The funding juries of Hessen Film & Medien have decided on the latest round of grants across several areas: the Main Jury, Emerging Talent, Script Development, and Festivals & Series. A total of 1.8 million euros will go toward strengthening film culture in Hesse. Among the supported projects is the second season of the series ›The Zweiflers‹ by showrunner and creator David Hadda. The successful ARD Degeto production about a German-Jewish family in crisis returns with a prominent cast including Sunnyi Melles, Aaron and Leo Altaras, and Deleila Piasko. The production company Turbokultur will receive 350,000 euros.
»With the first season of ›The Zweiflers‹, David Hadda created an outstanding series and proved that original, deeply layered storytelling from Hesse can have international impact. It is remarkable how he, as a young showrunner, succeeded in placing Jewish life in Germany at the center – with great sensitivity, humor, and relevance – in a way that resonated with both audiences and critics«, said Minister of Arts and Culture Timon Gremmels.
»With productions like ›The Zweiflers‹, which is also set and filmed in Frankfurt, we are not only supporting extraordinary stories, but also strengthening the creative potential of our region. The variety of projects receiving support shows that Hesse’s film culture is diverse and full of strong voices. I am particularly looking forward to the upcoming cinema releases – including several of this year’s Berlinale entries from Hesse – made possible by distribution funding from Hessen Film & Medien.«
Broad Funding Scope: Documentaries, Features & Animation
In addition to series support, funding is being allocated to a wide range of film projects – including documentary, fictional, and animated works. The poetic documentary »Siebeneinhalb Bücher« (Seven and a Half Books, 50,000 euros) by Christoph Weinert explores the meaning of the printed book and the power of thought and writing – with a special focus on the renowned publisher Suhrkamp. Also receiving support is the third installment of the fantasy movie series »Woodwalkers« (100,000 euros). As in previous award-winning parts (including the Bavarian Film Award), the animal animations will again be created by Frankfurt-based studio Pixomondo.
Kassel’s Studio Raumkapsel will realize the animated feature film »Deine Flecken« (Your Spotted Skin, 320,000 euros), an adult animation project. The script, which won the Thomas Strittmatter Award (Berlinale 2020), combines artistic depth with sophisticated CGI, produced entirely from Hesse.
Focus on Emerging Talent
A total of 394,000 euros is being allocated to emerging filmmakers. Projects include »blista« by Fabian Schmalenbach, a long-term documentary about the renowned competence center for visually impaired individuals in Marburg. In »That Other Sunrise«, Antonia Kilian explores the personal exile experiences of former RAF member Margrit Schiller and her two children.
Other political themes also resonate in the work of young talents: »Sommer 92« by Yannick Wuth (20,000 euros) deals with the Yugoslav Wars, while »Das letzte Dorf« by Garegin Vanisian (pre-production, 20,000 euros) addresses the Armenian Genocide.
»Supporting emerging talent is especially close to our hearts – and the diversity, depth, and relevance of the submitted projects is truly impressive«, said Anna Schoeppe, CEO of Hessen Film & Medien.
»Hesse’s young film scene is generating important impulses – both artistically and socially. We want to amplify voices that offer new perspectives, whether they work in documentary, fiction, or experimental formats. The young talents we’re supporting in this round are doing just that: using the medium of film to pose urgent questions to our present – with artistic ambition, critical engagement, and emotional depth.«
Funding for Arthouse Distributors & New Scripts
Several theatrical distribution campaigns will also receive funding. Among them are Berlinale documentaries such as »Das deutsche Volk« (25,000 euros) by Frankfurt-based director Marcin Wierzchowski, which deals with the aftermath of the racist Hanau attacks, and »Circusboy‹ (20,000 euros) by Julia Lemke and Anna Koch, as well as several feature films.
Strong Festival Support Across the State
A total of 24 festivals, events, and screening series will be supported with 221,650 euros. Among them:
-
the 14th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt (20,000 euros)
-
the Días de Cine – Latin American Film Festival (10,000 euros)
-
the 29th QUEER Film Festival Weiterstadt (14,000 euros)
-
and Wiesenflimmern 2025 (4,750 euros), which brings cinematic experiences to rural regions.