The VTFF Autumn Barometer 2025 shows: The German film and TV industry continues to struggle with cost pressure, a slump in orders and uncertain funding conditions. Many service providers are pessimistic about 2026 - they are pinning their hopes on Minister of State for Culture Dr Wolfram Weimer.
The German film and TV service provider industry remains under severe economic pressure. According to the latest autumn barometer from the Association of Technical Companies for Film and Television (VTFF), there has been no turnaround so far in 2025. Cost pressure, declining order figures and uncertainties regarding funding are weighing on the industry.
Economic situation remains tense
Almost two thirds of the companies surveyed (63 %) report a tense business situation. For the current year, 72.4 per cent expect sales to stagnate or fall. Only a small proportion anticipate significant increases in turnover. The outlook for 2026 is also subdued: 63.8 per cent of service providers are forecasting stagnating or falling sales and the majority expect falling returns.
The respondents see a consolidation of the industry on the horizon - including business closures, insolvencies and takeovers. 89.7 per cent expect such developments in the next two years, a slight increase compared to the previous year.
Challenges remain
The technical and creative service provider landscape - from studios and post-production companies to VFX and virtual production providers and rental companies - is facing high costs, a decline in incoming orders and the relocation of productions abroad. In addition, 56.9 per cent criticise the lack of predictability and reliability of the political framework conditions.
Hope for Weimer and reforms
Companies have high expectations of the new Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Dr Wolfram Weimer. Almost 80 per cent hope for measures to strengthen the industry's international competitiveness, around 72 per cent want better access to funding and 69 per cent are calling for bureaucratic hurdles to be reduced. More than half of those surveyed also expect streaming services to invest more in German productions that are realised in Germany as a production location.
VTFF Managing Director Achim Rohnke emphasises: "Despite some reform steps, the technical-creative service providers are not yet out of the valley of tears. The situation of many companies remains precarious." For a successful start to the 2026 production year, the promised funding totalling 250 million euros would have to be available in full.