Berlin, 10 February 2026 - Following the recent agreement on an investment commitment, production funding for German films is considered to have been strengthened. While the Federal Ministry of Culture and the Media (BKM) sees this step as the conclusion of the film funding reform, cinema and festival associations are warning of possible gaps in implementation: without targeted support for screening venues and festivals, the effect of the reform threatens to fade.
The associations HDF Kino, AG Kino-Gilde, Bundesverband kommunale Filmarbeit and AG Filmfestival emphasise that cinemas and festivals are crucial for the visibility and success of German films. They are therefore calling for the reform to be continued consistently - in particular with an increase in funding for cinemas and festivals.
Central demands of the associations:
Increase in funding in the 2027 federal budget: In order to ensure long-term predictability, funds for cinemas and festivals are to be budgeted on a binding basis. Existing programmes such as the cinema programme premium "Liebling Kino" and the Future Cinema Programme should be strengthened.
Rapid implementation of the cinema programme for the future: The associations are in favour of making the planned funds of 10 million euros available as early as 2026 in order to enable urgently needed investments in technology, infrastructure and public relations.
Cinema and cinema film as the core of promotion: The promotion of high-quality cinema productions must continue to be a priority in order to secure the theatrical release and perception of German films.
Protection of cinema exploitation in the event of group takeovers: In the context of the Warner Bros. takeover, the associations are calling for clear European framework conditions that safeguard the number and duration of cinema productions and guarantee fair market conditions.
The associations point out that cinemas are increasingly having to pay for investments in projection technology, infrastructure and marketing themselves - in addition to new challenges such as AI applications. Predictability and reliability in funding are therefore just as important for the screening and festival landscape as they are for film production itself.
The discussion about the full implementation of the film funding reform is becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of growing international competition. For German producers, cinemas and festivals, now is the opportunity to use the current momentum to secure the visibility and social added value of German film in the long term.