At its constituent meeting on Thursday, the Board of Directors of the German Federal Film Board (FFA) Kirsten Niehuus as the new president. The long-standing managing director for film promotion at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg thus takes over as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman's Committee.

Niehuus takes over from Bernd Neumann who had led the FFA since 2014. At the suggestion of the new Chairwoman, Neumann was Honorary Presidents appointed.

"I am delighted about the trust placed in me, which is both an incentive and an obligation," said Niehuus after the election. She thanked her predecessor for his many years of commitment and emphasised the importance of cooperation within the industry. The FFA is in a decisive phase of the funding reform, the implementation of which she wants to drive forward together with the committees.

To the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors was Dr Christian Bräuer, representative of the cinema associations and Managing Director of the Yorck Cinema Group.

Presidium reorganised

In addition to the election of Niehuus, the Board of Directors also approved the new ten-member presidium in. In addition to the members appointed by the German Bundestag and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), the committee also includes the following representatives:

• Film producer: Janine Jackowski (deputy: Jakob Weydemann)

• Film distributor: Peter Schauerte (deputy: Leila Hamid)

• cinema associations: Dr Christian Bräuer (deputy: Christine Berg)

• Video economy: Inga Moser von Filseck (deputy: Dr Wolf Osthaus)

• Private television broadcasters: Daniela Beaujean (Deputy: Dr Stefan Gärtner)

• Public service broadcasters: Donald Jenichen (deputy: Tobias Würkert)

• "Creative associations": Gerrit Hermans (deputy: Katharina Reschke)

Tasks of the Board of Directors

The FFA Board of Directors decides on all fundamental issues concerning the institution, approves the budget and elects members of other committees. It has 36 members who are delegated by the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, the BKM, film and video industry associations, television broadcasters, the German Film Academy, churches and trade unions. A Gender-balanced staffing is a mandatory requirement.

The election of Kirsten Niehuus marks the start of a new term of office for the FFA. The experienced film promoter is taking over the reins at a time of structural upheaval - with the aim of further developing German film funding and strengthening the competitiveness of domestic cinema.