Berlinale: WCF Profile


World Cinema Fund

Deadlines

  • Production funding: Feb 27, 2014
  • Applications for distribution funding support can be submitted continually.

Uroki Garmonii (Harmony Lessons) by Emir Baigazin

Together with the Federal Foundation for Culture and in cooperation with the Goethe Institut, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Deutsche Welle / DW Academy, the Foreign Ministry and German producers, the World Cinema Fund works to develop and support cinema in regions with a weak film infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas. The World Cinema Fund supports films that could not be made without additional funding: films that stand out with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an authentic image of their cultural roots.

The World Cinema Fund has an annual budget of approximately 400,000 EUR and supports exclusively the production and distribution of feature films and feature-length documentaries. The support is focused on the following regions: Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus.

Please note:
You can find detailed information, downloads of the guidelines, forms and more on the page Guidelines, Forms & Deadlines as well as on the FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions page.

Funding amounts and required documents:

Funding amounts

  • Maximum funding: 100,000 EUR per project
  • The total production costs of the supported projects should lie between 200,000 EUR and 1,000,000 EUR
  • The funding must be spent on the production of the film in the aforementioned regions

Required documents

  • Completed application form
  • Two-page synopsis
  • Script in English or French (in the case of documentary films, an in-depth treatment and a detailed outline of the visual concept suffice)
  • Director’s statement and a description of the director’s visual concept
  • The director’s CV
  • The writer’s CV
  • Profile/filmography of the production company/ies
  • Proof of rights ownership
  • Detailed budget in euros
  • A financial plan in euros and copies of co-production contracts if applicable
  • Rights clearance
  • The director’s previous films on DVD

Funding amount

  • Maximum funding: 15,000 EUR
  • Only German distributors may apply
  • Support is provided for the distribution of films from Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus

Required documents

  • Completed application form
  • Two-pages synopsis
  • Distribution Company Profile
  • Description of Distribution Strategy
  • Detailed Distribution Budget
  • Financing Plan and Recoupment Schedule
  • Financial Agreements and/or letters of intent from financing partners
  • Final Cut on DVD(in English or French or with English or French subtitles)
  • El Premio by Paula Markovitch, Mexico (German Partner: NiKo Films)
    Berlin International Film Festival 2011, Competition
    Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in the Category Production Design and Camera 2011
  • Girimunho by Clarissa Campolina and Helvécio Marins jun., Brazil (German Partner: Autentika Film):
    Venice International Film Festival 2011
  • Post Mortem by Pablo Larraín, Chile (German Partner: Autentika Film):
    Venice International Film Festival 2010, Official Competition
  • Faro – La Reine des Eaux, Salif Traoré, Mali (German partner: Bärbel Mauch Film):
    Berlin International Film Festival 2007, Forum
  • Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand (German Partner: The Match Factory):
    Cannes International Film Festival 2010, Golden Palm
  • Ajami by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Israel/Palestine. (German Partner: Twenty Twenty Vision):
    Cannes International Film Festival 2009, Quinzaine des Réalisateurs: Camera d’Or - Special Distinction,
    Oscar nomination 2010
  • The Milk of Sorrow by Claudia Llosa, Peru (German Partner: The Match Factory):
    Berlin International Film Festival 2009, Competition, Golden Bear
    Oscar nomination 2010
  • Paradise Now by Hany Abu-Assad, Netherlands/France/Germany (German Partner: Razor Film):
    Berlin International Film Festival 2005, Competition
    Winner of Golden Globe 2006
    Oscar nomination 2006
    Sold to 60 countries
  • Silent Light by Carlos Reygadas, Mexico (German Partner: The Match Factory)
    Cannes International Film Festival 2007
    Winner of the Jury Award
  • Hamaca Paraguaya by Paz Encina, Paraguay (German Partner: Black Forest Films)
    Cannes International Film Festival 2006, Un Certain Regard
    Special Mention and FIPRESCI Award
  • Pandora's Box by Yesim Ustaoglu, Turkey (German Partner: The Match Factory):
    Toronto International Film festival 2008, Visions
    Golden Shell for Best Film, San Sebastián Film Festival 2008
  • The Hunter by Rafi Pitts, Iran (German Partner: Twenty Twenty Vision)
    Berlin International Film Festival 2010, Competition
  • Independencia by Raya Martin, Philippines (German partner: Razor Film):
    Cannes International Film Festival 2009, Un Certain Regard

You will find more information on these and earlier WCF-funded projects under Funded Production Projects and Funded Distribution Projects.


The World Cinema Fund is an initiative of the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the Berlin International Film Festival, funded by the Federal Government Comissioner for Culture and the Media, in cooperation with the Goethe Institute and with the support of the Federal Foreign Office.

Contact

Project Management
Sonja Heinen

Vincenzo Bugno

Office Management
Isona Admetlla
 

Administration Assistant - Funded Projects
Antje Glawe

Potsdamer Str. 5
10785 Berlin
phone +49 30 25920-516
fax +49 30 25920-529