The disqualifying questions first, so that nobody spends a month on an application they were never eligible for. Applicants are producers, or production companies, „die in der Lage sind, eine qualitative Durchführung der Produktion zu gewährleisten“ — able to guarantee that the production is carried out to a good standard (clause 4.1); directors and writers cannot apply for production funding themselves, only for Stoffentwicklung (story development). Broadcasters and streaming services and higher-education institutions are expressly not eligible (clause 1.3), and films by school pupils and students are in principle not funded — graduation films can be an exception (clause 4.3.1). For a theatrical feature MDM additionally requires „ein deutscher Produzent und eine nachgewiesene deutsche Auswertung“ — a German producer and evidenced German exploitation; for international co-productions, a German co-producer and evidenced exploitation interest for the German market. The hard lead time: without an advisory call at least 14 days before the cut-off the application is not processed at all, and the login for the application portal is only issued during that call — for 6 October 2026 that means by 22 September 2026. Finally, the money is not a grant but a loan repayable out of exploitation revenue (clauses 2.3 and 4.1).
MDM's Produktionsförderung is the production funding for Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and thus the fourth of the large German regional funds alongside Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFF Bayern and Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. It is a funding area, not a format-specific programme: the same Richtlinie, the same checklist („Förderart Produktion für Kino und TV“), the same advisory call and the same cut-off apply to feature films, documentaries, animation, children's films, emerging-talent features, and TV productions and series (clause 4.4), and MDM's website presents those categories merely as entrances to the same „Produktion“ pages. TV productions and series are additionally governed by the MDM-TV-Leitlinie, with its own ceilings (TV event movies €400,000, or €600,000 with a strong regional connection, scripted series and animated series €500,000 each for a first season) — much as clause 4.3.2 sets its own limit for emerging talent. Two other strands run separately and are deliberately not covered by this record: short-film production, which is open only to emerging talent based in central Germany and is awarded as a grant (clause 4.3.3); and Games & XR, which has its own Richtlinie (clause 5).
On access MDM is more open than the region's name suggests, but it ties the money to that region. The Richtlinie does not require a company seat in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia — under state aid law it may not require one (annex „AGVO“, clause 3). What it requires is a Regionaleffekt: „Bei der Förderung der Produktion … sollen mindestens die bewilligten Mittel in den Ländern Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen film-, fernseh- und medienspezifisch ausgegeben werden“ — at least the amount awarded should be spent in the three states on film, television and media-specific goods and services (clause 1.4). That is 100% of the award, noticeably less than the multipliers other regional funds apply, and the practical reason why a production based in Hamburg or Cologne is realistically eligible here. The effect is recognised on clear principles: for personal services by main residence, for company services by company seat, where the company must permanently have its seat or a branch in central Germany, be entered in the commercial register there, employ at least one full-time permanent member of staff working there, invoice through the central German entity and keep the necessary technical and staffing capacity. Flat-rate billing or the on-charging of fees through companies or agencies is not recognised. The size of the Regionaleffekt set out in the application is „wesentliches Kriterium der Förderentscheidung“ — a material criterion of the funding decision; the figure fixed in the loan agreement is binding, and if it falls the award can be cut.
On the size of the award: the Richtlinie sets neither a funding rate nor a ceiling for production. The one figure it gives concerns emerging talent — feature-length Nachwuchs films should as a rule not exceed €300,000 (clause 4.3.2). For everything else only the record of past awards helps: in 2024 MDM awarded €9,195,826.19 to 25 projects in the Produktion category and €4,633,735.64 to 26 projects in Produktion/Nachwuchs, about €13.8m in total to 51 theatrical and television projects; the largest single award listed in the annual review was €800,000. The award is capped from above by the aid intensity of 50% of total production costs, or 60% for cross-border EU productions, with difficult audiovisual works — expressly including documentaries and directors' first and second films — exempt from that limit (clause 2.4). Do not overlook the audit firm's processing fee of 3% of the maximum award up to €525,000 and 1% above it: the applicant bears it and must budget it as part of the production costs.
How hard the competition is can be quantified less well at MDM than at Medienboard, because MDM publishes neither the number of applications nor the amount applied for at each session. What can be evidenced is the size of the pot: MDM's shareholders most recently provided €19.31m a year — the Free State of Saxony €5.83m, the State of Saxony-Anhalt €3.89m, the Free State of Thuringia €3.89m, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk €3.80m and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen €1.90m (as at 2025). Out of that, the awarding committee approved €19,449,320.01 for 174 projects in 2024; the funded projects had total production costs of €190,712,517.35 and generated Regionaleffekte of €36,097,648.52 in the three states. The calendar itself gives one signal about 2026: the 17 August 2026 cut-off was open only to distribution applications and other measures, so the next production intake is 6 October 2026. MDM has published no reason for that restriction. How many production intakes the year held in total cannot be evidenced: MDM publishes only future dates, and the year's earlier dates are no longer on its pages.
On the framework: decisions are not rolling but taken at awarding sessions; cultural eligibility and the awards are decided by the managing director — André Naumann — advised by an independent Vergabeausschuss (clause 2.2). Note the state aid time limit: the Förderrichtlinie came into force on 1 January 2024, and its „AGVO“ annex permits funding „längstens bis zum 31.12.2026“ — until 31 December 2026 at the latest; applications filed for 6 October 2026 are, however, only decided on 13 January 2027, and no successor version had been published as at 26 August 2026. Only the Förderrichtlinie in its version in force at the time, MDM's Merkblätter and the information given in the advisory call are binding. This summary replaces neither the Richtlinie nor the advisory call, which is compulsory in any case.
Compulsory Beratungsgespräch (an advisory call with a funding officer) by 22 September 2026 — without it the application is not processed at all, and the login for the MAP application portal is only handed out during that call; without it, submitting is not technically possible either. That is the date which decides in practice. The submission cut-off itself is 6 October 2026, and the awarding session sits on 13 January 2027.
It is the only published production intake in the second half of 2026: the 17 August 2026 cut-off was, in MDM's words, „nur für Verleihanträge und Sonstige Maßnahmen“ — distribution applications and other measures only. The date that binds in practice is the compulsory Beratungsgespräch by 22 September 2026 — about four weeks from the 26 August 2026 baseline; without it the application is not processed, and without the MAP login issued at that call, submitting is not technically possible either. The cut-off itself, 6 October 2026, is the next published date as at 26 August 2026, and it is open.
