The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) provides funding of up to EUR 315,000 for cinemas throughout Germany, especially outside of metropolitan areas.

You can receive funding for the following measures:

• Smart data / customer loyalty / investment marketing measures, for example
  • Hardware and software,
  • licenses,
  • Expenses for agencies,
  • legal advice and programming work as well as
  • expenditure for advertising systems
  • Green cinema / sustainability / environmentally friendly processes, for example
    • Modernization of heating systems,
    • air conditioning and ventilation,
    • sanitary facilities,
  • Investments in the use of renewable energies, for example
    • solar energy,
    • LED lighting,
    • cooling appliances,
  • systems for separating waste and reducing waste and
  • Creation of outdoor bicycle parking spaces and e-charging stations
  • Accessibility in the cinema, for example
    • Construction of ramps and elevators,
    • Creation of barrier-free sanitary facilities,
    • Measures to adapt the fire protection concept to existing standards
    • Acquisition and installation of technology for the visually and hearing impaired,
    • Creation of a barrier-free website in accordance with current standards and regulations,
    • Installation of a public W-LAN,
    • Installation of guidance systems for the visually and hearing impaired and
    • Installation of barrier-free parking spaces in accordance with local building regulations
  • Checkout technology, such as the renewal of
    • servers,
    • workstations,
    • cash drawers,
    • ticket and receipt printers,
    • scanners,
    • network technology,
    • digital signage and
    • software
  • Projection and sound technology, for example renewal of:
    • Projection technology and
    • subcomponents, for example
      • server,
      • projector,
      • light engine,
      • IMB,
      • Lens,
      • 3D unit,
      • fan and
      • screen
  • Renewal of the entire sound technology in the projection room and auditorium, for example:
    • Loudspeakers,
    • amplifier,
    • processor,
    • event technology, for example:
      • Microphone technology,
      • lighting technology
  • Seating and movie theater equipment, for example:
    • Expenditure to improve the auditorium, for example:
      • Replacement of seating,
      • work on the walls,
      • floor,
      • ceilings,
      • curtain,
      • lamination,
      • substructure,
      • fire protection/safety technology and
      • network and event technology
  • Equipment of the visitor areas / foyer, for example:
    • Modernization of the foyer,
    • the furnishings,
    • sales counters and
    • catering technology
  • Measures to repair the outdoor area, for example:
    • Modernization of the outdoor advertising system,
    • display cases,
    • facade and
    • doors and windows

Also funded Due to the current pandemic, conversion and equipment measures that are necessary to adequately reduce the risk of infection (especially with the SARS-CoV-2 virus) in the public and non-public areas of the cinema are currently being funded.

You will not receive funding for:

• Measures that you started before you submitted the application,
• Special forms of cinemas, for example:
• Open-air cinemas,
• traveling cinemas,
• drive-in cinemas,
• cinemas in hotels,
• restaurants,
• barracks,
• New installations, expansion or reopening of cinemas,
• Own work,
• office and administration costs,
• second-hand goods,
• consumables,
• leasing,
• cleaning work,
• film rental,
• labor costs,
• the purchase of land and buildings,
• repairs,
• maintenance contracts,
• support services,
• subscription fees,
• guarantees.

If you want to invest in the future viability of your cinema, you can receive a subsidy of up to 40 percent of the total eligible costs.

The amount of funding depends on the number of screens you have:

• if you have a cinema with only one auditorium, you will receive up to EUR 60,000

and

• if you have a cinema with at least 2 screens, you will receive up to EUR 45,000 per screen, up to a maximum of EUR 315,000.

Grants of up to EUR 5,000 are paid out once.

Grants of more than EUR 5,000 are paid out in up to 4 installments depending on the progress of your project and on request.

Proof that the financing of the measure is secured must be provided by the time the first installment is paid out at the latest.
Proof of use must be submitted before the last installment is paid out. The proof of use consists of a factual report and proof of payment in the form of invoices and transfer receipts. The funds must be used within 6 months of approval of the funding.

You must keep all invoices and receipts relating to the eligible costs.

You have no claim to the approval of the funding.

You submit the application for funding under the Future Cinema Program to the German Federal Film Board (FFA).