German Film Law Does Away With Diversity Clause, but Local Producers Remain Optimistic: It’s ‘Part of Our Culture and We’re Not Going to Give It Up’

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As Germany shifts to the right, will its movies and TV series become less diverse?

In recent years, there has been significant progress in fostering diversity within German film and television productions. However, this momentum might be disrupted due to a new law concerning film funding that was recently enacted in the country. This legislation, which houses the Berlin Film Festival and major European companies like RTL Group, eliminated a provision that mandated local projects meet certain criteria related to diversity, gender equality, and inclusivity.

Prior to its dissolution in December, Germany’s parliament approved a scaled-down version of the proposed new film law. This revised legislation aims to establish a more unified financing structure for movie production, distribution, and exhibition. Due to the urgent need to pass this significant piece of legislation, German Culture Minister Claudia Roth had to make certain concessions in order to secure parliamentary approval from the majority. This observation was made by Martin Moszkowicz, a prominent producer who used to head Constantin Film in Germany.

One agreement reached was dropping a controversial provision that has faced opposition from conservative Germans. This provision is also fiercely opposed by the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who are expected to garner over 20% of the vote in this Sunday’s national elections.

According to Philipp Kreuzer, chairman of the German Films promotional body and founder of Penzing Studios in Munich, these “diversity” guidelines weren’t meant to enforce specific rules. Instead, they served as incentives to encourage filmmakers to produce movies with a wide range of characters and themes.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve observed that while the diversity clause may have fallen through at a national level, it doesn’t exempt us from adhering to it when seeking regional funding. In the German broadcasting scene, producers will still be bound by diversity regulations when commissioning projects, as I’ve been informed.

In my perspective, as a partner at One Two Films based in Berlin and someone who’s worked on projects like “Holy Spider” and “Köln 75,” diversity should naturally occur without being mandated by law. However, I find the removal of such a clause to be a significant step backward. This stance is particularly disheartening for me personally, given that I identify as a minority – a foreigner and a part of the LGBTQ+ community. I believe this sentiment would resonate with other underrepresented groups who feel similarly marginalized.

Based on the results of the February 23rd elections, there’s a chance that Germany might reinstate the diversity provision within its film law. However, regardless of whether this happens or not, German producers like Kreuzer remain hopeful, believing that any potential lack of implementation won’t lead to a significant uproar. As Kreuzer puts it, “Everyone in this industry understands that diversity is an integral aspect of our culture, and we are committed to preserving it.

That feeling is echoed by Berlin-based producer Roman Paul (“Waltz With Bashir,” “Santosh”).

Despite any regulatory shifts, Razor Film stays dedicated to expanding the diversity within our team and storylines. In fact, so far, we’ve collaborated with more women than men in our filmmaking projects,” he emphasizes.

To illustrate, the company’s upcoming project titled “Identitti,” helmed by Randa Chahoud (“The Interpreter of Silence,” “Deutschland 89”) and adapted from Mithu Sanyal’s novel of the same name, is set to begin production in April. The narrative delves into a question that Paul finds particularly relevant to diversity: “Why would a white German assume the identity of an Indian scholar?” It falls upon the protagonist, who herself grapples with having both Indian and Polish heritage, to uncover the answer to this intriguing mystery.

Beyond what Moszkowicz suggests, “there’s more than one method to foster diversity” in films, not just through legislation. In my opinion, it’s a matter of moral principle – and I firmly believe we’ll achieve it.

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2025-02-21 19:46