GENDER AND FILM – NEW FFA STUDY ON GENDER BALANCE IN THE GERMAN FILM INDUSTRY

Which barriers are women and men faced with in the German film industry? In which key positions are women more active than men, and vice versa? In order to substantiate the ever-increasing questions and public discussion on the topic of “women in film” with facts, the German Federal Film Board (FFA) has commissioned an extensive study on the subject. The scientific examination with the title “GENDER AND FILM – Framework Conditions and Underlying Causes of the Gender Distribution of Filmmakers in Key Positions in Germany” will be compiled by the Fraunhofer Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (CeRRI) together with the Institute for Media Research of the University of Rostock.

All key positions in film production will be analyzed – from screenwriters and directors, to production managers, cinematographers, set designers, costume designers, editors and sound technicians, as well as decision makers for film funding. The results are to represent the individual and structural framework conditions for successful careers in the film industry, as well as, in particular, gender-specific barriers, obstacles and exclusion mechanisms.

“We are looking forward to obtaining up-to-date and detailed insight into professional roles, educational and career opportunities for men and women in the film industry with this study,” emphasizes Christine Berg, FFA-COO and Head of FFA Film Funding. The goal of the project is “to point out the reasons and motives of gender distribution, while most importantly also including the entire film industry.”