The Central German media funding (MDM) is continuing its start-up initiative, MEDIAstart, and will establish the programme as a permanent funding scheme for the media and film industry in Central Germany from 2027 onwards.

The initiative is aimed at founders and start-ups from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia who are active, or wish to become active, in the audiovisual sector, in gaming or in new media such as VR/AR, web series or AI applications. The aim is to provide targeted support for the establishment and stabilisation of companies within the regional media industry.

The new cohort will start in January 2027 and will support the selected participants over the course of a year as they build and develop their business models. The programme comprises practical workshops, individual mentoring from experienced industry experts, and business coaching. This is complemented by targeted networking opportunities with companies, producers and potential clients from the media industry. In addition, the funded founders will receive a monthly operating grant of up to 1,000 euros.

Applications for the seventh intake are now open and can be submitted until 17 September 2026. This will be followed by a pre-selection process carried out by a seven-member panel of media industry experts, led by MDM Managing Director André Naumann. The most promising candidates will be invited to pitch sessions in November 2026, before the final selection is made in December 2026.

By making MEDIAstart a permanent feature, the MDM is responding to the sustained high demand and the positive experiences of previous years. The aim is to establish the programme as a permanent fixture in the regional funding landscape in the long term and to further strengthen the start-up momentum in the Central German media industry.