According to Press Release ZDF/Das Kleine Fernsehspiel and the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) are extending their joint funding agreement initiated in January 2020 until the end of 2027. The partners will thus continue to support up-and-coming filmmakers in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.

The "Fifty-Fifty" programme supports the development and production of contemporary material and diverse genres of feature films, documentaries and animated films as well as hybrid forms and mini-series with a total length of 40 to 120 minutes. Production is to be carried out by local production companies from the region, with the involvement of up-and-coming talent from the region wherever possible. Funding of up to a maximum of 500,000 euros per partner has been agreed.

ZDF Programme Director Dr Nadine Bilke: "Supporting new talent is very important to us at ZDF. With the Fifty-Fifty Agreement, together with the MDM, we support promising filmmakers from Central Germany quickly and unbureaucratically in order to make their stories heard throughout Germany. I am delighted that we have been able to consolidate this commitment together."

MDM Managing Director André Naumann: "The promotion of young talent in particular is a high priority at MDM and has been sustainably strengthened thanks to 'Fifty-Fifty'. The success stories show the great potential of our regional talents and speak for the programme. We are therefore delighted that the MDM and ZDF/Das Kleine Fernsehspiel are now able to continue their active commitment to up-and-coming filmmakers in Central Germany and support great projects by extending the programme."

At the 7th MDM Producers' Breakfast, which took place in Leipzig on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, regional talents exchanged their experiences with editors from ZDF/Das Kleine Fernsehspiel in various discussion formats. After almost five years of the "Fifty-Fifty" funding programme in Central Germany, the outcome was positive: Films such as "Ich Chef, du Chefin - Einblicke in die Führungsetagen von morgen", "Vier Sterne Plus", "Im Haus meiner Eltern", "Nachts träume ich vom Ordnen" and "Fleisch" have been and are being realised under the agreement.

By extending the "Fifty-Fifty" agreement with MDM, ZDF is strengthening its support for new talent from Central Germany. Similar agreements exist with MFG Baden-Württemberg, MV Filmförderung and HessenFilm. Rapid decisions and short financing channels are intended to simplify project realisation.