URGENT UPDATE: The German government has just announced a groundbreaking €7.5 million production fund aimed at boosting up-and-coming filmmakers. This initiative is set to be administered by the esteemed Curatorium Young German Cinema in collaboration with the Ministry of State for Culture and the Media (BKM), marking a significant investment in the future of the German film industry.
The fund will provide individual projects with up to €500,000 for production costs that do not exceed €2 million. In exceptional cases, this amount may be increased to €1 million. This financial support is crucial for emerging talent, enabling them to bring their creative visions to life.
In addition to the production fund, the Curatorium will receive €1.2 million annually from Germany’s federal states to support the development of film treatments and screenplays. This comprehensive funding strategy highlights the government’s commitment to nurturing new voices in cinema.
The Curatorium has also appointed Christina Bentlage as its managing director, effective from January 1, 2026. Bentlage, who has been leading film funding at the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW since 2010, is expected to bring vital expertise to her new role.
Since its inception in 1965, the Curatorium has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of acclaimed filmmakers such as Alexander Kluge, Wim Wenders, and Tom Tykwer. More recently, it has supported films like Asli Özarslan’s and Roderick Warich’s Bangkok-set project, which premiered in the Orizzonti sidebar at the Venice Film Festival this September.
This new funding initiative is expected to invigorate the German film landscape, providing vital resources for innovative projects and fostering the next generation of cinematic talent. As the film industry continues to evolve, the impact of this funding will be closely monitored.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops and we learn more about the filmmakers who will benefit from this initiative.
