# Germany Film Funding: DFFF and GMPF 30% Grants in 2026

Source: https://storiara.com/incentives/germany
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Charles Hirschhorn, Storiara

> Germany's main production incentives are grants, not tax credits. The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF I) pays 30% of eligible German production costs up to €5 million per film. DFFF II pays 30% up to €25 million for large productions using German service providers. The German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) pays up to 30% for films and series. All three stopped taking 2026 applications on 20 August 2026, with 2027 applications expected from November 2026.

The most important fact for anyone budgeting a German shoot today is the date. On 20 August 2026 the FFA closed applications for projects starting production in 2026, because the year's DFFF and GMPF money was committed. If your start date is this year, federal incentive money is off the table. If it's 2027, the FFA expects to open applications in November 2026.

## Three programs, one rate

| Program | Who applies | Rate | Cap | Size test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFFF I | Producers and co-producers | 30% of eligible German costs | €5 million per film | Total costs of €1m (feature), €200,000 (documentary), €2m (animation) |
| DFFF II | Production service companies | 30% of eligible German costs | €25 million per project | €20m total budget and €8m of German costs |
| GMPF | German-based producers of films and series | Up to 30% of eligible German costs | €5m per film, €20m per season | Set in the GMPF guidelines |

The flat 30% applies to projects starting production on or after 1 February 2025. Before that, DFFF I paid 20% or 25% depending on German spend, with a €4 million cap.

DFFF II has its own experience test. The service company generally needs to have handled two films with budgets of €10 million or more in the past five years, or produced one itself. The 2026 allocation for DFFF II was €30 million, and GMPF's was also €30 million.

## What 30% looks like on real budgets

A €1,000,000 German feature with €800,000 of eligible German production costs:

- Size test: total costs of €1,000,000 meet the €1 million feature minimum
- Grant: €800,000 x 0.30 = €240,000

A €5,000,000 international co-production with €4,000,000 spent in Germany:

- German share: €4,000,000 / €5,000,000 = 80%, well over the 25% minimum
- Grant: €4,000,000 x 0.30 = €1,200,000, under the €5 million cap

A €25,000,000 US feature using a Berlin studio as service provider, with €10,000,000 of German costs, under DFFF II:

- Size tests: €25 million budget is over €20 million, €10 million of German costs is over €8 million
- Grant: €10,000,000 x 0.30 = €3,000,000

## Applying

1. Pass the cultural test. It scores narrative, crew, and production elements, and a project that fails doesn't reach the money questions. The [cultural test](https://storiara.com/glossary/cultural-test) entry and our [guide to international cultural tests](https://storiara.com/blog/the-cultural-test-how-to-qualify-for-international-film-incentives) cover how these points systems are built.
2. Get financing in place. GMPF wants 45% of financing closed at application and 65% at approval, and DFFF I now asks for 45% at application.
3. Submit through the FFA Service Portal at least six weeks before production starts. DFFF I and GMPF moved to the portal on 22 July 2026.
4. Keep German costs coded separately in the [cost report](https://storiara.com/glossary/cost-report). The grant is calculated on eligible German production costs, so clean coding from prep saves arguments at the end.

## Watch-outs for 2027 planning

The 2026 budget was gone by 20 August, and applications are handled as they arrive. A project that files late in the 2027 cycle risks the same result, so build the finance plan with a fallback.

The six-week rule is a minimum. Filing six weeks out leaves no time to fix a cultural test problem.

For international co-productions under DFFF I, the German financing share including the grant must reach 20%. A German co-producer with a token stake won't get there.

Germany's state-level film funds are separate from the federal programs and set their own rules, so check each one before assuming it stacks. On an official co-production, the [co-production treaty](https://storiara.com/glossary/co-production-treaty) decides how the German share is counted, which feeds straight into the 25% spend and 20% financing tests.

## What changes next

On 27 May 2026 the federal cabinet approved what it calls the Filmbooster: €250 million a year for economic film funding, which the government describes as nearly double the previous amount. The same package includes a draft law (MedienInvestVG) requiring streamers and broadcasters to invest at least 8% of annual revenue in German production, with more flexibility for companies investing 12% or more. The announcement doesn't set out new rates or caps for DFFF or GMPF, so treat 30% as the planning figure until the FFA publishes 2027 guidelines.

## Neighbors worth pricing

The [Czech Republic](https://storiara.com/incentives/czech-republic) pays 25% on live action (35% on animation) with year-round applications. [Poland](https://storiara.com/incentives/poland) pays 30% up to PLN 15 million per project. [France](https://storiara.com/incentives/france) offers 30% to international productions, 40% with the VFX bonus, and Film France lists no annual cap on it. All three are worth pricing for a 2026 start that missed the German window. The [incentives hub](https://storiara.com/incentives) lists every option, and [why productions shoot overseas](https://storiara.com/blog/tax-incentives-and-global-film-production-why-shoot-overseas) covers the bigger picture.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I still apply for DFFF funding for a 2026 shoot?

No. On 20 August 2026 the FFA announced that the 2026 application volume for DFFF and GMPF was exhausted. Applications for projects starting production in 2027 are expected to open in November 2026.

### What is the difference between DFFF I, DFFF II, and GMPF?

DFFF I is for producers and co-producers of feature films, capped at €5 million. DFFF II is for production service companies working on productions of €20 million or more, capped at €25 million. GMPF covers films and series from producers based in Germany, with caps of €5 million per film and €20 million per season.

### Is the German incentive a tax credit?

No. DFFF and GMPF are federal grants administered by the FFA and paid in installments against eligible German production costs. No tax return is involved.

### What is the German Filmbooster?

On 27 May 2026 the federal cabinet approved a package that sets aside €250 million a year for economic film funding and a draft law requiring streamers and broadcasters to invest at least 8% of annual revenue in German production.

## Sources

- [FFA: DFFF I](https://www.ffa.de/dfff-i.html)
- [FFA: DFFF II](https://www.ffa.de/dfff-ii.html)
- [FFA: German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF)](https://www.ffa.de/german-motion-picture-fund-gmpf.html)
- [FFA: DFFF overview and 2026 budget notice](https://www.ffa.de/dfff-home.html)
- [Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media: Investitionspakt und Filmbooster gehen an den Start (27 May 2026)](https://www.kulturstaatsminister.de/investitionspakt-und-filmbooster-gehen-an-den-start)
- [Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media: Deutscher Filmförderfonds](https://www.kulturstaatsminister.de/film-und-medien/wirtschaftliche-filmfoerderung/deutscher-filmfoerderfonds)