MDM lists it on its „Förderbereiche“ page in the table „Einreichtermine 2026/2027“ with no reservation and no restriction to particular funding areas: submission 6 October 2026, advisory calls by 22 September 2026, awarding session 13 January 2027. MDM publishes only future dates there; as at 26 August 2026 the table shows two rows: 17 August 2026, open „nur für Verleihanträge und Sonstige Maßnahmen“ — distribution applications and other measures only — and 6 October 2026, with no restriction. 6 October 2026 is therefore the only documented production intake in the second half of 2026; earlier dates in the year are no longer published on MDM's pages. A conflicting date for the same session circulates on next-level-saxony.com (19 October 2026, advisory calls by 2 October 2026); MDM's current calendar governs.
Second, the life of the Förderrichtlinie: it came into force on 1 January 2024 (clause 11), and clause 1 of the „AGVO“ annex provides that funding is permissible „vom Inkrafttreten der MDM Förderrichtlinie an bis zum Ablauf der Förderrichtlinie, längstens bis zum 31.12.2026“ — from the entry into force of the Richtlinie until it expires, and at the latest until 31 December 2026. The reason is that the underlying EU General Block Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/1315) itself expires on 31 December 2026; the European Commission consulted on a successor regulation from 25 February to 23 April 2026, and no version had been adopted as at 26 August 2026. Applications filed for 6 October 2026 are decided on 13 January 2027, that is after that date, and which version the award will then rest on is not published as at 26 August 2026.
No successor or extension had appeared on MDM's download page that day — it still carries the 2024 version. Anyone planning around this should raise it in the advisory call.
Rolling submission, but hard cut-offs per session. „Die Förderanträge können laufend eingereicht werden. Den Einreichschluss für die jeweilige Sitzung entnehmen Sie bitte unseren Internetseiten“ — applications may be filed at any time, but each session has its own cut-off, published on the website (Merkblatt für Förderanträge, as at 3 March 2025).
Missing the cut-off therefore does not lose you the funding, it loses you the session, and you have to wait for the next published date; MDM does not state a fixed interval between sessions. A compulsory call comes first: „Förderanträge werden nur bearbeitet, wenn spätestens 14 Tage vor dem Einreichschluss ein Beratungsgespräch mit einem Fördermitarbeiter stattgefunden hat“ — applications are only processed if an advisory call with a funding officer took place at least 14 days before the cut-off (Merkblatt; likewise the Merkblatt Regionale Effekte and the programme pages). For 6 October 2026 MDM gives 22 September 2026 as the last date for those calls.
Submission is exclusively online through the Mitteldeutsches Antragsportal (MAP), and the login is issued „im Eignungsfall im Beratungsgespräch“ — during the advisory call, if the project is found suitable (clause 2.1; Produktion programme page). The legally binding application confirmation generated by MAP must be signed by hand, stamped with the company stamp and reach MDM by post at Petersstraße 22–24, 04109 Leipzig within five working days of the cut-off, otherwise the application is not legally effective. Incomplete applications count as not filed if they are not completed in time after a request with a deadline (clause 2.1).
Which session an application goes into is at MDM's discretion and depends on how mature the project is — meeting the cut-off does not guarantee the session. The production schedule is also governed by the ban on starting early: „Mit der Realisierung des Projektes darf nicht vor der Antragstellung begonnen worden sein“ — work on realising the project must not have begun before the application is filed; exceptions have to be applied for separately and can only be allowed in justified exceptional cases (clause 2.2), for which the checklist provides the form „ggf. vorz. Maßnahmenbeginn“.
A further deadline runs after the session: the funding commitment lapses unless the complete financing is evidenced within nine months of the award; in exceptional cases it can be extended on written request (clause 2.5). Earlier 2026 production cut-offs are no longer published on MDM's pages; 17 August 2026 was not open to production applications.
The Förderrichtlinie sets neither a funding rate nor a ceiling for production: clause 4.1 says only that funding „für die Produktion eines Projektes“ may be granted „in Form eines Darlehens“ — as a loan. Figures appear only in the special cases. Feature-length emerging-talent films: „Die Förderung erfolgt als bedingt rückzahlbares Darlehen.
Die Fördersumme soll i.d.R. 300.000 EUR nicht überschreiten“ (clause 4.3.2) — Nachwuchs covers writers and directors making their first, second or third feature and production companies founded no more than three years ago (clause 4.3.1). TV productions and series are additionally governed by the MDM-TV-Leitlinie, with its own ceilings: TV event movies €400,000 (€600,000 with a strong regional connection), scripted series and animated series €500,000 each for a first season. The scale of regular production funding can therefore only be evidenced empirically: in the 2024 annual review the Produktion category accounted for €9,195,826.19 across 25 projects (about €368,000 on average) and Produktion/Nachwuchs for €4,633,735.64 across 26 projects (about €178,000 on average); the largest single award listed in that report was €800,000 (for the thriller series „Droneland“), followed by €750,000, €700,000 and €600,000.
The Produktion category pools theatrical and television projects, so the roughly €368,000 average is a figure for the whole category, not a theatrical-only figure. The money is an erfolgsbedingt rückzahlbares Darlehen (a loan repayable out of success, i.e. out of exploitation revenue) under clauses 2.3 and 4.1, not a grant. It is capped from above by the aid intensity: MDM funding together with other public funding may not exceed 50% of total production costs, rising to 60% for cross-border productions financed by more than one EU member state with producers from more than one member state; difficult audiovisual works within the meaning of the EU Cinema Communication — short films, first and second films by directors, documentaries, works with low total production costs — are exempt from those limits under clause 2.4; the annex, which applies with priority, permits an aid intensity of up to 100% of eligible costs for them (no. 7(b)).
The financing must include an Eigenanteil (own contribution) of appropriate size that is independent of the funding loan (clause 4.1.3). The budget itself is capped: for theatrical productions the producer's fee is at most €15,000 where production costs are up to €300,000, at most €25,000 where they are above €300,000 and up to €500,000, and above €500,000 up to 5% of recognised production costs excluding the producer's fee, but never more than €250,000; no profit line is recognised for theatrical productions. For feature-length films, Handlungskosten (production overheads) are recognised at 10% of Fertigungskosten (direct production costs) up to €5,000,000 and at 5% above €5,000,000.01, capped at €650,000.
A case-by-case decision advised by a committee, with no legal entitlement. „Über die kulturelle Förderwürdigkeit und die Vergabe der Fördermittel entscheidet der Geschäftsführer der MDM. Dabei wird er von einem Vergabeausschuss beraten“ (clause 2.2) — the managing director decides on cultural eligibility and on awards, advised by the Vergabeausschuss (awarding committee); the managing director is André Naumann.
