With "Windstärke 17" through the first funding decisions of the year

The film adaptation of Caroline Wahl's novel "22 Bahnen" was very successful in German cinemas last year - now comes its direct successor, Windstärke 17 (550,000 euros, BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion, Munich). Directors is once again Mia Maariel Meyer. The film is about Ida, who, after the suicide of her alcoholic mother, ends up on the island of Rügen without a plan but full of guilt and anger and finds a surrogate family here. Ida slowly learns to accept her grief - but just as she begins to heal, her world is shaken once again. "Windstärke 17" will have 16 shooting days in Schleswig-Holstein and six shooting days in Hamburg. Shooting starts in August 2026.

"Mädchen Mädchen" director Martina Plura will take over the Directors in the fantastic tragicomedy Skaterherz (450,000 euros, Leitwolf Filmproduktion, Hamburg). The story by Hamburg-based author duo Thomas Möller and Sebastian Grusnick ("Greetings from Mars") is about 14-year-old Elias, who has been waiting half his life for a donor heart. When he wakes up after the saving heart transplant, an unknown boy is standing next to his bed. Elias is the only one who can see him. The cast includes Jasmin Tabatabai, Edin Hasanovic and Alexandra Maria Lara. The film will have 21 shooting days in Hamburg this year.

Director and Script Writer Kim Frank is celebrating his feature film debut with X (450,000 euros, Kim Frank Produktion, Hamburg). What is it about? Maxim claims he just wants to be heard with his music, but in reality he wants something completely different. Elmo Anton Stratz plays the lead role - other roles include Alli Neumann, Pheline Roggan and Detlev Buck. Filming will take place over 21 days in Hamburg and two days in Schleswig-Holstein this summer. Frank wrote the script with Hannah Sioda.

Nikolaj Arcel's (King's Land) new film My Fairytale Life (400,000 euros, Zentropa, Berlin) is set in 19th century Denmark: Hans Christian Andersen, a penniless dreamer, seeks recognition as an artist in Copenhagen. But as an outsider among the elite and a prisoner of unrequited love, he must realise that he will never find true happiness unless he learns to follow his calling in life. The team will be in Schleswig-Holstein for thirteen days of filming in autumn 2026 and four days of filming in Hamburg.

The script for Mama? (377.247 euros, Leitwolf Filmproduktion, Bremen/Hamburg) by Uli Klingenschmitt was nominated for the German Screenplay Award in 2024 - Directors and Hamburg Media School graduate Katharina Sporrer will start shooting the story in July: The film is about the young mother Tini, who is trapped in a spiral of addictions, unfulfilled longings and guilt. In her search for love, she meets a man who promises her hope - and makes a fatal decision. The leading role is played by Maxton Hall star Harriet Herbig-Matten. The drama will have eight days of filming in Hamburg this summer and was made as part of the Nordlichter talent programme of NDR, nordmedia and the MOIN Film Fund.

FUNDING DECISION HIGH END

2,069,000 euros will go to ten projects.

Windstärke 17
Directors + script: Mia Maariel Meyer; production company: BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion, Munich; funding amount: 550.000 Euro (production)

Skaterherz
Director: Martina Plura; Screenplay: Sebastian Grusnik, Thomas Möller: Production company: Leitwolf Filmproduktion, Hamburg; Funding amount: 450,000 Euro (production)

My Fairytale Life
Director: Nikolaj Arcel; Script: Anders Thomas Jensen, Nikolaj Arcel; Production company: Zentropa, Berlin; Funding amount: 400.000 euros (production)

Sind so kleine Hände
Director: Anne-Zohra Berrached; Script: Martin Behnke, Wanda Perdelwitz; Production company: Wüste Film, Hamburg; Funding: 350,000 euros (production)

Summer in Heat
Director: Levan Akin; Script: Levan Akin, Jordan Tannahill; Production company: Adomeit Film, Lübeck; Funding: 100.000 Euro (production)

