Crisis in domestic film: funding stop brings projects to the abyss!

Crisis in domestic film: funding stop brings projects to the abyss!

In the domestic film scene there is an alarm mood! Due to a payment stop of the ÖFI+ supplementary model, numerous film producers face major challenges. An emergency was proclaimed after the Austrian federal government announced savings plans. According to the producer Arash T. Riahi, 10 to 20 Austrian film projects are currently in danger or may have to migrate abroad. Projects such as its planned film "Riot / Girl" are in the queue, while the casting has been temporarily stopped, as it is unclear whether external funding can apply the missing million.

The situation has developed dramatically since the stop of the funding was announced on January 15, which is to apply for the entire year 2025. Critics warn of a predictable fiasco of the funding model, which was actually communicated as uncovered. The negative effects on employment in the film industry are already noticeable, and it is feared that many companies could fall by the wayside. Glehr, the producer of the film "Gentle Monster", emphasizes that filming may have to be shifted to Germany in order to be able to use more funding.

background of the funding problem

The payment stop came as a surprise: In advance, the Austrian film institute (ÖFI) had already informed about an application freezer, which was caused by a budget provisional. The agreed funds for 2024 were delayed, and the high demand for the funding model led to the budget in 2025 being exhausted prematurely. A total of 37.5 million euros are available for 2025, but even an additional 10 million euros could not cover all funding commitments. The Minister of Culture Werner Kogler announced 13.8 million euros to support, but the uncertainty remains noticeable in the industry.

The strict guidelines of the funding system were adjusted too late, which in combination with the payment stop led to serious problems. The film industry could continue to experience dramatic losses if no fast and unbureaucratic solutions are brought about. Riahi and Dunja Bernatzky, Managing Director of Arx Anima, require a rethink to keep the added value in Austria.

The role of the film scene in Austria

Despite the adverse circumstances, the previous key data of the film industry in Austria were promising. In 2023, the budget of the film funding agencies was 115 million euros, an increase of 30.5% compared to 2022. In addition, the number of cinema cards sold was increased to 11.7 million, which corresponds to an increase of 16.8%. As much as the current crisis also strikes, international successes and increasing number of spectators underpin the relevance of the domestic film industry.

In recent history, Austrian films were published in 51 countries and achieved 1.5 million visits. The market share of Austrian films currently reaches 8.1%, the highest value since 2004. This shows that despite the uncertainties in the funding area, the audience is interested.

The industry is required to find new ways to master the challenges. The discussions with the Ministry of Culture and Economic Affairs are already underway, and it is to be hoped that rapid solutions will be found to save the passionate projects in Austria. The filmmakers are ready to fight so that exciting stories can be told in the domestic cinemas.

For more information about the current situation in the film industry, see Tiroler daily newspaper, [ORF://orf.at/stories/3384272/) Filminstitut] (https://filminstitut.at/institut/filmwirtschafts report).