Two Film Funds under One Umbrella

The Cultural Film Fund of the State of Hessen (HFF-Land) and the Hessischer Rundfunk Film Fund (HFF-hr) have been working together closely since 1997. Whether you are looking for help with project development, financing or screening, the joint Executive Office of the Hessen Film Fund (HFF) is a reliable partner for film-makers and cinema operators.

With the aid of a budget of some 2.1 million euros, we attempt to bridge the gap between film as a cultural and commercial good. Our primary focus is artistic quality and topical relevance. Giving interesting films a chance is our goal. In the process, we place great emphasis on a clear and promising commercial strategy.

For more than 20 years now, we have been supporting the adventurous and the interesting, the innovative and the experimental. Our distinctly cultural profile, which combines internationality with firm roots in the region and a distinctive style, has prepared the ground for a fertile film and cinema landscape in Hessen.

The Executive Office at the Bertramshof of the Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) – headed by Managing Director Maria Wismeth and Co-Director Dr. Verena Metze-Mangold – represents a cultural lighthouse in Germany's federally organized funding system. Small, but highly influential, Hessen's profile bears successful fruit.

Venturing into new territory; challenging, provoking and amusing audiences; fostering adventurous film-makers and cinema-operators; and providing economic support for the Rhine-Main media location – all of these must be possible at the same time if you want to sustain a diverse film and cinema landscape.

Fresh Impetus for the Film and Cinema Scene in Hessen

Hessen is a state with a large number of small, energetic firms operating in the dynamic world of cinema, television, advertising and the Internet. The Rhine-Main region is definitely one of Europe's premier addresses in the field of postproduction. Made-to-order productions are regularly produced not only for public-service broadcasters, but also for commercial stations. A large number of independent film-makers and artists are based in Hessen.

We get new projects moving by providing not only financial backing, but also a great deal of information, communication and networking. That makes possible films that imaginatively stand out against the mainstream. A dynamic documentary film scene has thus established itself in Hessen that is acknowledged far beyond its borders. Innovative low-budget feature films are regularly produced for the cinema. We also contribute towards financially more ambitious feature and documentary film projects that require the backing of several states and institutions.

Distribution support enables Hessen to market films that were produced in the state and to put copies of outstanding films in the cinemas.

Screening support goes even further – embracing Hessen’s cinema and festival culture. An independent jury meets twice a year to support festivals, film series, screening circles, individual programmes, and events organized by cinemas in Hessen. Funding is currently awarded to 11 festivals that present productions from all over the world, thereby helping to make the state a lively centre of film culture. Hessen's film festivals cover the entire spectrum of cinematic art: from regional to international, from Japan and the "Wild East" to America's independents, and also including shorts, documentaries and children's films.

Communication Hub

As a communication centre and source of new ideas for structural measures, we have extended our traditional field of activity. Within the media policy context, we play an active part in the public debate on the thematic and commercial aspects of film production. We advise on financing opportunities at the national and international levels, accompany projects through to completion, organize premieres and establish contacts.

Hessen Film Commission / FrankfurtRheinMain Film Commission makes locations easily accessible to producers who want to film in Hessen. An online database enables you to find information on the specialist know-how required in filming and receive personal advice on production locations.

For a number of years we have also been increasingly involved in the areas of content development and training. Our partner, DrehbuchCamp in Wiesbaden and Freiburg, organizes workshops and seminars twice a year. We facilitate participation in courses on screenplay development and production with scholarships, which are awarded within the framework of a regular application for support to the HFF. The range of courses offered by DrehbuchCamp constitutes a curriculum. (All the courses can also be booked singly.) The curriculum can be completed through part-time study within a period of three years and is recognized with a qualification.

The Hessen Film and Cinema Prize
The Hessen Television Prize

Another central pillar of the Hessen's film and cinema industry is the annually awarded Hessen Film and Cinema Prize and the Hessen Television Prize. The Executive Office of the HFF accepts applications in the following categories: Hessen Film Prize, Hessen Student Film Prize, Hessen Cinema Prize, Hessen Film Art Prize, Hessen Screenplay Prize, and Hessen Television Prize. A connection with Hessen is required for applications in all categories.