Future of the FBW: Film funding in the crisis! Experts demand change!

Future of the FBW: Film funding in the crisis! Experts demand change!

The German Film and Media Assessment (FBW) based in Biebrich Castle in Wiesbaden faces an uncertain future. After playing a central role in film funding and quality assessment of films in Germany since it was founded in 1951, the financial and structural framework conditions seem to be at risk. As hessenschau.de , the sought-after predicate is "valuable" for cinema seekers and Streaming services served as a guide to the film selection, granted by the FBW. However, the current changes in the Federal Government's Film Promotion Act, which the FBW predicates no longer take into account as a criterion for state support, endanger their existence.

The FBW can look back on a long tradition in which it not only checks films for its artistic, documentary or film -historical importance, but also "particularly valuable" with the seal of approval. These predicates not only represented a recommendation for cinema goers, but also had legal relevance, since they led to the qualification for film funding from the federal and state governments, as the information from fbw-filmvalarung.com

critical financial Situation

With seven employees and an annual financial requirement of around 400,000 euros for personnel costs, the FBW is dependent on the fees of applicants. However, these income has been declining since 2007. The state of Hesse, which has offered financial support in the past, no longer feels able to carry the FBW alone. In addition, a draft for a new administrative agreement was rejected by the Cultural Ministers' Conference, which further exacerbated the precarious situation.

The discussions about the future of the FBW are in full swing. The institute receives support from prominent industry representatives, including the Oscar-winning director Volker Schlöndorff. The FBW plays an important role in the visibility and career of young filmmakers who benefit from the predicate films. In relation to current developments in the Film Funding Act, it must be stated that the FBW predicates are no longer mentioned as cultural funding criteria, which further increases uncertainty.

effects on film funding

The consequences of these changes are far -reaching. Films that are "particularly valuable" with the predicate enjoy advantages such as discounts on amusement tax and preferred treatment for applying for funding, as FBW also explains in the details of film funding. For films with higher manufacturing costs, the reference thresholds for the funding were adapted, which could be crucial for many films to receive financial support.

By the end of 2024, 4541 long films and 3233 short films had already received the predicate "valuable" or "particularly valuable", and these figures come from an institution that has since evaluated around 26,000 films. Nevertheless, this valuable history could be reduced by the upcoming political changes.

The FBW also carries out media education programs, including a short film edition for children, and is therefore a valuable part of film culture in Germany. Since 1980, the volunteer five -member jury, which consists of 85 experts and whose members come from various areas of the film industry, has contributed significantly to the fact that films are assessed according to criteria such as material, form and filmmaking. However, critics warn that the FBW's test practice may only be misinterpreted as a former advertising measure.

The FBW is on the crossroads. The coming months will be crucial for whether the institution can continue to play a major role in German film funding or whether the deep cuts will finally lead to their existence, which are already felt. Industry experts and filmmakers agree that the preservation of this institution is of great importance not only for the jury itself, but also for the future of German film.