Committee members are independent, not bound by instructions, and sworn to secrecy about the content, the application documents, the deliberations and the recommendations. Decisions are not rolling but taken at Vergabesitzungen (awarding sessions); all applications filed for one cut-off go to the next session together, and MDM decides at its discretion which session an application is put into, depending on how mature the project is (clause 2.1). MDM commissions an external reader at its own discretion and its own cost; readers are contractually bound to confidentiality.
„Die Vergabe von Fördermitteln kann nur im Rahmen der Mittel erfolgen, die der MDM zur Verfügung stehen. Ein Rechtsanspruch auf Förderung besteht nicht“ — awards can only be made within the funds available to MDM, and there is no entitlement to funding (clause 2.2). A rejected application may not be submitted again (Merkblatt für Förderanträge).
The funding is state aid under the EU General Block Exemption Regulation, Regulation (EU) No 651/2014, Articles 31, 53 and 54 (clause 10.2); the statements made in the application are subsidy-relevant, and § 264 of the German Criminal Code makes subsidy fraud an offence (clause 10.1).
01Applicants are producers, or production companies, „die in der Lage sind, eine qualitative Durchführung der Produktion zu gewährleisten“ — able to guarantee that the production is carried out to a good standard (clause 4.1). Directors and writers cannot apply for production funding in their own name — only for Stoffentwicklung, story development (clause 3.1.1).
02Excluded across the board: „Fernseh- bzw. Streamingveranstalter sowie Hochschulen sind nicht antragsberechtigt“ — broadcasters and streaming services, and higher-education institutions, are not eligible (clause 1.3). Funding may only be granted to recipients where proper delivery of the project appears assured and who can evidence that the money was used as intended.
03Films by school pupils and by students are in principle not funded; graduation films can be an exception (clause 4.3.1).
04For a theatrical feature MDM names two additional conditions: „ein deutscher Produzent und eine nachgewiesene deutsche Auswertung“ — a German producer and evidenced German exploitation. For international co-productions these become a German co-producer and evidenced exploitation interest for the German market; majority co-productions shooting in central Germany are funded, as are minority co-productions where, for instance, the post-production takes place there.
05No seat in the region required: the Richtlinie does not tie funding to a company seat in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia. Under state aid law it may not do so; all that may be required is that the recipient has a place of business or branch in Germany at the time the aid is paid out (annex „AGVO“, clause 3(a)).
01An advisory call with a funding officer — compulsory, not recommended. It must have taken place at least 14 days before the cut-off, which for 6 October 2026 means by 22 September 2026. Only during that call, and only if the project is found suitable, is the login for the Mitteldeutsches Antragsportal (MAP) issued.
02Applications are filed exclusively online through the Mitteldeutsches Antragsportal (MAP). „Anträge für alle Förderbereiche können nur online eingereicht werden“ — applications in every funding area can only be filed online (clause 2.1); there is no postal or email route.
03The legally binding application confirmation generated by MAP: signed by hand by the person authorised to sign for the company, stamped with the company stamp, and sent by post to reach MDM at Petersstraße 22–24, 04109 Leipzig within five working days of the cut-off. Without it the application is not legally effective.
04Details of the company and its profile and of its owners and shareholders; a commercial register extract in its most up-to-date form and a list of shareholders, or failing that a business registration and the articles of association, and for partnerships the partnership agreement; if none of these exists, the tax office's notification of the tax number.
05A current, complete annual financial statement — balance sheet and profit and loss account with the account listing, notes and where applicable a management report, or failing that a current income-and-expenditure account — prepared by the applicant's tax adviser and signed by management. It must be filed on paper by post, not digitally. On a first loan application it must additionally carry the tax adviser's signed certificate of preparation with a plausibility assessment.
As early as possible, and by 22 September 2026 at the latestCompulsory advisory call„Förderanträge werden nur bearbeitet, wenn spätestens 14 Tage vor dem Einreichschluss ein Beratungsgespräch mit einem Fördermitarbeiter stattgefunden hat“ — applications are only processed if an advisory call with a funding officer took place at least 14 days before the cut-off. Only during that call, and only if the project is found suitable, is the login for the MAP portal issued — so without it, submitting on 6 October 2026 is neither permitted nor technically possible. This, not the cut-off itself, is the date that decides in practice.
6 October 2026Submission cut-off in the MAP portalThe application is filed exclusively online in the Mitteldeutsches Antragsportal. Incomplete applications count as not filed if they are not completed in time after a request with a deadline. MDM publishes no time of day for the cut-off. It is the only published production intake in the second half of 2026 — 17 August 2026 was open to distribution applications and other measures only.
Within five working days of 6 October 2026Signed application confirmation by postThe legally binding application confirmation generated by MAP must be signed by hand, stamped with the company stamp and reach MDM by post at Petersstraße 22–24, 04109 Leipzig, in order to make the application legally effective. The current annual financial statement also goes by post, on paper.
October 2026 to January 2027Assessment, external reader and allocation to a session
MDM publishes its own funding base. Its shareholders most recently provided €19.31m a year: the Free State of Saxony €5.83m (including supplementary funding), the State of Saxony-Anhalt €3.89m, the Free State of Thuringia €3.89m, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk €3.80m and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen €1.90m (as at 2025). The 2024 annual review already shows the same amounts for 2024 (€19,313,316); this is not an increase on 2024.
The 2024 annual review puts the sum actually awarded at €19,449,320.01 across 174 film and media projects. Of that, the funding area described here accounted for €9,195,826.19 in the Produktion category across 25 projects and €4,633,735.64 in Produktion/Nachwuchs across 26 projects — about €13.8m in total for 51 theatrical and television projects, a good 71% of the whole volume. The funded projects had total production costs of €190,712,517.35, and the Regionaleffekte achieved in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia came to €36,097,648.52.
For comparison: Film- und Medienstiftung NRW reported about €38.2m for 2025 and FFF Bayern €43.1m including money from the Bayerischer BankenFonds — MDM is therefore the smallest of the four large regional funds, but a high share of its volume goes straight into production. No annual report for 2025 had been published as at 26 August 2026; the most recent reliable annual figures are those for 2024.
Unlike Medienboard, MDM publishes neither the number of applications nor the amount applied for at its awarding sessions, so no success rate can be evidenced. Only the distribution of awards is reliable: in 2024, 51 theatrical and television projects were funded in the Produktion category, the largest single award listed in the annual review was €800,000 (for the thriller series „Droneland“), followed by €750,000, €700,000, €600,000 and €580,000, with the bulk falling between €100,000 and €500,000. What the 2026 calendar means is open: MDM publishes only future dates, and as at 26 August 2026 the table „Einreichtermine 2026/2027“ shows only two rows — 17 August 2026, expressly open „nur für Verleihanträge und Sonstige Maßnahmen“ — distribution applications and other measures only — and 6 October 2026, with no restriction.
