Film funding bill to support blockbusters made in Germany
The German government wants to attract more filmmakers and make the country a "global player" in on-screen entertainment. A new bill would require media companies
The German government wants to attract more filmmakers and make the country a "global player" in on-screen entertainment. A new bill would require media companies to make mandatory investments in the film industry. "With today's cabinet resolution, we are ensuring that the German film industry will become a global player in film production," Germany's Culture and Media Minister Wolfram Weimer said on Wednesday. He described the coalition government's draft bill, which still needs to be voted on by parliament, as a "film booster." According to Weimer, never before has so much money been allocated to the domestic film industry. In fact, it will be almost double anything previously allocated, totaling €250 million ($291 million). Along with other funding programs, the government is reportedly committing more than €300 million to film productions. Additional funding from Germany's federal states is expected to be added to this total. That being said, government funding alone will not bring about major changes. That's why streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Disney would be required under the bill to make investments on par with private and public German broadcasters. With nearly 84 million residents, the German market is the largest in Europe, and has proven to be lucrative for all of these companies. Documentary films probe German identity 5 years after Hanau To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Streaming services and private broadcasters The bill will require media companies to invest at least 8% of the revenue they earn from subscriptions and into the German film industry.
The German Association of Private Media (VAUNET) expects a revenue of €6.5 billion in 2026. Based on this forecast, streaming services and pay TV broadcasters would have to invest €520 million — whether they want to or not. "Our goal is for more film projects to come to Germany and Europe," said Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. "We want European content to be streamed. And we support the work of independent producers," the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician added. Weimer: 'Film industry should seize the opportunity' The German government also hopes that streaming services and broadcasters will voluntarily invest even more, and is willing to provide incentives to encourage them. It would waive some specific legal requirements for film investments of 12% or more. Which requirements these are exactly has yet to be agreed upon. The purpose of this exemption clause is to secure contracts for the German film industry while avoiding undue interference with companies' business models. Weimer thinks the whole package is "fair and realistic" and should make it possible for the whole film industry to be able to plan years ahead for the first time. "Now it's up to the industry to seize this opportunity to produce a series of blockbusters 'made in Germany,'" he said.
The BriefWire