Vor Gericht
Directors: Georg Tschurtschenthaler, Marcus Weller; Script: Georg Tschurtschenthaler, Marcus Weller, Michael Eggers; Production company: Beetz Brothers film production, Hamburg; Funding amount: 40.000 euros (project development)

Tuna
Director: Julia Becker; Screenplay: Lena Krumkamp; Production company: Oma Inge Film, Hamburg; Funding: 24,000 euros (project development)

Die Ältern
Director: Sönke Wortmann; Script: Jan Weiler, Robert Gold; Distribution company: Constantin Film Distribution, Munich; Funding: 75.000 Euro (Distribution)

Meine Freundin Conni - Abenteuer mit Kranich Klaus
Director: Dirk Hampel; Script: Oliver Huzly, Sven Severin, Distributor: Senator Film Distribution, Berlin; Funding amount: 50.000 euros (Distribution)

Horst Schlämmer sucht das Glück
Director: Sven Unterwaldt; Script: Claudius Pläging, Distribution company: Leonine Distribution, Munich; Funding: 30,000 euros (Distribution)

Find out more about the funded high-end projects here.
The funding decision was made on 10 February 2026: Murat Isgüder, Ole Kampovski, Wenka von Mikulicz, Caroline von Senden, Ipek Zübert and Helge Albers.

The High End Committee is responsible for films and series with production costs of over 2.5 million euros and cinema documentaries with production costs of over 1.5 million euros.
 

FUNDING DECISION DIRECTOR'S CUT

2,149,994 euros will go to 18 projects.

X
Director: Kim Frank; Screenplay: Kim Frank, Hannah Sioda; Production company: Kim Frank Produktion, Hamburg; Funding amount: 450,000 euros (production)

Mama?
Director: Katharina Sporrer; Script: Uli Klingenschmitt; Production company: Leitwolf Filmproduktion, Bremen/Hamburg; Funding amount: 377.247 euros (production)

Was only fun!
Director: Justina Jürgensen; Script: Sophie Therese Jung; Production company: Banana Tree Film, Berlin; Funding amount: 377,247 euros (production)

Karmic Knot
Directors: Signe Baumane, Ceylan Beyoğlu; Script: Signe Baumane; Production company: Fabian&Fred, Hamburg; Funding amount: 260.000 euros (production)

Analogu& Illegal
Director + script: Hannes Burchert; production company: Filmkumpels, Hamburg; funding amount: 150,000 euros (production)

Barrikadentage
Director: Björn Warns; Script: Björn Warns, Lennard Eberlein; production company: Tamtam Film, Hamburg; funding amount: 150.000 Euro (production)

Fragmente einer Kindheit
Directors + script: Elena Alvarez Lutz; Production company: dirk manthey film, Hamburg; Funding amount: 105.000 Euro (production)

Die Schatzsuche
Directors + script: Katharina Brunner; Lukas Ladner; Production company: DOPPELPLUSULTRA Filmproduktion, Hamburg; Funding amount: 85,000 Euro (production)

Sommermärchen
Director + script: Berthold Wahjudi; Production company: if... Productions Film, Munich; funding amount: 60,000 euros (project development)

We Shall Be Monsters
Directors + script: Max Sänger; production company: Gorgofilm, Hamburg; funding amount: 16,000 euros (project development)

Materia Prima - New Energies - Old Powers
Directors + script: Jens Schanze; distribution company: Cine Global Filmverleih, Munich, funding amount: 31.500 Euro (Distribution)

Ghost School
Director + Script: Seemab Gul; Distributor: jip film & verleih, Frankfurt am Main; Funding amount: 26.000 Euro (Distribution)

Mo&Friese unterwegs - Fliegen
KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg; Funding amount: 15,500 Euro (Distribution)

Niñxs
Directors + script: Kani Lapuerta; Distributor: missingFILMs, Hamburg; Funding amount: 15.000 Euro (Distribution)