Earlier dates in the year are no longer published, and MDM has given no reason for the restriction on 17 August 2026. Submitting early within a window brings no advantage, since all applications go to the same session — what counts is completeness, a convincingly presented Regionaleffekt, and the advisory call that has to precede everything. Note too that a rejected application may not be submitted again; there is no second attempt with the same project.
The stages before and after sit inside the same Förderrichtlinie and all share the same schedule and the same 6 October 2026 cut-off: Stoffentwicklung (story development) under clause 3.1, for which writers and directors may apply in their own name — the loan should not exceed €30,000 where the production company applies and €25,000 where a writer or director does; Projektentwicklung (project development) under clause 3.2 with up to €100,000 for acquiring rights, reworking the screenplay, dramaturgy, research, location scouting, casting and green consulting, which should as a rule be completed before production funding is applied for; Paketförderung (slate funding) under clause 3.3 for three to five developments in one application, with up to €200,000 under the Richtlinie, although the Merkblatt für Förderanträge names €150,000; and distribution and sales funding under clause 6, open to distribution and sales companies and in individual cases to producers. Anyone who does not meet the conditions for production funding has three realistic routes: develop the material further through Stoff- or Projektentwicklung first; as emerging talent, go through the Nachwuchs funding under clause 4.3, where the award should as a rule not exceed €300,000 but where evidence of distributor interest can be waived in justified cases; or co-produce with a production company that then applies. Governed separately are short-film production, open only to emerging talent based in central Germany and awarded as a grant (clause 4.3.3); the Pilotprogramm for micro-budget films, accessible only by invitation, with grants of up to €250,000 (clause 4.3.4); and Games & XR under clause 5, which has its own Richtlinie. TV and series funding under clause 4.4, by contrast, belongs to this record — the same checklist, the same advisory call and the same cut-off — supplemented by the MDM-TV-Leitlinie's own ceilings and the Merkblatt „Serielle Formate“. Alongside the regional funds sit the federal DFFF I and the German Motion Picture Fund, and the production funding of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFF Bayern and Film- und Medienstiftung NRW; cumulation is possible and is capped through the aid intensity under clause 2.4. For emerging-talent projects the Talentfilmförderung consolidated at the Kuratorium junger deutscher Film since 2026 is a further option, to which MDM expressly points on its own Nachwuchs page.
These notes stay in German on purpose: they quote the conflicting sources word for word, and a caveat is the first thing lost in translation.
01Terminkonflikt: Die MDM führt auf ihrer Seite „Förderbereiche“ in der Tabelle „Einreichtermine 2026/2027“ den 06.10.2026 (Beratung bis 22.09.2026, Vergabesitzung 13.01.2027). Die Seite next-level-saxony.com nennt für dieselbe Sitzung den 19.10.2026 (Beratung bis 02.10.2026) und für die vorangehende Sitzung den 04.11.2026 statt 05.11.2026. Der Datensatz folgt der MDM als Quelle höherer Stufe und geht davon aus, dass die Drittseite einen früheren Kalenderstand wiedergibt. Bei der nächsten Prüfung ist zu kontrollieren, ob die MDM den Termin erneut verschoben hat. Frühere 2026er-Termine (etwa 02.02. und 13.04.2026), die auf Drittseiten kursieren, sind nicht aus einer Quelle der Stufe 1 oder 2 belegt und werden deshalb im Datensatz nicht übernommen.
02Uhrzeit des Einreichschlusses: Weder das Merkblatt für Förderanträge noch die Seite „Förderbereiche“ nennen für den 06.10.2026 eine Uhrzeit. Der Datensatz nennt deshalb keine.
03Grund der Einschränkung des Termins am 17.08.2026: Die MDM schreibt nur „nur für Verleihanträge und Sonstige Maßnahmen“ und veröffentlicht keine Begründung. Eine Websuche legt ein hohes Antragsaufkommen nahe, dafür gibt es aber keine Quelle der Stufe 1 oder 2. Der Datensatz stellt die Tatsache fest und nennt keinen Grund. Im Beratungsgespräch zu klären.
04Geltungsdauer der Förderrichtlinie: Die Richtlinie ist am 01.01.2024 in Kraft getreten (Ziffer 11) und nennt selbst kein Außerkrafttreten; die Anlage „AGVO“ bestimmt in Ziffer 1, dass die Förderung „längstens bis zum 31.12.2026“ zulässig ist. Über die zum 06.10.2026 eingereichten Anträge entscheidet die Vergabesitzung am 13.01.2027. Auf welcher Fassung eine Bewilligung dann beruht und ob die MDM die Richtlinie verlängert oder neu fasst, ist am 26.08.2026 nicht veröffentlicht; die Downloadseite verlinkt weiterhin die Fassung 2024. Das ist die wichtigste offene Frage dieses Datensatzes.
On international co-productions the German financing share is the reference figure throughout (Merkblatt für Förderanträge, as at 3 March 2025). You must also budget for the processing fee charged by the audit firm MDM appoints — currently PricewaterhouseCoopers: it is 3% of the maximum award for loans and grants up to €525,000, and 1% on any amount above €525,000. The applicant bears the fee and must budget it as part of the production costs; the trustee mandate to PwC is compulsory for awards above €25,000.
Payment is made in instalments against evidenced project progress and presupposes that the total financing has been evidenced (clause 2.5); from €25,000 of funding onward, instructing the mandated audit firm is compulsory (Merkblatt). Repayment comes out of exploitation revenue: the obligation arises at the latest once the producer's priority recoupment recognised by MDM has been covered, and ends on full repayment or at the end of the repayment period fixed in the loan agreement; prize money does not count as revenue, and where several funders are involved repayment should follow their respective shares (clause 4.1.5). Repaid amounts remain available to the producer for up to three years from the start of the repayment obligation, for preparing or making a new project — as a rule again as a conditionally repayable loan (clause 4.1.7).
06
Regionaleffekt instead of a seat: „Bei der Förderung der Produktion von Film-, Fernseh- und weiteren audiovisuellen Medienproduktionen (Nr. 4 und 5) … sollen mindestens die bewilligten Mittel in den Ländern Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen film-, fernseh- und medienspezifisch ausgegeben werden“ — at least the amount awarded should be spent in the three states on film, television and media-specific goods and services (clause 1.4). The Merkblatt Regionale Effekte adds that the planned spend must be budgeted at least at the level of the funding applied for and broken down in the cost plan by Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia individually.
