Wiesbaden, 14 May 2025 - The German Film and Media Rating Board (FBW), based in Wiesbaden, will cease operations at the end of the year. This decision was jointly announced on Wednesday by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art and Culture and the management of the FBW.

Since it was founded in 1951, the FBW has been responsible for assessing the quality of films and awarding outstanding works with the ratings "valuable" or "particularly valuable". However, interest in this form of assessment has declined sharply in recent years. More and more viewers are turning to online reviews and recommendations on streaming platforms, while film distributors and producers are increasingly foregoing the FBW's fee-based ratings in light of rising production costs.

A reform plan proposed by Hesse, which envisaged a new funding structure and a fairer distribution of costs among the federal states, was finally rejected by the Conference of Culture Ministers in autumn 2024. Hesse would have continued to bear the largest share, explained State Secretary Christoph Degen. "This meant that the previous model was no longer economically viable," said Degen, who also thanked the employees of the FBW for their many years of commitment.

Despite the closure of the main institution, one project will remain: The nationwide FBW Youth Film Jury, which enables young people to rate films and write their own reviews, will continue in 2025. New locations in Trier and Enkenbach-Alsenborn are already planned. The director of the FBW, Bettina Buchler, is optimistic that this network can continue to exist even after the FBW is dissolved: "We are holding talks about continuing the involvement of the young film experts."

The end of the FBW marks the end of a chapter in the history of German film culture - at the same time, part of its work will live on in future generations.