Three of Germany’s greatest directors issue a warning. They see German films in “extreme danger.” This is federal film funding,which risks running out.
Berlin.
With Wim Wenders, Volker Schlöndorff and Tom Tykwer, three of Germany’s best-known directors have joined the debate on the financing of German cinema. “Dear parliamentarians, we address you with a wake-up call: german cinema is in grave danger,” the directors said.
The backdrop is the Film Funding Act (FFG), which expires at the end of the year. actually, there is a draft for a new reformed FFG. Due to the traffic lights going out it is not certain whether it will come into force in time. Otherwise there is a risk that a gap will be created in the financing of German film projects from January.
Jobs at risk
“You probably also go to the cinema or watch a film on television from time to time,” MPs Tykwer, Schlöndorff and Wenders address. “Whether it is indeed entertainment or culture, cinema is part of our lives. Its production employs over 100,000 people, but neither their jobs nor the cultural asset of cinema are secure in the future.”
For a long time in Germany, fundamental criticism has been leveled at cinema financing, which is why Culture Minister Claudia Roth (Greens) has been planning to reform it with various measures for some time.
Bill to the Bundestag next week
Other countries, such as, require streaming services to invest in domestic productions. Roth is also planning something like this.Along with this investment commitment, a tax incentive model is also being considered that should attract more film productions to Germany.
At least the new FFG could arrive this year. A bill was finally discussed by the culture committee of the Bundestag. Next Thursday (19 December) the second and third readings will be held in the Bundestag.
“non-competitive” German productions
“Due to economic conditions, German production is no longer competitive, the best projects go abroad, where they are far ahead of us in terms of financing,” wrote the three directors.
“Hear, however, the studios are empty, producers and technical companies declare bankruptcy, our talents, our technical, artisanal and artistic know-how are being lost.” (dpa)
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