When the funding program was introduced more than six years ago, FFF had an annual budget of 3.2 million euros at its disposal to support major international film projects. This sum was increased to 6 million euros, and in 2019 as much as 8 million euros is available. The area was initially limited to theatrical film producers, but later also opened up to line producers for digital image design as well as serial producers.
FFF is currently supporting the production of the Amazon series Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo and the Netflix series Dark - Season 3 and Biohackers with a total of 2 million euros.
FFF Supervisory Board Chairman Digital Minister Judith Gerlach: "International films and series with Bavarian participation are world class, whether drama, mystery or thriller. We are supporting three series with a total of 2 million euros. For the first time, we are also supporting internationally exploitable series in the International Co-Production program. In this way we are striving to strengthen Bavaria's position as an important international production location".
Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo as well as the Netflix series Dark - Season 3 and Biohackers are the first international series that the FFF is supporting the production of with funds from the funding program for international co-productions. Thus far, this has only been possible in the field of digital image design/line producer. The new funding program made it possible to revise the guidelines, which have been in force since last January and provide for amended conditions for series: For example, these no longer necessarily have to be realized with a co-producer from a non-German-speaking country, but must be intended and suitable for international exploitation. With this change, FFF Bayern has reacted to new and up-to-date conditions of film and series production and to the fact that many German series are produced from Bavaria for international platforms.
A separate award committee decides on the funding. The currently recommended projects are:
Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo
FFF Bayern supports Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo with 1 million euros. In February, Constantin Television and Amazon announced that the series will be produced for Amazon Prime. Oliver Berben and Sophie von Uslar are producing the modern re-narration of the bestseller about Christiane F. Head script writer in the Writers' Room is Annette Hess. Director is Philipp Kadelbach, director of photography will be Jakub Bejnarowicz. In eight 60-minute episodes, the series paints a provocative, controversial and authentic picture of the Berlin drug and club scene, inspired by the gripping memoirs of Christiane F. The story of Christiane F. is known throughout the world thanks to the book and the film, which are dealt with in Germany and numerous other European schools. Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo is an international co-production between Constantin Television and Amazon. Wilma Film (Prague) and the production company Cattleya (Italy) are also involved as co-producers. Shooting is expected to begin in the second half of the year.
Dark – Season 3
The 2nd season of the Dark series has been available on Netflix since 21 June 2019. And the makers are already working on the 3rd season. Dark was the first German series on Netflix and has a fan community all over the world. FFF Bayern supported both the 2nd season (with 290,700 euros in the field of digital image design) last year and the current 3rd season (with 610,000 euros in the field of production). Season 3 is the conclusion of the trilogy. The showrunners Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, who together with Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann act as executive producers, are responsible for the script and direction; Nikolaus Summerer will again be the DoP for the new season. All five studied at the University of Television and Film Munich. Dark - Season 3 will consist of eight one-hour episodes.
Biohackers
The Munich-based production company Claussen+Putz is realizing this fast-paced thriller, the showrunner is Christian Ditter. In the new Netflix series, medical student Mia discovers that her university town is using highly developed biohacking technology. But when a groundbreaking discovery falls into the wrong hands, Mia has to decide which side she's on. How far will she go to find out the truth? FFF Bayern is funding Biohackers with 400,000 euros.