World Cinema Fund

Founded in 2004, the World Cinema Fund was initiated by the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the Berlin International Film Festival. It quickly established itself as one of the leading institutions in the field of international film funding for artistic and innovative productions.

The WCF concentrates on backing the production and distribution of films from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific region, Africa, the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, the Caucasus, as well as Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. For a detailed list of eligible regions and countries, please refer to the country overview sheet (566 KB).

The goal is to promote high-quality filmmaking in regions with a weak infrastructure for film, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas as well as supporting collaboration between German and European producers and partners in WCF regions and countries. All WCF films completed to date have screened at cinemas and/or in the programmes of renowned festivals. Many have also won significant prizes, proof of the worldwide success of the initiative.

The WCF provides support in the fields of production, post-production and distribution for feature length films and creative documentary features. In cooperation with other institutions, new initiatives were established to develop activities beyond the own funding programme.