07The Regionaleffekt is not only a condition but a selection criterion: „Die Höhe des im Antrag dargestellten Regionaleffekts ist wesentliches Kriterium der Förderentscheidung“ — its size is a material criterion of the funding decision. The figure set out in the loan agreement is binding; if it falls, or if the split between the three states changes, the award can be cut.
08Recognising services tied to individuals: the governing principle is main residence, evidenced by a registration certificate or a certificate from the tax office; the recognition of employer's social security contributions follows the same principle. Flat-rate billing or the on-charging of fees through companies or agencies is not recognised. A crew member without main residence in central Germany who is employed for at least six months by a company headquartered there, working there, is recognised at 50%. Per diems and overnight allowances follow the shooting location instead, and actual attendance per shooting day.
09Recognising services tied to companies: the governing principle is company seat, and the conditions are cumulative — the company must permanently have its seat or a branch in central Germany and be entered in the commercial register in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia or hold a business registration there, employ at least one full-time permanent member of staff working in central Germany, do its detailed invoicing through the central German entity, and keep the technical and staffing capacity needed to deliver the service. It must additionally be evidenced that the work is actually carried out in central Germany; subcontracting counts only where the people or firms actually performing the work are themselves based there. Travel costs follow their own rules: hire cars by the location of the rental station, rail journeys by departure or arrival point, flights by the seat of the travel agency that booked them, hotel nights by the location of the hotel.
10Eigenanteil (own contribution): „Für die Finanzierung des Vorhabens ist in angemessenem Umfang ein förderdarlehensunabhängiger Eigenanteil zu erbringen“ — the financing must include an own contribution of appropriate size, independent of the funding loan (clause 4.1.3). MDM names no percentage for production funding. It can be provided by, among other things, cash confirmed by a bank, third-party funds lent with an unconditional repayment obligation, deferrals by third parties and deferred own services — the latter up to a maximum of 25% of the budgeted production costs — distribution and sales guarantees, television and video licences to the extent paid in cash during production, and prize money tied to the project.
11No early start: „Mit der Realisierung des Projektes darf nicht vor der Antragstellung begonnen worden sein. Ausnahmen vom Verbot eines vorzeitigen Beginns der Projektrealisierung müssen gesondert beantragt und können in begründeten Ausnahmefällen zugelassen werden“ — work on realising the project must not have begun before the application is filed; exceptions must be applied for separately and can be allowed only in justified exceptional cases (clause 2.2). Under state aid law the written application must be made before work on the project begins (annex „AGVO“, clause 6).
12The advisory call is a precondition of processing: „Förderanträge werden nur bearbeitet, wenn spätestens 14 Tage vor dem Einreichschluss ein Beratungsgespräch mit einem Fördermitarbeiter stattgefunden hat“ — applications are only processed if an advisory call with a funding officer took place at least 14 days before the cut-off (Merkblatt für Förderanträge, as at 3 March 2025). The login for the MAP application portal is issued „im Eignungsfall im Beratungsgespräch“ — during that call, if the project is found suitable.
13No entitlement, and only one attempt: „Die Vergabe von Fördermitteln kann nur im Rahmen der Mittel erfolgen, die der MDM zur Verfügung stehen. Ein Rechtsanspruch auf Förderung besteht nicht“ — awards can only be made within the funds available to MDM, and there is no entitlement to funding (clause 2.2). And: „Anträge, die abgelehnt werden, können nicht nochmals eingereicht werden“ — a rejected application may not be submitted again (Merkblatt für Förderanträge).
14Cumulation and aid intensity: MDM funding and other public funding may complement one another provided the state aid intensity does not exceed 50% of total production costs; for cross-border productions financed by more than one EU member state with producers from more than one member state it may reach 60%. Difficult audiovisual works — the Richtlinie expressly names short films, first and second films by directors, documentaries, works with low total production costs and other commercially difficult works — are exempt from those limits (clause 2.4).
15Content reservation: projects that infringe the constitution or the law, or that violate personality rights or moral or religious sensibilities, cannot be funded; projects whose content is pornographic, glorifies violence or endangers young people are expressly ineligible (clause 1.5). A breach entitles MDM to terminate the loan without notice at any time, with an immediate obligation to repay (clause 2.6).
16State aid exclusions: undertakings in difficulty within the meaning of Article 2(18) of Regulation (EU) No 651/2014, and undertakings that have not complied with a recovery order following an earlier European Commission decision, are excluded from funding (annex „AGVO“, clause 2).
17Ecological and socially fair production: „Die geförderten Projekte haben sich an einer ökologischen und sozial gerechten Produktionsweise zu orientieren“ — funded projects must align themselves with an ecological and socially fair way of producing (clause 1.2). The application includes a self-declaration on pay in line with collective agreements, on service providers from central Germany in the areas of rental, post-production (sound and picture), VFX and animation, and on compliance with the Ökologische Standards. Positive effects on training and further training in film and media occupations are to be borne in mind (clause 1.4).
18The following points are not access conditions but contractual and exploitation obligations. They nevertheless bear on the budget, the schedule and the rights negotiation, and so belong before the application rather than after it.
19After the award, not a precondition — evidence of total financing: payment presupposes that the total financing has been evidenced. „Die Förderzusage erlischt, wenn die vollständige Finanzierung nicht neun Monate nach dem Zeitpunkt der Bewilligung nachgewiesen wird“ — the commitment lapses unless the complete financing is evidenced within nine months of the award; in exceptional cases it can be extended on written request (clause 2.5).
20After the award, not a precondition — audit fee and trustee: for projects with awards above €25,000 (other than Stoffentwicklung) the applicant is obliged to instruct the audit firm MDM has mandated — currently PricewaterhouseCoopers — at the applicant's own cost. The fee is 3% of the maximum award up to €525,000 and 1% on any amount above that; it must be budgeted as part of the production costs.
21After the award, not a precondition — repayment: there is an obligation to repay the funding loan out of exploitation revenue. It arises at the latest once the producer's priority recoupment recognised by MDM has been covered, and ends on full repayment or at the end of the repayment period fixed in the loan agreement. Prize money does not count as revenue. Where several funders are involved, repayment should follow their respective shares; a lower priority or a repayment corridor agreed with another funder applies to MDM as well (clause 4.1.5).
22After the award, not a precondition — holdbacks and rights: the holdback periods of the Filmförderungsgesetz (FFG) in its version in force apply to the exploitation of funded theatrical films, and MDM follows any shortening granted by the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) (clause 4.2.1). Where television rights are transferred, the term of the domestic broadcast rights must be limited in line with the FFG and the FFA's guideline (clause 4.2.2). For SVOD and VOD the split of rights between the producer and the exploitation partner must be balanced in proportion to their stakes in the project, with public funding counting as the producer's contribution (clause 4.2.3).
