Financial Support : Germany

New creative films by young directors have also emerged as a result of financial and cultural support from the federal and state governments, which in recent years has averaged more than DM 150 million annually. In addition, the Young German Film Board of the federal states (which has an annual budget of about DM 2 million) awards prizes for first films of artistic value. Since 1968, the German Federal Film Board (FFA) established under the Federal Film Promotion Act (FFG) has provided financial assistance not only for film production but also for cinemas. The funds are obtained by means of a levy paid by all cinemas, the public television networks and the video industry.

Since 1951 the Federal Minister of the Interior has awarded the annual German Film Prize for the production of top-notch domestic films. Its categories are the Golden Bowl, which is worth DM 1 million, and film strips in gold and silver with prizes of up to DM 900,000. The Wiesbaden Film Assessment Agency, which was established in 1951 by an agreement among the federal states, issues ratings for feature films and short films. These ratings translate into tax exemptions or reductions, as well as subsidies under the Federal Film Promotion Act. They also provide guidance for the public.