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Apply for the use of short film award funds for the production or preparation of a short film

If you are nominated for the German Short Film Award or receive an award, you can apply for funding for follow-up projects.

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Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien

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10785 Berlin

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10785 Berlin

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Procedure details

If you are nominated for the German Short Film Award or win an award, you can receive film award funds that you may use for the production or preparation of further short films up to 30 minutes in length or full-length films of 79 minutes or more.
You must apply to the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) to use German Short Film Award funds for so-called follow-up projects. Only then will the funds be made available to you.
You do not have to pay back this financial support.

You can receive funding for short films if

  • you are nominated for the German Short Film Award or win an award,
  • a planned short film is no longer than 30 minutes (full-length films and, in exceptional cases, medium-length films are also possible),
  • the film has a significant German cultural influence,
  • the short film is intended and suitable for public screening in cinemas and/or at film festivals (for full-length films, a regular initial theatrical release must be ensured),
  • the necessary rights are available or there is an option to acquire them and
  • you have not yet started work on the film project.

  • Required Documents

    For the production of a short film:

    • Short description (maximum 1 page)
    • For a feature film: screenplay
    • for an animated film: script and storyboard
    • for a documentary film: treatment or project-specific description
    • for an experimental film: project-specific description
    • Moodboard (depiction of the mood of the planned film)
    • Cast list with details of place of residence
    • Cast list or cast suggestions with description of the characters
    • Director's note or director's commentary
    • Producer's note or production commentary
    • Production schedule (schedule with the milestones of the production
    • production process; no shooting schedule)
    • Distribution plans or exploitation concept and, if applicable, distribution commitment
    • Preliminary calculation of the costs of the project
      • Use the scheme of the German Federal Film Board (FFA) or another industry-standard list. The maximum fee rates for feature-length films are based on the FFA guidelines for project film funding.
    • Financing plan
      • Only use the form provided by the BKM.
    • Certificate in tax matters from the responsible tax office (clearance certificate)
    • Provisional project certificate from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA)

    For the preparation of a short film:

    • Brief description of the project (maximum 1 page)
    • For script development: synopsis and treatment
    • For the development of a script: Outline of ideas
    • List of project participants, if applicable
    • Schedule (start, duration, locations, completion)
    • Realization plans after completion of project preparation
    • Financing plan (including status of financing and calculation of own contribution)
    • Preliminary calculation of the costs of the measure
      • Use the scheme of the German Federal Film Board (FFA) or another industry-standard list. The maximum fee rates for feature-length films are based on the FFA guidelines for project film funding.
    • Tax clearance certificate from the relevant tax office (clearance certificate)

You must submit the application for the funding awards for short films online to the BKM:

  • Go to the website of the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de and complete the application form there electronically.
  • You will need an electronic ID document for the online application, for example your ELSTER organization certificate.
  • Upload the required documents as a file (in PDF format, maximum 10 megabytes per file) and submit the application.

There are no costs.

You must submit the application at least 6 weeks before the start of the project.

6 Wochen

There are no indications or special features.

  • Administrative court action

Status: 09.03.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Source: Federal Portal