23After the award, not a precondition — archive print, premiere and credit: evidence must be provided that an archive-quality copy has been deposited with a public institution in Germany (clause 4.1.6). Funded projects should hold a premiere in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia (clause 1.4). The funding must be credited in the opening or closing titles and on all suitable promotional material, using the wording „Gefördert durch“, „Mit finanzieller Unterstützung von“ or „In Zusammenarbeit mit“ together with the complete MDM logo obtained digitally from MDM; MDM must be named in the same form, size, duration and position as any other film funding institution.
24After the award, not a precondition — transparency and criminal law: from €100,000 of funding onwards, extensive information and publication duties apply, including publication of the recipient's name, its group of companies, the type of undertaking (SME or large), the sector and the full amount of the aid element on a freely accessible website (annex „AGVO“, clause 6). MDM grants state aid, and § 264 of the German Criminal Code makes subsidy fraud an offence (clause 10.1).
25Relaxed conditions: for animation, documentary, children and youth, emerging talent, and low-budget productions and difficult audiovisual works within the meaning of the EU Cinema Communication, clauses 4.1.2 (application documents) and 4.1.3 (own contribution) may be departed from (clause 4.1.1).
06A synopsis on one A4 page.
07The screenplay — in German and with a list of the characters — or, for documentaries, a project description. MDM commissions an external reader at its own discretion and its own cost; readers are contractually bound to confidentiality.
08Visual aids and/or a pitch deck — storyboard, location photographs, character designs, tableaus — and where available viewing links, references or a teaser.
09A producer's note and a director's note.
10Shooting or production data: the start of shooting or of production, the number of shooting or production days and how many of them fall in central Germany, and the completion date; where applicable a list of the locations planned in central Germany. The Richtlinie additionally requires an overview of the intended shooting locations (clause 4.1.2).
11Crew and service-provider lists: crew from central Germany with their address — at minimum main residence with postcode and town — details of the head-of-department positions including main residence, and a list of service providers from central Germany.
12A cast or voice list with name, role and status — confirmed, approached or proposed — together with details of the leads or principal voices.
13A declaration on training and further training.
14A detailed budget in the customary industry form, as a rule calculated net, breaking out the Regionaleffekte separately for Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia and setting out the regional effects owed to other funders under their own guidelines. For international co-productions, additionally a total budget and a budget for the German co-production share.
15A detailed financing plan with each element named exactly — loan applied for from MDM, film funding other than MDM, other public funds, licences, guarantees, third-party funds, deferrals by third parties, deferred own services, cash and credit, total financing — and with the state of negotiations and the decision dates for each. For international co-productions it must be presented country by country (cf. EURIMAGES).
16A detailed viability assessment (clause 4.1.2) and a presentation of the co-production structure in a table giving company, place and country, type of agreement, financing share in per cent and the exclusive rights held.
17A presentation of the chain of title.
18Distribution and sales: a letter of intent, and where available contracts or a deal memo from the German distributor and, if applicable, the world sales agent. Broadcasters and platforms: a letter of intent from the German broadcast or VoD partner. Such evidence need only be filed for television and theatrical exploitation, where it exists.
19An exploitation strategy on one A4 page covering world sales, market appeal (target audience, positioning against comparable films), market entry (festival strategy) and a viability assessment including the planned number of prints, release costs and best, middle and low case scenarios. The Richtlinie additionally requires letters of intent on exploitation from which it should be apparent which exploitation rights remain with the producer (clause 4.1.4).
20A self-declaration on pay in line with collective agreements, on service providers from central Germany in the areas of rental, post-production (sound and picture), VFX and animation, and on compliance with the Ökologische Standards (ecological standards for German productions).
21A declaration that the project is a new undertaking, and where applicable an application for consent to start work early (vorzeitiger Maßnahmenbeginn).
22After the award, not before: evidence of the underlying rights, of the financing and of the co-production does not have to be filed with the application — it is supplied later, when the contract is drawn up. Evidence of the total financing must be provided within nine months of the award.
MDM commissions an external reader at its own discretion and its own cost; readers are contractually bound to confidentiality. „Die Entscheidung, in welche Sitzung des Vergabeausschusses der Antrag gegeben wird, ist abhängig von der Reife des Projektes und liegt im Ermessen der MDM“ — which session of the awarding committee an application goes into depends on how mature the project is and is at MDM's discretion (clause 2.1), so meeting the cut-off does not guarantee the 13 January 2027 session.
13 January 2027Awarding session and funding decisionThe Vergabeausschuss advises and the managing director of MDM decides (clause 2.2). A good three months therefore separate the cut-off from the decision. There is no entitlement to funding, and a rejected application may not be submitted again.
Within nine months of the awardEvidence of the total financing„Die Förderzusage erlischt, wenn die vollständige Finanzierung nicht neun Monate nach dem Zeitpunkt der Bewilligung nachgewiesen wird. In Ausnahmefällen kann auf schriftlichen Antrag eine Verlängerung gewährt werden“ — the commitment lapses unless the complete financing is evidenced within nine months of the award; in exceptional cases an extension can be granted on written request (clause 2.5). The evidence not required at application stage — underlying rights, financing, co-production — must be supplied by the time the contract is drawn up at the latest.
After the loan agreement is signed, staggered by project progressPayment in instalments„Die Auszahlung der Darlehen erfolgt in Raten entsprechend dem nachgewiesenen Projektfortschritt“ — loans are paid out in instalments against evidenced project progress (clause 2.5). From €25,000 of funding onward, instructing the mandated audit firm is compulsory (Merkblatt). Its processing fee — 3% of the maximum award up to €525,000, 1% above — is borne by the applicant and must be budgeted as part of the production costs.
After completion and throughout the exploitationFinal accounting, premiere, archive print and repaymentThe Verwendungsnachweis (final accounting proof) must be filed on MDM's form, together with evidence that an archive-quality copy has been deposited with a public institution in Germany (clause 4.1.6); the premiere should take place in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia (clause 1.4). Repayment comes out of exploitation revenue once the recognised producer's priority recoupment has been covered (clause 4.1.5), and revenue must be reported to MDM on the Erlösmitteilung form. Repaid amounts remain available for up to three years from the start of the repayment obligation for a new project, as a rule again as a conditionally repayable loan (clause 4.1.7).
