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Film co‑production agreement signed with the Netherlands
On 7 February, Germany and the Netherlands signed an intergovernmental agreement on the co‑production of films at the 65th Berlinale.
On Saturday (7 February), Germany and the Netherlands signed an intergovernmental agreement on the co‑production of films at the 65th Berlinale in Berlin. The Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker, travelled to the German capital to sign the agreement, which aims to facilitate joint film productions in the future.
On the German side, the agreement was signed by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Monika Grütters, and the Director‑General for Culture and Communication at the Federal Foreign Office, Andreas Görgen. The ceremony at the Dutch Embassy was attended by 150 German and Dutch film makers. Among the guests were the directors of the German Federal Film Board (FFA) and the Netherlands Film Fund (NFF) – Peter Dinges and Doreen Boonekamp – who also welcomed the signing of the agreement.
Greater support for co‑productions
The German‑Dutch film agreement constitutes the legal framework for cooperation between German and Dutch film producers. Furthermore, it contains regulations that go beyond the European Convention on Cinematographic Co‑production. Under its terms, films co‑produced by German and Dutch film makers will be treated and supported as national productions.
The agreement therefore allows co‑producers to access national public funds in both countries. Once the new regulations have entered into force, German‑Dutch co‑producers will be able to cooperate more flexibly and effectively, ultimately to the benefit of cinema visitors.
Two German‑Dutch co‑productions are being screened at the 65th Berlinale, with Nena by Saskia Diesing and Zurich by Sacha Polak.
- The German Federal Film Board: www.ffa.de
- The Netherlands Film Fund: www.filmfonds.nl/international
