Graduation Film Funding
The Graduation Film Grant supports students at film schools and comparable educational institutions in the production of their graduation films.
Is this grant right for me?
First, please check whether you meet the eligibility criteria. The graduation film grant is intended for students at accredited film schools in North Rhine-Westphalia who wish to produce their graduation film.
Funding Criteria for Graduation Film Funding (Simplified Funding)
Funding for graduation film projects by students at recognized film schools in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Graduation Film Project
Funding is provided for graduation film projects by students at recognized film schools in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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Accredited Film School in North Rhine-Westphalia
Students at NRW film schools recognized by one of the established film school associations are eligible to apply. Currently, these include the International Film School Cologne, the Cologne Academy of Media Arts, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, and Macromedia Cologne.
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Funding as a Grant
The maximum funding amount is generally 20,000 euros and is provided as a grant. The grant may not exceed 80 percent of the total production costs.
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Own Funds
At least 5 percent of the estimated costs must be covered by the applicant’s own funds. Own funds include cash, as well as reserves and provisions.
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Environmental Standards
Films longer than 30 minutes and with total production costs exceeding 50,000 euros are subject to the environmental standards.
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Non-Graduation Film Projects
Funding is intended exclusively for graduation film projects.
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No recognized NRW film school
Only students at recognized NRW film schools are eligible to apply.
Application Documents
- Treatment, screenplay, or project description
- Synopsis (max. 1 DIN A4 page)
- Proof of acquisition of rights to the source material, book, and title
- List of crew and cast
- Letter of recommendation from the supervising professor and confirmation of admission from the university
- Biography/filmography or information about the applicant’s previous activities
- Project budget
- Funding plan with details on the status of the individual funding components
- Screening material or a link to a film sample
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 Graduation Films
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Nazgol Majlessi
Speaker
![Portraitbild von Nazgol Majlessi]()
The Selection Process
The graduation film jury decides on the submitted projects. The jury members are appointed by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and Filmbüro NW. Funding decisions are generally made twice a year.
News: News from the FMS
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24. Verleihung Gerd Ruge Stipendium der Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
October 7, 2026
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![LAUPHEIM, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 18: <<enter caption here>> attends the Carl Laemmle Produzentenpreis 2026 (Producer Award) at Schloss Laupheim on September 18, 2026 in Laupheim, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images for Carl Laemmle UG)]()
Michael Souvignier Receives the 2026 Carl Laemmle Producer Award / The 2026 Carl Laemmle VFF Talent Award Goes to Paulina Lorenz, Jorgo Narjes, and Faraz Shariat for “Staatsschutz”
September 19, 2026
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Four films funded by the German Film Foundation are currently in the running for the 2026 Oscar shortlist
September 14, 2026