05Keine veröffentlichte Obergrenze: Ziffer 4.1 nennt für die reguläre Produktionsförderung weder Fördersatz noch Höchstbetrag; deshalb amountMax: null und amountUnbounded: true. Die im Datensatz genannten 800.000 € sind die höchste im Jahresrückblick 2024 ausgewiesene Einzelfördersumme, keine Obergrenze. Sollte die MDM eine Obergrenze veröffentlichen, ist das Amount-Modell zu ändern.
06amountRate ist bewusst nicht gesetzt. Die 50 % beziehungsweise 60 % aus Ziffer 2.4 sind eine beihilferechtliche Kumulierungsgrenze für die Summe aller öffentlichen Mittel, kein Fördersatz der MDM. Ein eigener Fördersatz ist nicht veröffentlicht.
07Die 300.000 € für programmfüllende Nachwuchsfilme sind eine Soll-Vorschrift: „Die Fördersumme soll i.d.R. 300.000 EUR nicht überschreiten“ (Ziffer 4.3.2). amountLabel, amountLabelEn und amountDetail* geben seit der Überarbeitung vom 26.08.2026 die Regelgrenze („in der Regel bis“ / „normally up to“) statt einer Höchstgrenze wieder; im begründeten Einzelfall kann die Summe überschritten werden.
08Widerspruch bei der Paketförderung: Ziffer 3.3.2 der Richtlinie nennt 200.000 €, das Merkblatt für Förderanträge (Stand 03.03.2025) nennt „bis zu 150.000,00 €“. Der Datensatz nennt beide Zahlen in context.relatedNote und trifft keine Entscheidung, weil die Paketförderung nicht Gegenstand dieses Datensatzes ist. Für einen künftigen eigenen Datensatz zur Entwicklungsförderung ist der Konflikt zu klären; nach Quellenstufe ginge die Richtlinie vor.
09Mindestlänge: Die MDM definiert weder „Langfilm“ noch „programmfüllend“ mit einer Minutenzahl – anders als Medienboard (79 beziehungsweise 59 Minuten). Der Datensatz nennt deshalb keine Mindestlänge. Im Beratungsgespräch zu klären.
10Höhe des Eigenanteils: Ziffer 4.1.3 verlangt einen förderdarlehensunabhängigen Eigenanteil „in angemessenem Umfang“ ohne Prozentzahl. Eine Zahl nennt das Merkblatt nur für die Projektentwicklung (Verzicht möglich bei Kalkulationen bis 60.000 €) und die Paketförderung. Der Datensatz nennt deshalb für die Produktion keinen Prozentsatz.
11Stand des Merkblatts Regionale Effekte: 01.12.2017, und es verweist auf „Förderrichtlinie Ziffer 1.3“, während die regionalen Effekte in der Fassung 2024 in Ziffer 1.4 stehen. Inhaltlich stimmen beide überein (Regionaleffekt mindestens in Höhe der bewilligten beziehungsweise beantragten Mittel); der Datensatz folgt der Richtlinie und zitiert das Merkblatt nur für die Anerkennungskriterien.
12Abgrenzung Ziffer 1.4 zum Merkblatt: Die Richtlinie stellt auf „mindestens die bewilligten Mittel“ ab, das Merkblatt auf „mindestens in der Höhe der bei der MDM beantragten Förderung“. Beide ergeben 100 %, beziehen sich aber auf unterschiedliche Bezugsgrößen (bewilligt gegenüber beantragt). Der Datensatz nennt beide Formulierungen.
13Jahreszahlen: Ein Geschäftsbericht für 2025 war am 26.08.2026 nicht veröffentlicht – die Presseseite der MDM listet als jüngsten den Jahresrückblick 2024. Alle Verteilungs- und Volumenangaben im Datensatz beziehen sich deshalb auf 2024, die Gesellschaftermittel auf den auf der Seite „Über uns“ ausgewiesenen Stand 2025.
14Sitzungssummen 2026 nicht übernommen: Websuchen nennen für die Vergabesitzungen 2026 Summen von 5.811.640,20 € (07.01.2026), 5.185.500,00 € (21.04.2026) und 4.541.700,00 € (24.06.2026). Die zugehörigen MDM-Pressemitteilungen sind unter ihren alten URLs seit dem Website-Relaunch nicht mehr erreichbar (HTTP 404), und die Nachrichtenliste der neuen Seite lädt nur per JavaScript. Diese Zahlen sind deshalb nicht in den Datensatz übernommen. Bei der nächsten Prüfung erneut versuchen.
15Einzelfördersummen 2026 nicht ermittelbar: Die Datenbank „Geförderte Projekte“ der MDM filtert ausschließlich über eine JavaScript-gestützte Solr-Schnittstelle, die sich ohne Browser nicht ansprechen ließ. Die Verteilungsangaben stammen deshalb aus dem Jahresrückblick 2024. Für eine aktuelle Verteilung ist die Seite im Browser auszuwerten.
16formats enthält kinospielfilm, dokumentarfilm, animationsfilm, kinderfilm, fernsehfilm und serie, weil Ziffer 4.4 innerhalb der Produktionsförderung steht, die Checkliste „Förderart Produktion für Kino und TV“ für alle gilt und die Seite /foerderung/tv-serie/produktion dieselbe Checkliste, dasselbe Beratungsgespräch und denselben Einreichtermin ausweist; die TV-Leitlinie gilt „ergänzend“ und setzt nur zusätzliche Höchstgrenzen, wie es Ziffer 4.3.2 für den Nachwuchs auch tut. Nicht enthalten sind kurzfilm (Zuschuss statt Darlehen, Ansässigkeit in Mitteldeutschland, keine Checkliste Produktion) und immersiv (eigene Richtlinie Games & XR).
17Regionen-Zuordnung: regions führt sachsen, sachsen-anhalt und thueringen; region ist sachsen, weil der Freistaat Sachsen mit 5,83 Mio. € der größte Gesellschafter ist und die MDM ihren Sitz in Leipzig hat. Die drei Länder sind förderrechtlich gleichrangig; die Reihenfolge ist eine Anzeigeentscheidung, keine inhaltliche Gewichtung.
18contactEmail: Ein zentrales Förderpostfach veröffentlicht die MDM nicht. Der Datensatz nennt den Leiter des Förderbereichs, Dr. Markus Görsch, der auf den Seiten Spielfilm, TV-Event und -Serie sowie Internationale Koproduktionen als Ansprechperson ausgewiesen ist. Für Dokumentarfilm ist Alrun Ziemendorf zuständig, für Kinderfilm Britta Marciniak, für Nachwuchs und Drehbuch Dana Messerschmidt. Wer ein Beratungsgespräch vereinbart, sollte die formatspezifische Ansprechperson wählen.
