14/07/2014 - Support from the EU’s MEDIA programme saw great success in Germany between 2007 and 2013

The European Union’s MEDIA programme supported the audiovisual industry in Germany with more than €111 million from 2007 to 2013. This amount represents 14% of the whole European fund. This huge support reflects the high quality of German film projects as well as the growing internationalisation of the country's film industry.

Since MEDIA was launched, the centrepiece of the programme has been the transnational distribution of European films. German distributors received €39 million in order to release European movies such as Melancholia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lars von Trier
film profile] by Lars von Trier, The King's Speech [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tom Hooper
film profile] by Tom Hooper and Le Havre [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aki Kaurismäki
film profile] by Aki Kaurismäki – but also smaller productions such as Ulrich Seidl's Paradise [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] trilogy. The MEDIA logo can be seen in countless closing credits.

German producers received €32 million for the development and financing of international projects like Hannah Arendt [+see also:
trailer
interview: Margarethe von Trotta
film profile] by Margarethe von Trotta, Edgar Reitz's cinematic epic Home from Home – Chronicle of a Vision [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and the animated children's movie Raven the Little Rascal [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Ute von Münchow-Pohl and Sandor Jesse. But professional development is also a big issue in Germany. MEDIA pumped €10.4 million into more than 50 training initiatives in the country, which is equal to 18% of the whole training budget – above the average level for Europe.

Germany is also in pole position when it comes to technical innovations. A total of 45% of the MEDIA support for new technologies was dedicated to German projects. Further funding measures include the support of festivals, promotion initiatives, VoD platforms and the digitisation of cinemas. Besides the €111 million, a further €12.6 million were invested in theatrical infrastructure in Germany over the last seven years: the Europa Cinemas network is continuously growing in the country and currently comprises 312 screens.

MEDIA has been continued within the Creative Europe programme since January. More details on the funding results are available at the Creative Europe Desk in Germany.