FFF Bavaria celebrates a successful 10 years with more to come
In his inaugural speech at the of FFF Bavaria (FilmFernsehFonds Bayern) on February 21 1996, Bavarian Minister for Culture Hans Zehetmair said that he would "develop regional production to make it more competitive".
And the Minister has done exactly that: In the past ten years, the regional funding body has examined over 4,000 projects, funding 1,500 of these for a sum of approximately €300m – an investment that has paid off as its films have won various awards (including five Oscars).
This success can be explained by the FFF Bavaria's objective, since its creation, to support small arthouse and first films, as well as mainstream productions at all stages, from scriptwriting and direction right through to distribution. On Saturday, July 15, partners and friends of the FFF will celebrate what has been an extraordinary decade, summarised in detail in the publication 10 years of FFF Bavaria, to be presented at the event.
Despite its success, the FFF has not been resting on its laurels. At the third allocation of subsidies session in 2006, held a few days ago, the Bavarian fund allocated over €1m to five films, which included the upcoming Marc Rothemund title and the directorial debut by screenwriter-actress Maggie Peren.
For his next film, Pornorama, Rothemund returns to his favourite genre, comedy, with the Munich-based production outfit Constantin Film, producer of children's film Ants in The Pants (2000). Producer Bernd Eichinger (The Downfall [+see also:
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film profile], The Perfume) co-scripted this humorous satire on Munich’s porno film industry in the 70s as seen by two young directors who set up a risky business.
The FFF provided funding of €600,000 to Pornorama – shooting of which will start in the autumn – and €100,000 to the directorial debut of Peren (who scripted Before the Fall, Girls On Top and Ganz und gar, in which she also starred).
Stellungswechsel (lit. "Changing Places"), produced by Claussen + Wöbke, tells the story of a small group of friends who set up an apparently innocent escort service.
(Translated from French)
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