 43 high-
Omar; the film Die Mittagsfrau (Germany-Luxembourg-
budget series received funding by the end of 2022 (in
Switzerland) by the Austrian director Barbara Albert
2021, 19 projects were funded). Maximum funding of
(based on the bestselling novel of the same name); Chris
€ 10 million was awarded for the production of the Anglo-
Kraus’ latest feature film 15 Jahre (Germany-Austria-
German psychological thriller series Constellation.
Luxembourg); and the Berlinale competition film Ingeborg
Funding also went to the series Der Scheich by Dani Levy
Bachmann – Journey into the Desert (Switzerland-Austria-
and Johannes Naber, the first German-language series
Germany-Luxembourg) by Margarethe von Trotta.
to be released on Paramount+; the nature and wildlife
The Franco-German co- documentary Europa, a production for the German
production Girl You Know It’s broadcaster WDR; and for the first time a children’s
True, by Simon Verhoeven, series, Die Drei!!!, a production for Disney+. Funding was
received € 3.6 million – the also awarded to Hagen (Germany-Czechia), a film to be
biggest grant awarded from the released in the cinema and as a high-budget TV series.
DFFF I budget. The story is based on the Nibelung epic and is brought
to the screen by Cyrril Boss and Philipp Stennert.
A list of all projects funded in 2022 is available on the DFFF and GMPF websites.
INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTIONS
DFFF I 2007 – 2022
Finland 23
Total 612 Norway 26
Of which in 2022 36
Sweden 19 Estonia 2
Russia 10
Denmark 28
United Kingdom 47
Ireland 17
Netherlands 41 Poland 19
Belgium 60 Czech Republic 2
Luxembourg 36
Slovakia 2
Austria 114
Switzerland 85
France 131 Hungary 1 Romania 7
Italy 43
Spain 17 Greece 6
Israel 18
Other 80
India 1
USA 27
South Africa 6
Canada 18
Australia 7
DFFF I UND DFFF II In the 16 years since it was established, the DFFF
scheme has provided funding of € 882.4 million to
Overview 2007 – 2022 1,685 film productions. This includes € 161.5 million
for 25 productions under the DFFF II scheme, which
PRODUCTIONS was introduced in 2017. This funding from the Federal
1,710 Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media
has led to follow-on investment amounting to some
FUNDING DISBURSED € 5.97 billion in Germany alone. Projects funded with
€ 1.044 BILLION DFFF I support comprised 1,073 German and 612 in-
ternational co-productions. In 2022, German producers
INVESTMENT IN teamed up most often with Swiss (10) and Austrian (5)
FILM PRODUCTION IN GERMANY partners on co-productions.
€ 5.97 BILLION
DFFF I*
In figures
Total German Including additional
2022 Number Grant
production costs production costs appropriations**
Grants approved 107 € 362,862,743 € 282,340,207 € 50,072,915
€ 50,154,352
Additional pandemic-related costs 3 € 81,437
International co-productions 36 € 175,423,024 € 107,958,101 € 19,676,851 € 19,745,979
German productions 71 € 187,439,719 € 174,382,106 € 30,396,063 € 30,408,372
Feature films 71 € 314,858,999 € 247,629,798 € 44,106,789 € 44,119,098
Documentary films 33 € 25,324,908 € 19,141,532 € 3,137,692 € 3,137,692
Animated films 3 € 22,678,836 € 15,568,877 € 2,828,433 € 2,897,561
* Possible deviations in the totals result from rounding differences ** Grant incl. pandemic-related additional appropriations
Increase in number of projects funded Premieres and prizes at home and abroad
With the pandemic, the energy crisis, a shortage of skilled Numerous DFFF I-funded films were represented at
workers and increased costs, producers still faced con- international festivals and award ceremonies. Two
siderable challenges. Yet the number of projects which German-French productions, A E I O U – A Quick Alpha-
received funding from the DFFF I scheme increased com- bet of Love by Nicolette Krebitz and Rabiye Kurnaz vs.
pared with previous years. George W. Bush had their premieres in the Competi-
tion of the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival. The
More international productions, latter film (a tragicomedy by Andreas Dresen) won two
more documentary films awards. The international co-production Holy Spider
In 2022, the number of funded international film projects (Denmark-France-Germany-Sweden) by Ali Abbasi was
produced in Germany continued to increase, with a total nominated for the Competition at Cannes, where Zar
of 36 projects. International co-productions in Germa- Amir Ebrahimi won the award for Best Actress. More
ny received a total of € 108 million in funding – that’s Than Ever (France-Germany-Luxembourg-Norway)
€ 6 million more than in the previous year. There was also by Emily Atef was selected for the Un Certain Regard
an increase in DFFF I funding for documentary films. section at Cannes. Dear Thomas by Andreas Kleinert
Follow-on investment was worth € 19.1 million, a major won nine Lolas at the 2022 German Film Awards.
increase over the previous year (approx. € 10 million).
