Documentary Treatment Funding

Creative Development supports the development of documentary projects—from the initial idea to a fully developed treatment.

Is this grant right for me?

First, please check whether you meet the funding criteria. The treatment grant is intended for writers and filmmakers who wish to further develop a documentary concept into a detailed treatment. Applications are typically submitted in collaboration with a production company; however, under certain conditions, experienced writers and filmmakers may also apply without a production company.

Funding Criteria for Creative Development Treatment Funding

Funding for treatment and research in Stage 2 of Creative Development based on a previously developed synopsis.

  • Fictional Material

    Funding is provided for the further development of fictional material from an exposé to a treatment as part of Creative Development.

  • Exposé as a Starting Point

    The starting point is an already developed synopsis; funding is provided for the development of the treatment and further research.

  • Authors and Producers

    Writers and filmmakers generally submit applications together with producers who have their headquarters, place of business, or branch office in Germany.

  • 15,000 euros in funding

    For treatment funding in Stage 2, applicants may apply for 15,000 euros. Funding is generally provided as a grant.

  • Secured Development Rights

    If the application is submitted with a producer, at least one option agreement regarding the development of the project must be in place.

  • Missing Consultation

    A consultation is required prior to submitting the application in Stage 2; the request must be made well in advance of the submission deadline.

  • No comparable parallel funding

    Creative Development projects cannot be submitted simultaneously under a comparable funding category of the Film and Media Foundation.

  • No automatic follow-up funding

    Funding in Stage 2 does not guarantee funding in Stage 3; the next stage must be applied for separately.

Service Center

Download Level 2 Treatment Funding Documentation (pdf, 70,58 KB ) Download Level 2 Treatment Grant: Fiction (pdf, 68,27 KB ) Download Stufenmodell Creative Development (pdf, 75,75 KB ) Download Merkblatt zu Prüfgebühren der Pw C (pdf, 11,83 KB ) Download Ansprechpartner Innen der PWC (pdf, 378,71 KB )

Application Documents

Go to the application portal →
  • One-pager with logline, synopsis, genre, format, and USP
  • Treatment of the documentary film project
  • Writer’s Note
  • Producer’s Note
  • Filmography/Resume of the Writer or Filmmaker
  • Production filmography
  • Proof of rights to the material or option agreement
  • Extract from the Commercial Register, Business Registration, or Proof of Primary Residence
  • Statement regarding the feasibility of producing the project in North Rhine-Westphalia
  • Statement confirming that this is a new project or details regarding the status of previous funding applications

Schedule an appointment

A consultation is required before submitting an application.

For the consultation: Please send your appointment request via email, along with a one-page summary of the project and, for first-time contact, your resume and filmography, to the responsible program officer.

Contact person for documentary treatment grants

The Selection Process

Submitted projects are reviewed by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and a team of experts. Funding decisions are made three times a year.

About the Creative Development Committee →

Creative Development

This grant is part of Creative Development. Learn about the various funding opportunities and find the right path for developing your project.

Creative Development →

News: News from the FMS

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