Jury-Based Cultural Production Funding for Short Films
Nationwide funding for the production of outstanding short films (max. 30 min.) with grants of up to €40,000; applications accepted only by specified deadlines (e.g., 02/10/2026, 08/25/2026).
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
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for the production of culturally significant German short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes through non-repayable grants.
Eligible expenses
- Rights and manuscript
- Fees (actors, crew)
- Equipment and technology
- Travel and transportation costs
- Insurances
- Show more
Non-eligible expenses
- University or exercise films
- Costs incurred before the application submission or before the grant approval (without prior authorization of the measure)
Eligible to apply
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Producers of short films
- Proof of significant German cultural influence (e.g., original language German or German nationality/residence of the main participants)
- At least two previous feature-length films or short films as references
- Residence or business location in Germany or establishment in Germany for EU/EEA-based entities
Documents required for application
- Detailed cover letter
- Summary (max. 1,000 characters)
- Synopsis
- Script in German
- Proof of filming rights
- Crew and cast list
- Filmography of authors, director, cinematographer, and producer
- Shooting schedule and details on shooting period/location
- Industry-standard budget
- Financing plan with supporting documents
Evaluation criteria
- Artistic and creative quality
- Significant German cultural influence
- Diversity and inclusion
- Economic plausibility of the calculation
Description
The jury-based cultural production funding for short films by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Germany or with an EU/EFTA branch. It supports the production of artistically ambitious German short films with a maximum running time of 30 minutes. Funding is provided for productions that demonstrate a significant German cultural influence – for example, through the original language being German or the German nationality or residence of the main participants. Eligibility to apply requires, in addition to proof of cultural influence, the successful completion of at least two feature-length films or short films as references. Eligible project costs include rights and script, fees for actors and crew, set design and technical equipment, travel and transport costs, insurance, as well as administrative costs (up to a maximum of 15% of production costs).
Non-repayable grants of up to €40,000 per short film can be applied for, with a funding rate of up to 50% of eligible expenses. Applications must always be submitted by the deadlines; dates for 2026 are: 10.02.2026 and 25.08.2026 (short film production), 15.01.2026 and 01.09.2026 (children’s short film). A jury convenes twice a year and evaluates projects based on artistic-creative quality, cultural influence, diversity and inclusion, as well as economic plausibility. Submission via the FFA service portal requires, among other documents, a compelling cover letter, short synopsis and detailed synopsis, screenplay, proof of filming rights, crew and cast list, filmographies of key departments, as well as an industry-standard budget and financing plan. This funding offers producers the opportunity to realize innovative short films with a clear cultural reference and to gain visibility within the German cinema festival system.
Ready to secure your funding?
Register now and let our AI guide you through the application process – from eligibility check to finished application.