Gender Incentive

The Gender Incentive serves as an incentive for the sustainable and effective strengthening of balanced gender diversity in the film industry. The aim is to bring about a long-term change so that more women or diverse people (i.e. non-binary) are employed in different trades in the film industry. The focus is initially on production (i.e. the executive producer), directing and screenwriting. Up to 30,000 euros each can be invested in the development of a new project with a female or diverse cast.

The entitlement to a gender incentive of up to 30,000 euros is triggered by a project that has been funded in the funding areas of production (as theatrical feature film or TV production from July 2023 or as talent film/ first feature film from January 2025) and in which at least two of the three positions production, direction, screenplay are occupied by women or diverse persons. The funding can be used within three years for the development of a new project (story or project development) with a female or diverse cast in at least two of the three positions of production, direction and screenplay.

Applications for Gender Incentive funds for a new project can be submitted on an ongoing basis and independently of the regular submission deadlines. The funding will be released if the new project - in addition to the above conditions - is expected to be a project worthy of funding according to the criteria of quality and distribution potential. The application must be submitted via the application portal. Otherwise, the same formal submission requirements apply as for regular story development and project development. Before submitting an application, the responsible funding executive must be contacted by telephone or in person. Detailed information on submission can be found in the Gender Incentive, Story Development and Project Development information sheets.