Film funding in Germany for Animation
Germany offers a wide range of attractive opportunities through federal and regional film funding programs which are also available for international co-productions. The total of annual production funding is more than 300 million €. They are made available through federal (approx. €330m) and regional (approx. €200m) film funds and can be combined.
Together with production structures and creative and technological know-how as well as a strong and healthy distribution market, Germany is one of the top film and media locations in Europe for the film and TV industry.
German funding is accessible with a German-based co-producer or production service provider. There is a minimum German financial contribution depending on the regulations of the film fund. Some national and regional funding schemes are available for service production.
Federal Funding BKM
The Office of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) has several programs providing attractive funding opportunities for international co-productions – especially after the first step towards a general reform of the film funding system has been implemented on January 1st, 2025. The BKM’s German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) and Germany Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) provide 30% of production costs spent in Germany, up to €5 million (DFFF I) or €25 million (DFFF II, GMPF) in funding per film production.
DFFF I, DFFF II, GMPF
Are there any deadlines?
No, applications can be submitted at any time, but at least six weeks prior to the start of principal photography. The grant can be awarded once all eligibility criteria are met and 65% of the financing is secured. These are automatic (not selective) funding schemes if all requirements are met.
Is there a minimum spend in Germany?
- DFFF I: For feature films. At least 25% of the total production costs must be spent in Germany (20% for projects with total production costs of €20 million or more).
- DFFF II: For feature films. The Germany production costs must be at least €8 million (Animation: €2 million) and the total production costs at least €20 million.
- GMPF: For high-end TV/VoD productions. The German production costs must be at least €10 million or 40% of the total production costs.
Are there any other requirements?
- All projects need to pass a test of cultural characteristics.
- Projects receiving DFFF I or DFFF II funds must be commercially released in Germany.
- High-end TV series and TV/VoD films receiving GMPF funds must be shown on German TV and/or VoD platforms that are accessible in Germany.
What about animation?
- DFFF I: Reduced minimum duration of 59 minutes for children's films. In individual cases, animated films with a shorter duration may be eligible for funding.
- DFFF II: Reduced minimum spent of €2 million of German production cost.
- GMPF: Due to the high minimum budgets and high minimum running time and the lack of appropriate animation thresholds, no serial animation projects have been able to participate in this funding so far.
Federal Funding FFA
The FFA is Germany’s national film funding institution and supports all interests of German cinema. Apart from its duties as a funding body, the FFA is the central service structure for the German film industry.
The FFA also works together with other European funding institutions to support the development of cross-border projects and co-productions.
The FFA operates from the point of view of economic viability and culture. The funding for production focuses on feature films at all stages of production, script funding, production and short film funding. Furthermore, FFA offers together with CNC selective funding for German French co-productions according to the German French Minitraité.
Are there any deadlines?
Yes, the relevant committees decide up to eight times per year and the applications must be handed in online via the FFA website four weeks before.
Regional Funding
In addition to the federal film funding institutions, regional funding agencies operate in their respective region. They have a region-specific reasoning and therefore pursue different content and economic strategies when allocating the funds, each with their own funding guidelines. Thus, a wide portfolio of funding is available:
- Funding for feature films, TV series and short films
- Funding focusing on animation
- Script funding
- Production funding
- Funding for service providers, in part for VFX projects
- Funding focusing on international co-productions
Are there any deadlines?
Yes, the relevant committees decide up to eight times per year and the applications must be handed in online or in print versions with different lead times, depending on the institution.
More information can be found on the website of Focus Germany, the umbrella organisation of the largest German regional film funds: Focus Germany Website
We recommend involving a German co-producer or service provider at an early stage.
Filmbüro MV
filmbuero-mv.de
Nordmedia
nordmedia.de
Medienboard
medienboard.de
Film und Medienstiftung NRW
filmstiftung.de
MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung
mdm-online.de
Hessen Film
hessenfilm.de
Film und Medien Forum Rheinland Pfalz
https://filmforum-rlp.de/foerderung/
Saarland Medien
saarland-medien.de
MFG Baden-Württemberg
film.mfg.de
Film Fernseh Fonds Bayern
fff-bayern.de
Moin Filmförderung
Source of some texts:
Brochure Spotlight - Film Funding in Germany published by: the Federal Government Commisioner for Culture and the Media - BKM (amended)
Merkblatt digitale Filmproduktion – Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg