In a recent survey of its members, the Federal Association of Film Directors (BVR) paints a clear picture of the economic situation facing German film directors. According to the survey, 71 per cent of those surveyed are unable to make a living from their work as directors, or can only do so to a limited extent.

The survey is based on responses from 487 directors working in the fields of fiction, documentary and advertising, and forms part of the position paper „Survive TwentyFive – Fix TwentySix“. This was published on 25 June 2026 and is intended as an assessment of the current working conditions in the directing profession.

The employment situation is also looking strained: 37 per cent of those surveyed currently have no film projects lined up, whilst another 37 per cent are seriously considering leaving the industry. According to the survey, more than half of the participants earn an annual income of less than 30,000 euros. Around three-quarters do not expect the situation to improve in the short term this year either.

The BVR does not regard these findings as isolated cases, but rather as a structural problem within the German film and television production industry. In its position paper, the association warns of increasing economic pressure on creative professionals, which could lead to a loss of skilled workers and artistic diversity in the long term.

As a result, the association is calling for a comprehensive package of reforms. At the heart of this are stronger safeguards for authors’ rights – including with regard to the use of artificial intelligence – as well as fair remuneration models that ensure a living wage. Furthermore, the BVR advocates a mandatory investment quota for streaming providers, as well as an internationally competitive tax incentive scheme for film productions. Public service broadcasting is also addressed, including calls for greater investment in programming and greater diversity of content.