Animation Production Funding

Funding is provided for professional animation projects for film and television series formats.

Producers are eligible to apply. For international projects, a German co-producer is required.

At least 1.5 times the amount of funding granted must be spent in North Rhine-Westphalia.

For feature films, up to 50% of the costs are generally eligible for funding; the funding is provided as a conditionally repayable, interest-free loan.

Compliance with the environmental standards for production funding of films and series is mandatory.

A consultation is required before submitting an application; access to the application portal will only be granted after the consultation.

For international projects, a German co-producer is required.

Low-budget animated films are funded under the Simplified Funding program.

Producers, directors, and distributors headquartered in North Rhine-Westphalia are eligible to apply.

Funding is provided for culturally sophisticated projects that do not have to be commercially exploited from the outset.

Total expenditures may not exceed 1.5 million euros. The grant amounts to a maximum of 80% of the calculated total costs.

For feature-length film productions, up to 100,000 euros is available. At least 5% of the estimated costs must be covered by the applicant’s own funds.

Students are not eligible to apply; a separate graduation film grant is available for them.

Projects that have already been submitted under the regular funding program and rejected cannot be resubmitted under the Simplified Funding Program.

As a general rule, the project may not begin until after the application has been submitted.

The ecological standards are mandatory; exceptions include, among others, productions with a production value of less than 50,000 euros.