Public Film Funding Strengthens Media Location

3D and a lot of action at the film location Bavaria

Among the tasks of the FilmFernsehFonds Bayern with its annual budget of EUR 27 million is the funding of cinema films, television films, screenplays and film distribution activities as well as the promotion of talented young filmmakers and motion-picture theatres.

S ince last year, this range of activities has been complemented by two new types of funding and promotion – the sponsorship of educationally valuable computer games and financial support for the adaptation of Bavarian movie theatres to the new, digital cinema technology standard. The Film Commission Bavaria supports film-shooting activities in Bavaria and presents the filming location Bavaria within the framework of festivals and trade fairs. The Audiovisual Media Cluster organises technical conventions and specialist events and acts as a networking platform for the industry, for instance in the area of games, digitalisation, animation and VFX. The Media Antenna Munich provides Bavarian film producers and distributors with advice on funding opportunities and advanced education
offers of the EU.

»Continuous funding and promotion by the FFF Bayern as well as the work of the Film Commission Bayern make a sustained contribution to strengthening the filming location Bavaria. Together with all our partners, we will continue working towards the creation of a stable and innovative film production climate. In this respect, we are extremely well prepared – also thanks to an increase in our funding resources that has been made available by the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (BR), ZDF and the Free State of Bavaria.«

Prof. Dr. Klaus Schaefer, Managing Director FilmFernsehFonds Bayern

Over the course of last year, movies sponsored by the FFF have delivered their best performance ever since the FFF came into existence, attracting a total of 23 million cinema visitors and creating eleven visitor millionaires. The most successful film was »Wickie the Mighty Viking« with more than 6 million visitors in the German-speaking countries. At present, the second part »Wickie and the Treasure of the Gods« is being produced as the first German 3D real film, with filming locations once again being the Walchensee, the Bavaria Studios and the island of Malta. This summer, a Constantin Film (co-)production is causing a great stir in Bavaria: »The Three Musketeers« with star actors Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, Milla Jovovich and Mads Mikkelsen. The classic novel is put on stage as an action adventure in 3D format by director Paul W.S. Anderson and made into a film with unprecedented time and material expenditure at a number of Bavarian locations including Bamberg, Burghausen, Würzburg, Schleißheim Castle, Herrenchiemsee Castle, the Hofgarten and the Residence of Munich. The decision in favour of Bavaria as the film shooting location was based not only on the unique original movie settings, but also on the comprehensive support provided by the FFF Bayern and the Film Commission and, last but not least, by the strong 3D expertise of movie technology businesses domiciled in Bavaria, above all the company ARRI.

Film Shooting Boom in Bavaria

A loosened filming permit policy by the city of Munich, strong partners in the Location Network Bavaria, support from the State Government of Bavaria and the City of Munich as well as workshops, location tours, lectures and residents‘ initiatives have turned Bavaria and Munich into a greatly sought-after filming location this year. Cult director Marcus H. Rosenmüller produced the movies »Orange« and »Der Sommer der Gaukler« in his home region of Upper Bavaria.
One can also convince oneself of the excellent position of the film location Bavaria in the new edition of the Film Production Manual – Munich and Bavaria. The manual, edited by the FFF Bayern, contains all relevant information on filming permits in Bavaria as well as a comprehensive directory of the film industry. It is available free of charge.

The shareholders of the FFF Bayern include the Free State of Bavaria, the Bavarian Centre for New Media (BLM), public television broadcasters Bayerischer Rundfunk and ZDF and private broadcasters ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL. FFF Bayern provides an annual 27 million euros funding for cinema and television films as well as films from up and coming film-makers, scripts and film theatre. The FFF Bayern also offers, besides funding, a comprehensive advisory and information service for the film and television industry.

FilmFernsehFonds Bayern GmbH
Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Medien in Bayern

Film Commission Bavaria

Cluster audiovisuelle Medien

MEDIA Antenne München GmbH