DFFF II
In figures
Total German
2022 Number production costs, production costs, Grant
film segment film segment
Grants approved 6 € 121,061,010 € 117,110,546 € 28,861,532
The DFFF II budget for production service providers has enabled six international films to be made, including the
Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore with Mads Mikkelsen – one of Germany’s biggest
box-office hits in 2022. Total follow-on investment in the production of film projects in 2022 was around € 117 million.
GMPF*
in figures
Total German Including additional
2022 Number Grant
production costs production costs appropriations**
Grants approved 43 € 598.641.697 € 478.494.512 € 84.227.372
€ 84.390.835
Additional pandemic-related costs 1 € 946.080 € 929.918 € 163.462
International co-productions 11 € 232.175.365 € 149.134.981 € 29.549.614
German productions 32 € 366.466.331 € 329.359.531 € 54.677.758
Serien 43 € 598.641.697 € 478.494.512 € 84.227.372 € 84.390.835
* Possible deviations in the totals result from rounding differences ** Grant incl. pandemic-related additional appropriations
Further increase in funding to meet high demand
The GMPF tends to fund high-budget series and films for international release. The number of GMPF-funded
projects has more than doubled compared with the previous year. Owing to high demand, the GMPF budget was
considerably increased over the course of the year, which saw € 84.4 million awarded to 43 projects.
Total German Including additional
2016 – 2022 Number Grant
production costs production costs appropriations**
Grants approved 112 € 1.974.757.320 € 1.424.020.958 € 227.757.988
€ 228.339.140
Additional pandemic-related costs 3 € 3.872.112 € 3.662.481 € 581.151
International co-productions 29 € 832.092.247 € 439.543.498 € 62.154.859
German productions 83 € 1.142.665.074 € 984.477.460 € 165.603.130
Series 109 € 1.799.469.609 € 1.317.482.467 € 221.757.988
Films 3 € 175.287.710 € 106.538.491 € 6.000.000
* Possible deviations in the totals result from rounding differences ** Grant incl. pandemic-related additional appropriations
Seven years of funding, 112 high-budget series and feature films
Over the past seven years, the GMPF has provided total funding of € 228 million for 112 productions, whose German
production costs totalling € 1.4 billion kept studios and film production in Germany running at full capacity. During
that time, German and international production companies invested six times the amount they received in government
grants in Germany. Babylon Berlin (seasons 1– 4), Dark, Kleo, The Empress and many other nationally and internationally
acclaimed series, such as The Queen’s Gambit, could not have been made in Germany without GMPF funding.
CONTACT
The DFFF and the GMPF are administered by the German Federal Film Board (FFA) on behalf of the Federal
Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM).
German Federal Film Fund (DFFF)
German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF)
Office address Mailing address
c/o Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) c/o Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)
Friedrichstraße 153a, 10117 Berlin Große Präsidentenstraße 9, 10178 Berlin
DFFF GMPF
Phone: +49 (0)30 - 27 577 - 142 Phone: +49 (0)30 - 27 577 - 142
Email: dfff@ffa.de Email: gmpf@ffa.de
www.dfff-ffa.de www.gmpf-ffa.de
Photo credits DFFF-funded films at the box office and at festivals;
GMPF-funded high-budget TV series (selection): Front page:
The Empress © Netflix I Tár © Universal I More Than Ever © Pandora I
Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert © Wolfgang Ennenbach I
Holy Spider © Alamode I Back page: The School of Magical Animals 2
© Leonine I Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore © Warner I
Mittagsstunde © Majestic I Igor Levit – No Fear © Piffl Medien /
zero one film I The Swarm © Schwarm TV Production GmbH & Co. KG
The School of Magical Animals 2 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Mittagsstunde
Igor Levit – No Fear The Swarm