Die Heilung
Directors + Script: Lilian Rosa, Marcus Richardt; Distributor: mindjazz pictures, Cologne; Funding: 8.000 Euro (Distribution)

Eine Stadt sieht einen Film 2026
KINEMATHEK Hamburg e.V. Kommunales Kino Metropolis, Hamburg; Funding: 12,000 Euro (Screening)

Grainy Days 16mm Festival
KINEMATHEK Hamburg e.V. Kommunales Kino Metropolis, Hamburg; funding amount: 6,000 euros (screening)

Zündstoff 2026
3001 Kino, Hamburg; funding amount: 5,500 euros (screening)

Find more information about the funded Director's Cut projects here.

The funding decision was made on 11 March 2026: Vanessa Ciszewski, Anita Elsani, Sara Fazilat, Gabor Greiner, Timo Großpietsch and Helge Albers.

The Director's Cut Committee is responsible for films with production costs of less than 2.5 million euros and cinema documentaries with production costs of less than 1.5 million euros.

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FUNDING DECISION SHORT FILM

146,000 euros go to 5 projects.

Throwing Sticks at the Sun
Directors + script: Raman Djafari; Production company: Fabian&Fred, Hamburg; Funding amount: 40.000 Euro

Christine (1391)
Directors + script: Tanita Olbrich; Production company: Kelek Film, Hamburg; Funding amount: 38,000 Euro

Nova Peng
Directors + script: Jon Frickey; Production: Jon Frickey, Hamburg; Funding amount: 35.000 Euro

Bada's Monster
Director: Su-Jin Song, Zohar Dvir; Script: Su-Jin Song; Production: Su-Jin Song, Hamburg; Funding: 20,000 Euro

The Scary Shush
Director: Antje Heyn; Script: Charlotte Habersack; Production: Antje Heyn, Bergen auf Rügen; Funding: 13.000 euros

Find out more about the funded short film projects here.

The funding decisions of the Short Film Committee were made on 10 March 2026: Johanna Jannsen-Lafrenz, Friedrich Tiedtke, Insa Wiese and Nicola Jones.

INNOVATIVE FUNDING DECISION

80,000 euros will go to two projects.

Udos Sternenreise
Director: David Aufdembrinke; Script: Sebastian Stuertz; Production company: Ho3rraum Media, Hamburg; Funding: 50,000 euros

PORTS
Director + script: Daniel Möring; Production: Daniel Möring, Hamburg; Funding: 30.000 euros

Find out more about the funded Innovativ projects here.

The funding decisions of the Innovativ Committee were made on 5 March 2026: Ralph Heinsohn, Britta Schewe, Ulrich Schrauth and Nicola Jones.

FUNDING DECISION NEST

In the latest NEST funding decisions, 784,000 euros went to 12 projects. Of this, 776,500 euros went to NEST Space and 7,500 euros to NEST Classic. The decision has been made by the NEST Community since last year. More about the process.

NEST Space

The Gifted Year (feature film) by Natja Brunckhorst and Toks Körner

Fire (feature film) by Lamin Leroy Gibba, Langston Uibel and Benny O. Arthur

Haarmann - Die Geschichte eines Werwolfs (series) by Georg Lippert

Hafengold / or The Beluga Bunch (feature film) by Petja Pulkrabek

Himmel auf Zeit (series) by Lilli C. Thalgott, Natascha Bub and Maike Mia Höhne

Hosenscheisser (feature film) by Alexander Schmid

Kein Platz für Toni (feature film) by Henning Beckhoff and Linda Brieda

King Of Vegetables (feature film) by Arjun Talwar

Last One Sitting (Feature film) by Sophia Bierend

Made in Germany (Feature film) by Shahrbanoo Sadat

Mother's Milk (Feature film) by Larissa Jacobsen and Masha Mollenhauer

NEST Classic

Strongest Power (Documentary) by Max Ahrens