Berlin, 10 June 2025 - The German film and television industry is strengthening the social security of its employees: a new collective agreement on company pension schemes will come into force on 1 July 2025. This has been agreed by the Production Alliance, the trade union ver.di and the Bundesverband Schauspiel (BFFS).

The core of the new model is deferred compensation, whereby filmmakers convert part of their salary into pension contributions. The production companies also make additional contributions - four per cent of the so-called contribution assessment base in each case. The Pensionskasse Rundfunk (PKR) takes care of the processing.

Gunnar Juncken, producer and spokesperson for the responsible working group at the Production Alliance, sees the new agreement as an important step towards future viability: "Our industry must remain attractive for skilled workers. The new collective agreement creates more planning security, reduces bureaucracy and improves social security."

Martin Schrader, CEO of Pensionskasse Rundfunk, also welcomes the innovation: "This is a milestone in the fight against old-age poverty in the industry. The PKR can make an important contribution with its proven model."

The collective agreement is aimed at filmmakers who are employed on a project-related basis - for example in the production of cinema and television films. Employees in advertising or the entertainment sector as well as permanent employees are excluded. To implement the new model, the parties to the collective agreement are providing a model formulation that can be easily incorporated into employment contracts. The SESAM software solution will also be used to manage the pension scheme efficiently and digitally.

With this collective agreement, the film industry is emphasising its goal of combining creative excellence with social responsibility - and positioning itself for the future.