Producers of short films and non-feature-length children's films can be supported through retrospective funding, known as FFA reference film funding. These grants can be used to produce new projects.

Funding is provided in two stages: first, an application is made for reference funding for a short film that has already won awards and/or been successfully screened at festivals according to the valid festival list. In the second stage, funding for a new project can be applied for within two years.

Stage 1: Awarding of reference funds

The prerequisite for applying for funding is that a previous short film or non-feature-length children's film has been successfully screened at certain festivals and/or has received certain prizes or awards. Please note the respective categories here. Participation or awards are taken into account in the reference film funding for short films and non-feature-length children's films with 5 or 10 points. The amount of funding depends on the total number of points achieved, the number of applicants and the total budget, which varies annually. Funding is awarded once a year at the end of May. Non-repayable grants are awarded, which can be invested in a new project.

Stage 2: Use of the grant

The reference funds awarded must be requested within two years of the date of the award notice. The date of the award notice is decisive. If the funds are not requested within two years for a specific project, they expire automatically. The reference funds are to be used primarily for the production of new short films or non-feature-length children's films. However, it is also possible to use the reference funds for the preparation of short films, non-feature-length children's films or feature-length films. In addition, the reference funds can be used for the production of a feature-length film.

Up to 75 per cent of the reference funds awarded may also be used for the short-term increase of equity capital in the interest of structural improvement of the company.

The jury-based cultural short film funding programme can support the production of outstanding short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes with grants of up to 40,000 euros. The funding jury for short film funding meets up to twice a year. Short film productions are exempt from compliance with ecological standards.

A significant German cultural influence is required for funding. The criteria to be met include, among other things, that the original language of the film is German or that the main participants, such as the director and producers, have a close connection to Germany. This influence is important in order to focus funding on films that reflect German culture and identity.

For short films, festival screening is equivalent to public screening in German cinemas.

Application

Producers of short films are eligible to apply.

Applications for the production of talent short films have to be submitted to the Kuratorium junger deutscher Film (Board of Trustees for Young German Film).

Subsequently, producers are eligible to apply if the application requirements of the Kuratorium junger deutscher Film are not met.
In the case of co-productions, the application can only be submitted by one of the producers.