35 Years of Driving Innovation in Film, Media, and Games: The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW Celebrates Its Anniversary
With the start of the 2026 Berlinale, the industry looks back on 35 years of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. Since its founding on February 27, 1991, by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and WDR, it has shaped the media landscape in Germany and internationally as one of Europe’s most significant funding organizations. The average annual funding volume today stands at 35 million euros. With the appointment of Managing Director Walid Nakschbandi, the foundation relocated its headquarters to Cologne.
Since its founding, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW has supported 10,705 projects with more than one billion euros. These include 1,850 feature films, 394 series, 574 radio plays and podcasts, and 191 graduation films. The productions have received awards worldwide—including one Oscar, 16 Oscar nominations, 52 European Film Awards, 201 German Film Awards, two International Emmys, 57 Grimme Awards, and 33 German Television Awards. The Film and Media Foundation is also committed to supporting emerging talent: It awards the Wim Wenders Grant for innovative filmmaking, the Gerd Ruge Grant for documentary filmmakers, and the Baumi Script Development Award.
From Film to IP: New Approaches to Funding
By expanding its funding portfolio to include games and digital media, strengthening sustainable production methods, and adopting new program approaches, the Film and Media Foundation NRW is actively shaping the industry’s structural transformation and providing early impetus for new production and funding standards. For example, the Film Foundation was the first funding institution to introduce its own series funding program. The newly launched audio funding program is receiving a great deal of attention; there is also a stronger focus on IP.
Walid Nakschbandi, Managing Director of the Film and Media Foundation NRW:
“Quality, relevance, success, and reliability: that’s what the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW has stood for for 35 years. We are constantly breaking new ground in funding, further expanding our programs, establishing new formats, responding boldly to the industry’s needs, and strengthening innovative funding formats in audio, entertainment, games, series, TV, film, distribution, and short-form content. This success is made possible by the steadfast commitment of our shareholders—the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, WDR, ZDF, and RTL—who provide us with tremendous support and enable the Film and Media Foundation to continuously evolve and remain future-proof amid change. My thanks go to them, and of course also to the former executive directors Dieter Kosslick, Michael Schmid-Ospach, and Petra Müller—all three have made a significant impact. Our mission remains the same: to provide the best possible support to creatives and to keep North Rhine-Westphalia at the top as a media hub.”
Fostering Talent. Connecting Industries
Productions from North Rhine-Westphalia are regularly featured at the most important international festivals—from the Berlinale to Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and Toronto, all the way to the International Emmys in New York. In addition to project funding, the Film and Media Foundation NRW sees itself as a platform for exchange and networking. Its own initiatives, such as “Match Me,” the NRW reception at the Berlinale in collaboration with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the presentation at gamescom, provide opportunities for exchange. For example, the FMS was also present at gamescom latam in São Paulo and Africa Games Week in Cape Town. A special focus is placed on talent development, opening up funding structures, and the continuous further development of programs.
State of North Rhine-Westphalia, WDR, ZDF, and RTL: The shareholders extend their congratulations
Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia: “North Rhine-Westphalia is Germany’s leading film region and a major film and media hub. We offer modern studios, excellent infrastructure, and technical film departments renowned internationally for their precision and reliability. For over three decades, the Film and Media Foundation NRW has been a central pillar of our success. North Rhine-Westphalia demonstrates that diversity, innovative strength, and a reliable funding policy are the foundation for sustainable success. In recent years, the Film and Media Foundation NRW has made numerous audiovisual projects possible, strategically strengthened our film and media industry, and raised its international profile. At the same time, it is a strong supporter of young talent, whose creative, passionate, and innovative work shapes the cultural landscape even beyond our state’s borders. North Rhine-Westphalia has everything it takes to remain an attractive, reliable, and forward-looking partner and filming location in the future as well.”
Dr. Katrin Vernau, Director General of WDR: “The work of the Film and Media Foundation NRW is a success story without which not only the German but also the international film and cinema landscape would be significantly impoverished. We at WDR have a long and close working relationship with the Foundation, which has resulted in numerous outstanding productions—from ‘Lola Runs’ and ‘Good Bye, Lenin!’ to ‘The Buddenbrooks’ and ‘Babylon Berlin,’ all the way to ‘Hundertdreizehn’ and ‘Riefenstahl.’ We look forward to continuing this successful partnership and to supporting the creative minds in NRW in the future as well.”
Dr. Norbert Himmler, Director General of ZDF: “Fictionthrives on creative minds—and they need the right framework to bring their ideas to life. The Film and Media Foundation NRW has been making a significant contribution in this regard for decades by fostering talent and supporting innovative film and series projects. For ZDF, as a shareholder of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, it is a strong and reliable partner that keeps both creative excellence and sustainable development equally in mind.”
Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland: “The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW’s 35 years represent an impressive success story. For us, this anniversary year is not only an occasion to look back, but above all an important opportunity to further strengthen North Rhine-Westphalia’s position as a hub for film and media in the future. Since its founding, the Foundation has been a key driving force for the industry—together, the FMS NRW and RTL are deeply committed to bringing major productions like the recent ‘Euphoria’ to life, as well as opening doors for new talent through the ‘Storytellers’ initiative and bringing bold ideas to the forefront. With this shared commitment, we aim to continue telling powerful stories and expanding North Rhine-Westphalia as a hub for TV, streaming, and cinema.”
The Anniversary Year at a Glance
2026 has already gotten off to a promising start: with the awarding of one of the largest grants in the foundation’s history, an international delegation trip to Gothenburg, and eleven funded productions at the Berlinale—ranging from the competition to the Berlinale Series Market. Further appearances at Cannes, the Seriencamp, and gamescom will follow. In this way, the Film and Media Foundation NRW underscores its commitment to remaining the leading driving force for film, media, and games.