Feature Film Screenplay Grant

Screenplay funding constitutes Stage 3 of the “Creative Development” program and is intended to support the development of a screenplay draft.

For feature film projects, a treatment serves as the basis for further screenplay development.

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

For screenplay funding in Stage 3, applicants may apply for 20,000 euros. Funding is generally provided as a grant.

If submitting jointly with producers, a screenplay contract must be in place for Stage 3; the necessary rights to the material must be secured.

Series projects cannot be submitted in Stage 3 of Creative Development in 2026/2027.

A consultation is required for Stage 3 prior to submitting an application; the request must be made well in advance of the submission deadline.

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

Writers whose primary residence is in North Rhine-Westphalia are eligible to apply.

Up to 10,000 euros may be requested for screenplay funding. The funding is provided as a grant.

The application must include a synopsis, a treatment, and a fully developed dialogue scene.

A declaration of rights is required for submission.

The project must be a new one. A corresponding declaration must be submitted with the application.

Students are not eligible to apply. There is a separate funding opportunity for graduation film projects.

The project may not begin until after the application is submitted; this does not apply to the necessary prior acquisition of rights.

Projects that have already been submitted through the regular process and rejected cannot be resubmitted in a similar form under the simplified funding program.