On November 12, 2025, in its tenth session, the Ausschuss für Kultur und Medien (Committee on Cultural and Media Affairs) of the German Bundestag addressed the topic “Film Location Germany: Film Funding, Cinema Support, and Film Heritage” (“Filmstandort Deutschland: Filmförderung, Kinoförderung, Filmerbe“) in a public expert discussion. The session took place at the Paul-Löbe-Haus in Berlin and was broadcast live on the parliamentary TV channel at www.bundestag.de. The discussion focused on the question of a legal investment obligation.
Among the speakers were, among others, Dr. Christian Bräuer (AG Kino ‒ Gilde deutscher Filmkunsttheater), Michelle Müntefering (Allianz Deutscher Produzentinnen und Produzenten ‒ Film, Fernsehen und Audiovisuelle Medien (Produktionsallianz)), Prof. Dr. Jens-Ole Schröder (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD) und Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Dr. Wolf Osthaus (Bitkom ‒ Bundesverband Informationswirtschaft, Telekommunikation und neue Medien), Carolin Lindenmaier (HDF KINO ‒ Hauptverband Deutscher Filmtheater), Peter Schauerte (SPIO ‒ Spitzenorganisation der Filmwirtschaft), Daniela Beaujean (VAUNET ‒ Verband Privater Medien), Matthias von Fintel (ver.di ‒ Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft), Peter Dinges (Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) and for the Federal Government, Minister of State Dr. Wolfram Weimer (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media).
Michelle Müntefering (Allianz Deutscher Produzentinnen und Produzenten ‒ Film, Fernsehen und Audiovisuelle Medien (Produktionsallianz): “Our film industry is shaped by small, medium-sized, and independent companies – and these companies are world-class. They have world-class potential. But the framework conditions we have in Germany are not. We have the opportunity for production companies, as a growth sector, to become global players. And, by the way, we work with people and for people. A legal investment obligation with retained rights strengthens precisely this structure. It reinforces the structure of independent and medium-sized companies. Voluntary declarations of intent tend to fuel the trend toward market concentration. As a result, our German companies risk becoming extended workbenches for foreign clients. All federal states also benefit from a legal obligation. We don’t want a production hub where German companies function merely as a workbench, we want films from Munich. We want major cinema from Babelsberg, entertainment from Cologne, animation from Stuttgart, documentaries from East to West. And a law can provide the framework for that.” (Translation, German version)
The session can be watched online at: https://dbtg.tv/cvid/7643792 (Michelle Müntefering starting at min. 32:35)
Information about the Ausschuss für Kultur und Medien and materials from the session: https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2025/kw46-pa-kultur-medien-1117590