19applyUrl verweist auf die Login-Seite des Mitteldeutschen Antragsportals. Ein Selbstregistrierungsweg ist nicht veröffentlicht; die Zugangsdaten werden „im Eignungsfall im Beratungsgespräch“ ausgegeben. Die URL führt also nicht zu einem sofort nutzbaren Antrag.
20Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft: Das Merkblatt nennt „derzeit die PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft“ (Stand 03.03.2025). Ob der Geschäftsbesorgungs- und Treuhandvertrag am 26.08.2026 noch mit PwC besteht, ist nicht gesondert belegt; der Datensatz übernimmt die Formulierung „derzeit“.
21Sperrfristen: Ziffer 4.2.1 verweist auf das Filmförderungsgesetz „in der jeweils geltenden Fassung“. Nach der FFG-Novelle ist zu prüfen, welche Sperrfristen für zum 06.10.2026 eingereichte Projekte tatsächlich gelten; der Datensatz gibt nur den Verweis wieder und nennt keine Fristlängen.
22Nachwuchsdefinition: Nach Ziffer 4.3.1 gelten als Nachwuchs Autorinnen und Autoren sowie Regisseurinnen und Regisseure beim ersten, zweiten oder dritten Langfilm und Produktionsfirmen, deren Gründung nicht länger als drei Jahre zurückliegt und deren Geschäftsführung am Beginn ihres Berufslebens in dieser Funktion steht. Ob die Zuordnung zur Kategorie Produktion oder Produktion/Nachwuchs im Einzelfall der antragstellenden Seite oder der MDM obliegt, ist nicht veröffentlicht.
23Der Name des Datensatzes wurde am 26.08.2026 auf „Produktionsförderung für Kino und TV“ geändert. Die MDM selbst verwendet diese Formulierung als Titel ihrer Checkliste („Förderart Produktion für Kino und TV“) für exakt diese Förderart; sie deckt Kino und TV/Serie gemeinsam ab (vgl. formats) und unterscheidet sich damit von der gleichnamigen „Produktionsförderung“ bei Medienboard, FFF Bayern und Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. Die id bleibt stabil (mdm-produktion-kinofilm).
24App-seitige Darstellungslücke, Region: Der Filter ist nicht betroffen – er greift auf das Array regions zu, die Förderung ist also unter Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen auffindbar, und die Faktentabelle der Detailseite nennt alle drei Länder. Falsch ist die Anzeige: Die Listenzeile und der Hero der Detailseite zeigen nur regions[0], also „Sachsen“. Der Schaden liegt damit nicht in der Auffindbarkeit, sondern umgekehrt und größer: Unsichtbar wird das stärkste Zugangsargument dieses Programms – die Förderung umfasst drei Länder, und einen Sitz in der Region verlangt sie nicht; die Richtlinie knüpft die Förderung nicht daran, und beihilferechtlich darf sie es nicht (Anlage „AGVO“, Ziffer 3). Verlangt wird allein der Regionaleffekt in Höhe von 100 % der bewilligten Mittel, was eine Produktion aus Hamburg, Köln oder Berlin realistisch antragsberechtigt macht. Wer dort sitzt, liest in der Zeile „Sachsen“, hält das Programm für fremdes Terrain und scrollt weiter. Das ist ein falsch negatives Signal auf der Oberfläche, der der Leser zuerst begegnet: Anders als ein verpasster Filtertreffer ist es für die Leserin unsichtbar und lässt sich nicht nachträglich einholen. region ist ein geschlossenes Taxonomiefeld und „Mitteldeutschland“ dort nicht registriert, kann also nicht erfunden werden (taxonomy.md, harte Regel 6). Die Korrektur liegt in der App – die Zeile müsste mehrere Regionen tragen können – oder in einem durch die Prüfstufen geführten neuen Taxonomiewert.
25App-seitige Darstellungslücke, Countdown: Die Listenzeile zeigt vom Stand 26.08.2026 aus 41 Tage bis zum 06.10.2026. Die Rechnung stimmt, die Aussage nicht. Handlungsfähig ist die antragstellende Seite nur bis zum verpflichtenden Beratungsgespräch am 22.09.2026 – 27 Tage –, und dieses Gespräch muss zusätzlich vorab vereinbart werden, der tatsächliche Vorlauf ist also noch kürzer; wie viel Vorlauf eine Terminanfrage braucht, veröffentlicht die MDM nicht. Ohne das Gespräch wird der Antrag nicht bearbeitet (Merkblatt für Förderanträge, Stand 03.03.2025), und die MAP-Zugangsdaten werden erst dort ausgegeben, eine Einreichung ist ohne sie auch technisch nicht möglich. Die Zeile überschätzt die verbleibende Zeit damit um 14 Tage, und der Preis ist nicht eine verspätete Einreichung, sondern der Verlust der Sitzung: Einen festen Abstand zwischen den Vergabesitzungen veröffentlicht die MDM nicht, und der nächste Termin nach dem 06.10.2026 ist am 26.08.2026 nicht veröffentlicht. date und deadline.date führen bewusst den Einreichschluss 06.10.2026 – das ist der Einreichschluss, und es ist die stehende Konvention dieses Datenbestands; date auf den 22.09.2026 zu setzen würde die Bedeutung des Feldes zerstören und die Sortierung, den Countdown und die Startseite mit einem Datum füttern, das kein Einreichtermin ist. Die Zeile hat keine Zelle, die ein zweites Datum tragen könnte (Datum, Countdown, Name, Kicker, Betrag, Region); die Korrektur ist deshalb app-seitig, in der Zeile beziehungsweise im Mapper. Der Datensatz trägt das Gespräch an erster Stelle in deadline.labelDe/labelEn, in deadline.statusDe/statusEn, in timeline[0], in summaryDe[0]/summaryEn[0] und in eligibilityDe[11]/eligibilityEn[11] – mehr kann er nicht tun. Es ist nicht der erste Datensatz mit diesem Muster: filmstiftung-nrw-produktion-kinofilm (Beratungsgespräch bis 03.09.2026 vor dem Einreichtermin 10.09.2026), medienboard-stoffentwicklung und medienboard-produktion-kinofilm (Antragsgespräch bis 06.10.2026 vor dem Einreichtermin 20.10.2026) tragen denselben Konflikt, und medienboard-produktion-kinofilm hat ein eigenes Feld für vorgeschaltete Pflichttermine bereits als Schemafrage an die Projektleitung notiert. Mit diesem Datensatz sind es vier; die Frage gehört vor die nächste Prüfung, nicht nach ihr.
Only the funder's guideline in its currently valid version and the institution's own statements are binding. This page summarises; it replaces neither the guideline nor the advisory call.