Film Students Call for Reform of Film Funding

Film Students Demand Reform of German Film Funding

The full letter is attached (in german language).

Open Letter from Germany’s Young Filmmakers:

In an urgent open letter, film students from across Germany have addressed the nation's political leadership. They appeal to the leaders of parliamentary groups, members of the Bundestag, the Chairs of the Committee on Culture and Media, the Federal Minister of Finance, and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media to implement the long-overdue reform of German film funding without delay.

The signatories—student councils and administrations of Germany’s most renowned film schools, including the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg, the HFF Munich, and the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF—stress the urgency of the situation: “German cinema is on the brink of collapse—and with it, our future.”

The Dire State of the Film Industry

The students highlight the strained economic state of the film and media industry:

• 56% of production companies rate their current situation as poor.
• 45% experienced significant declines in orders in 2023.
• Particularly affected: emerging filmmakers, whose projects are often the first to face cuts.

“Our voices, our stories, our potential—it’s vanishing,” the letter states.

Demands for the Future

The students view the reform as a last resort to align with international standards and secure the future of Germany’s film industry. Key measures include:

• Tax incentives and investment commitments to attract international productions and strengthen the domestic industry.
• Opportunities for emerging filmmakers that foster creative potential.
• Sustainable structures that prioritize ecological and innovative approaches.

“If the revised FFG does not come into effect by January 1, 2025, the damage will be irreparable,” the letter warns.

Voices from the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg

Lea Staron, Julius Becher, and Isabella Frank, members of the student council at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, emphasize alongside Director Prof. Thomas Schadt:
“We want to tell stories, inspire hope, and preserve culture. Without political support, an entire generation of filmmakers risks losing its future.”

A Call to Action

The open letter concludes with a powerful appeal to policymakers:
“Act now and send a signal for the future of Germany’s film industry!”