Panel: Weltklasse von hier – Wie wir internationalen Film vor Ort fördern und produzieren können

In partnership with CinEuro, the Baden-Württemberg Media and Film Company (MFG) and the North Baden Film Commission

This panel discussion also takes its cue from the forward-looking perspective of our anniversary motto, “Imagine Futures!” The discussion will focus on opportunities for the development of German cinema. Last year, Tim Fehlbaum was our guest of honor. With ›September 5‹, he succeeded in making a film from Germany that was not only internationally produced but also internationally successful, culminating in an Oscar nomination. What are the preconditions for achieving such success? What structures are needed? What can we build on? What needs to change? And are the new Film Funding Act and so-called Film Booster, introduced in 2025, helpful in this regard? In short, how can internationally successful films be developed and produced in Germany?

We want to explore these questions with three highly respected experts who have themselves been involved in bringing world-class projects to fruition:

Dr. Andreas Bareiß has been Managing Director and Artistic Director of the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg since May 2025. Previously, he worked as a media lawyer, producer, and member of the executive management team at the German subsidiary of the Gaumont Group, where he played a key role in establishing and running its Berlin office. As a producer at Gaumont, one of the projects he oversaw is the multi-award-winning international series ›In Her Car‹. He has more than 15 years of experience in the national and international film and media industries.

Nico Hofmann is one of Germany’s leading film and television producers. In 2024, he went independent and founded his own company, Nico Hofmann Film. He previously worked at UFA since 1998, most recently as CEO of the entire UFA Group. Hofmann’s work has earned him numerous national and international accolades. He was behind some of the most successful films and series, including ›Generation War‹, ›Deutschland 83‹, and ›Charité‹. Hofmann is also a professor at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg and the artistic director of the Nibelungen Festival in Worms.

Wiebke Wiesner has been Managing Director of MFG Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg since July 1, 2026, and also heads the Green Shooting working group. Previously, she served as legal counsel and deputy managing director of the German Producers Alliance (Produktionsallianz), becoming interim managing director in 2025. She was involved in the reform of the German Film Funding Act’s (FFG) collective bargaining agreements on AI and retirement benefits, and the “Respect Code Film.” Before that, she worked for 15 years at Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Moderation: Miriam Scharlibbe (Editor-in-Chief of Mannheimer Morgen and member of the German Press Council)


When and where: Fr, Nov 13 / 5–6:30 p.m. / Planken Lichtspiele

Free Admission | Language: German