Back to overview
Grant

Promotion of the Digitization of the German Film Heritage within the Framework of the Film Funding Act 2025

Nationwide funding for the digitization of short and feature films of the German film heritage with non-repayable grants of up to €40,000 per film (usually 20% own contribution). Applications can be submitted continuously; deadlines for curatorial and conservation interest (e.g., 12.08.2025).

Discover your potential with AI support

  • Find out if this grant matches your project
  • Develop your application together with AI
  • Get matched with many more suitable grants
Register now Already registered? Sign in

Grant criteria

Application Deadline: Ongoing
Application level: Advanced
Company size: Microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Funding amount: up to €40,000 per film
Funding rate: max. 80 %
Project duration: 12 months

Funding objective

Preservation and digitization of films of special film-historical, documentary, or artistic value for public accessibility, archiving, and collection security.

Eligible expenses

  • Digitization costs
  • Restoration costs
  • Costs for accessible version
  • Personnel expenses
  • Technical appraisal costs
  • Show more

Eligible to apply

  • Companies
  • Individuals

Funding requirements

  • Residence or business location in Germany or domestic establishment
  • Ownership of rights or possession of the original material
  • Proof of consent from rights holders in case of third-party possession
  • For conservation interest: technical material assessment
  • Own contribution of at least 20% (exception: conservation interest)

Documents required for application

  1. Excerpt from commercial or association register
  2. Proof of rights or ownership confirmation
  3. BAFA certificate or certificate of origin
  4. Evaluation concept
  5. Proof of material hazard (if applicable)
  6. Proof of festival participation, nominations, and awards (if applicable)
  7. Cost estimates for digitization, restoration, accessible version
  8. Proof of own funds
  9. Proof of external funds (if applicable)

Evaluation criteria

  • Quality of the evaluation concept
  • Film-historical significance and added value for the German film heritage
  • Proof of material endangerment (in case of conservation interest)
  • Order of receipt of the application

Description

The nationwide initiative promotes the digitization of short and feature films of the German film heritage and supports companies as well as private individuals with non-repayable grants of up to €40,000 per film. A minimum co-financing share of 20% is generally expected, with exceptions made in cases of purely conservation-related necessity. Eligible to apply are rights holders or owners of the original material as well as – within the scope of conservation measures – recognized film heritage institutions and archives. Ongoing submissions are possible; fixed deadlines apply for curatorial and conservation interests, for example August 12, 2025. The goal is to make works of particular film-historical, documentary, or artistic value permanently accessible to the public, professionally archive them, and secure them for future generations.

All expenses directly related to the digital transfer are eligible for funding, such as digitization costs, restoration, accessible versions, personnel expenses, technical material inspections, as well as archiving and documentation efforts. A detailed exploitation concept or proof of urgent material endangerment is required. Selection is based on the elaboration of the concept, the film-historical significance, proof of material risks, and the order of application receipt. The project duration is up to 12 months, with a maximum funding rate of 80%. Interested applicants can find all documents and information in the funding guidelines of the Film Funding Agency and can start the funding application at any time via the FFA service portal.

Start application →