Filmförderung Hessen

Filmförderung Hessen
Name	Filmförderung Hessen
Founded	1979
Location	Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany
Key people	Eva Hubert (Managing Director)
Focus	Film and media industry funding
Parent	Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts
Website	https://www.hessenfilm.de

Filmförderung Hessen. It is the central public funding institution for the film and media industry in the German state of Hesse, headquartered in Wiesbaden. Established in 1979, its primary mission is to strengthen Hesse as a competitive production location by providing financial support and comprehensive services to film production companies, television broadcasters, and creative professionals. The organization operates under the legal mandate of the Hessian Film Funding Act and is a division of the Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts, playing a pivotal role in the regional cultural policy and creative economy.

History and Legal Basis

The institution was founded in 1979, making it one of the older regional film funds in the Federal Republic of Germany. Its creation was part of a broader movement among German states to decentralize cultural funding and foster regional film industry growth following models like the Filmförderung Hamburg. The core legal foundation is the Hessian Film Funding Act, which outlines the objectives, funding instruments, and governance structures. This legislation aligns with federal frameworks such as the German Film Funding Act and policies set by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. Key milestones include the expansion of its mandate in the 1990s to include international co-production support and the integration of new media formats in the 2000s, responding to trends exemplified by broadcasters like RTL Group and ZDF.

Funding Programs and Support Services

Financial support is delivered through several targeted programs, including production funding for feature films, documentaries, and series, as well as project development grants and distribution support. A significant program is the HessenFilm und Medien funding for innovative cross-media projects. Beyond direct grants, the organization provides extensive non-financial services through its Film Commission Hessen, which offers location scouting assistance, permit coordination, and networking with local service providers like Studio Babelsberg and Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. Additional support includes promoting participation in major markets such as the European Film Market at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival.

Application Process and Criteria

The application process is project-based and highly competitive, requiring detailed submissions including scripts, budgets, and financing plans. A central evaluation criterion is the project's economic impact on Hesse, measured by planned local expenditure, the use of regional facilities like Mediencampus der Hochschule Darmstadt, and employment for Hessian crew and cast. Artistic quality, the professional track record of key personnel such as the film director or producer, and the potential for theatrical release or broadcast on networks like ARD are also critically assessed. Decisions are made by independent committees comprising industry experts from organizations like the German Film Academy and the Association of German Film Producers.

Notable Supported Productions

The fund has supported a wide array of acclaimed and commercially successful works that have premiered at major festivals and won prestigious awards. Notable cinema releases include Tom Tykwer's *Run Lola Run*, Fatih Akin's *The Edge of Heaven*, which competed at the Cannes Film Festival, and Maren Ade's *Toni Erdmann*, nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. In television, it has backed popular series such as the *Tatort* franchise episodes produced for Hessischer Rundfunk and international co-productions like *The Borgias* and *The Baader Meinhof Complex*, which involved partners like Constantin Film and StudioCanal.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Filmförderung Hessen is integrated into the state administration as a division of the Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts. The day-to-day management is led by a Managing Director, currently Eva Hubert, who oversees a team of project managers and location experts. Strategic direction and funding decisions are made by an independent board of trustees and expert committees, which include representatives from the Hessian State Parliament, cultural institutions like the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin, and industry guilds. The organization collaborates closely with national bodies like the German Federal Film Board and regional partners such as the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The institution is a major driver of the creative industries in Hesse, directly contributing to job creation for professionals in cities like Frankfurt and Kassel and generating significant revenue for local service businesses. It has been instrumental in establishing Hesse, particularly the Rhein-Main region, as a top national production hub, attracting major projects from companies like UFA GmbH and Sony Pictures. Culturally, it has enriched the German film landscape by enabling a diverse range of stories, supporting filmmakers from Margarethe von Trotta to emerging directors, and facilitating films that engage with historical events like those depicted in *The Lives of Others*. Its work ensures Hesse's continued prominence in the European audio-visual industry.

Category:Film organizations in Germany Category:Culture in Hesse Category:1979 establishments in West Germany