International Co-Productions: nordmedia Funding Regulations
Interested in international co-productions? Here is our essentials guide to funding regulations for international co-producers:
Who we are:
Founded in 2001, nordmedia is the regional film- and media-funding institution for the federal states Lower Saxony and Bremen in Germany’s north-west. The main shareholders are the federal states Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) and Bremen and the public TV broadcasters NDR and Radio Bremen. The ZDF (Second German Television), another public service tv broadcaster, acts as a partner, contributing also to nordmedia´s annual funding budget of approx. 11 Mio. Euro.
What we do:
Focusing on economic viability and culture, nordmedia funds all phases of film production: From development and preproduction through shooting to sales and distribution. From fiction to documentary, short film to series - we support them all!
How to get nordmedia regional funding:
- A German co-producer is a formal requirement: Only a German co-producer shall apply for funding.
- Usually, funding is limited up to 60 % of the expected German production costs.
- The German producer has to provide an own investment of 5 - 10 % of his share of his budget.
- Funding is usually provided as interest free soft loans, repayable in case of box office success or other kind of revenues.
- German film financing structures allow a combination of funding from national and one or more regional film funds which can be combined in various ways.
- Funding decisions are made by a jury and are based on the nordmedia funding guideline, approved by the European Union which provides our legal framework. For more details please have a look at the guideline .
Regional spend:
Film projects have to spend money in the region in order to be eligible for nordmedia regional funding: Producers are expected to spend 150 % of the granted funding in the film and media industry of Lower Saxony and/or Bremen. A lower spend can exceptionally be approved, if requirements of the subject or technical issues are indispensable or would cause disproportionate expenditure.
Ecological Standards für German Cinema, TV, and Online VoD Productions
The ecological standards are a set of jointly established requirements for film productions and are a basis for funding requirements in the framework of state and federal funding. Additionally, there is an option of receiving the green motion label upon fulfillment of the ecological standards. For further information, please head to the website of the workgroup "Green Shooting".
Important dates: Jury
Three times a year our jury meets to decide about the applications we have received thus far. You do not want to miss your opportunity to apply for funding? Then make sure that your co-production partner hands in the application before the deadline to be taken into consideration for the next committee meeting:
Jury meeting I: March 13th 2024 (Application deadline: January 8th 2024)
Jury meeting II: June 26th 2024 (Application deadline: April 18th 2024)
Jury meeting III: November 13th 2024 (Application deadline August 29th 2024)
Book your online-consultation now:
For further advice, please contact Petra Schleuning, Head of Funding, to schedule a consultation. We are looking forward to meeting you and discussing your options!
Your contact: Petra Schleuning, E-Mail p.schleuning@nordmedia.de
Film Commission:
You need support finding suitable film locations, equipment or team members in Lower Saxony and/or Bremen? Then do not hesitate to contact our Film Commission. We offer comprehensive services with a strong network of local industry experts and supportive local government executives, who are looking forward to assist you in your endeavours!
On our website helpful service tools such as the Location Guide or the team database mediahub will provide you with the details needed for your next project!
Your contact: Susanne Lange, E-Mail s.lange@nordmedia.de
Focus Germany:
Focus Germany is the umbrella brand of eight German regional film funds, supplying the details on the respective funding programmes and their film industry infrastructures. On the website (focusgermany.de) you can find a list of potential co-producing partners in every region.
Production facilities - State of the Art
We’ve got what you need: state of the art VFX and animation companies, excellent post production facilities, creative crew and wild animals. You’ll find a list of all relevant service providers, facilities and companies for download.