Cinema financing to undergo shift under Weimer's administration
Modernizing Cinema Funding in Germany: A New Film Law and Ongoing Debate
Germany is set to modernize its cinema funding system with the enactment of a new film law, effective from January 1, 2026. The reform aims to consolidate funding programs, eliminate redundant double funding, and significantly increase support for film production incentives to foster a more efficient and competitive national film industry.
The current Culture State Minister, Wolfram Weimer, has not confirmed whether the Zukunftsprogramm Kino will continue for another term. However, Weimer has expressed his intention to continue funding cinemas from his budget. The Zukunftsprogramm Kino, launched under Culture State Minister Claudia Roth (Greens) in 2024, provided funding to 157 cinemas across Germany.
The new law is part of Germany’s broader cultural and economic policy adjustments, emphasizing modernization and investment in key sectors including culture and media. Sven Lehmann, chairman of the Culture Committee in the Bundestag, has called on the Culture State Minister to make cinema funding a top priority. Lehmann's concerns highlight the ongoing struggle of many cinemas with a decline in ticket sales and revenues.
The goal of the new funding is to encourage the presentation of more German, European, and culturally demanding films. Lehmann has criticized that cinemas are still left empty-handed in the allocation of additional funds, despite an increase in film funding. He warns that if the federal government does not act quickly, a cinema death threatens in the coming years.
Key proposed changes include a major restructuring of national film funding infrastructure, simplifying and consolidating various funding bodies and programs into a clearer, more unified system. The new law also includes a significant increase in the budget for production incentive programs, with funding doubling from around €133 million annually to €250 million starting in 2026 and continuing through 2029.
According to a study, cinemas should invest 112 million euros annually, for example for new projectors or screens. The government plans to continue funding cinemas from the budget of the Culture State Minister, but the specifics regarding the Zukunftsprogramm Kino are unclear. The reform's ultimate goal is to abolish double funding structures and build an efficient cinema funding system that avoids overlapping financial support from multiple sources, which has been criticized for inefficiency.
The new law comes into effect on January 1, 2026, marking a formal legislative milestone in this funding reform process. The reform is expected to have dramatic consequences for the film location Germany and our cultural diversity, according to Lehmann. The changes are set to reshape the German film industry, with a focus on increasing efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness.
- The reform in Germany's cinema funding system, starting from 2026, is part of a broader economic policy that also targets investment in key sectors such as finance, business, and general-news.
- The chairman of the Culture Committee in the Bundestag, Sven Lehmann, has emphasized the importance of cinema funding in the context of ongoing debates about the struggles of cinemas with declining ticket sales and revenues, which can be associated with lifestyle and consumer trends.
- The new film law aims to modernize the national film funding infrastructure, making it more transparent and efficient, a change that can impact not only the film industry, but also the finance industry through potential increased investments in film production incentives.
