Cinema funding to undergo changes under Weimer's leadership
Germany's Cinema Funding to Undergo Reform in 2026
In a bid to modernize cinema funding and boost domestic film production, Germany's Culture State Minister, Wolfram Weimer, has announced plans to reform federal film funding. The reform is in response to questions from Green culture politician Sven Lehmann, who has been advocating for funding and support for approximately 1,700 cinemas nationwide.
Weimer has emphasized that the government plans to continue funding cinemas from the budget of the Culture State Minister. However, there is no commitment yet regarding the continuation of the Zukunftsprogramm, a scheme that provided funding to 157 cinemas in 2024, primarily supporting cinemas in smaller towns with investments totaling ten million euros.
Lehmann, as the chairman of the Culture Committee in the Bundestag, has urged the Culture State Minister to make cinema funding a top priority. He has expressed concern that cinemas are being overlooked in the allocation of additional funds, especially considering that many cinemas are experiencing a decline in ticket sales and revenues.
The reform aims to build an efficient cinema funding system, with a new reference funding designed to strengthen programming work. However, the exact amounts of funding available from 2026 have not been revealed by Weimer. A study suggests that cinemas should invest 112 million euros annually for updates like new projectors or screens.
The reform also aims to abolish double funding structures. Starting in 2026, Germany's cinema funding will see an increase in investment through enhanced production incentive programs. These include a 30% rebate on eligible German production costs for films and high-end series, as amended in the German Film Law effective January 1, 2025, with the new rate applying to projects approved from February 1, 2025.
This increase in production incentives is part of broader government efforts to modernize infrastructure and cultural sectors under Germany's 2026 budget plan, which features record investment spending. Although specific funding details for traditional cinemas nationwide are not explicitly outlined, this increase in production incentives is expected to promote more domestic content creation and potentially boost cinema attendance with new releases.
However, it's important to note that there is no explicit mention of direct funding changes specifically targeted at physical cinemas in the sources provided. Lehmann has warned of a potential "cinema death" in the coming years, which could have dramatic consequences for the film location Germany and cultural diversity.
In conclusion, while the reform aims to modernize cinema funding, it does not address the current decline in revenues for cinemas in Germany. The answers regarding the reform are in possession of the German Press Agency.
- The reform in Germany's cinema funding system in 2026 aims to increase investment through enhanced production incentive programs, not only for films but also for high-end series.
- In the midst of Germany's 2026 budget plan, which features record investment spending, the reform also includes a 30% rebate on eligible German production costs for films and series, as amended in the German Film Law.
- Despite the modernization of cinema funding, other sectors of the entertainment industry, such as sports, business, finance, and lifestyle, may benefit from the record investment spending in Germany's 2026 budget plan, potentially offering new opportunities and partnerships for cinemas.
