FAQ - Frequently Ask Questions

What kinds of film production does HessenInvestFilm support?

HessenInvestFilm supports economically interesting film productions. Funding is granted to German and International feature films that promise to be commercially successful. Producers can receive funding for all genres of film – whether drama, animation, documentary, children’s, arthouse or mainstream.

Can I receiving funding for my project from HessenInvestFilm if I am a non-German producer?

If you are a non-German producer, however, it would be advisable to find a coproduction partner in Germany that meets your requirements, although that partner need not necessarily be based in Hessen. There are many examples of co-financed international productions, including Tropical Malady by Apichatpong Weeraseethakui, Valley of Flowers by Pan Nalin, The last Trapper by Nicolas Vanier, 29 Palms by Bruno Dumont and Alone in the Dark by Uwe Boll.

What are the minimum requirements for an application?

An application should include the screenplay, a cast and crew list, a costing, a financing plan and a breakdown of the expenditure in Hessen. A distribution contract or, at least, a binding memorandum and a recoupment plan must also be submitted. HessenInvestFilm also expects the producer to assume a reasonable personal risk. Furthermore, the regional effect in Hessen should be at least 100% of the financial contribution. That means that 100% of the loan must be spent in the region of Hessen. There are various possibilities: the producer can shoot the film in Hessen (Hessen offers a huge variety of beautiful and interesting film locations) and/or carry out postproduction in Hessen (it offers a large number of postproduction companies, digital visual effects and sound studios, and advertising agencies).
HessenInvestFilm can support the production and postproduction of a film. We do not support scriptwriting, development, preproduction or distribution.

What level of funding is available and how is it distributed?

The upper limit for any loan is a maximum of 1 million euros; however, contingent on the other resources invested, the sum may not exceed 50% of the total project costs. The loan shall be subject to interest of 2% during the loan period. Interest shall be payable irrespective of the project’s success.
In the case of bridging loans, interest of 6% shall be payable. Until the disbursement of the loan, interest rates can be agreed on a floating rate basis.
The lender shall have a claim to profits after repayment of the loan.

How long does financing last

The loan period is adapted to the length of the project.

What else do I need to bear in mind

Combination with other financing measures by film funds of the Länder, Federal Government and the European Union is possible. As a rule, total financing from this programme and from public funds shall not exceed 50% of the total costs of the project. In the case of difficult productions and those produced with limited means, the share of public funding can amount to up to 75%.

Where should I submit my application?

Please send your questions and applications to:

Wirtschafts- und Infrastrukturbank Hessen
Rechtlich unselbstständige Anstalt in der Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen
HessenInvestFilm
Strahlenbergerstr. 11
D-63067 Offenbach
Germany
Tel.: +49 69 9132-03

The written guidelines for the HessenInvestFilm are also available on this webpage.