Germany

[DE] Co-production Agreement between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Irish Republic

IRIS 2008-6:1/33

Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

North Rhine-Westphalia’s regional film fund Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Irish Film Board ( Bord Scannán na hÉireann ) signed an agreement for the co-production of cinema films on 9 June 2008.

The aim of the agreement is to intensify cultural and economic co-operation between firms located in the two regions with regard to internationally co-produced feature-length cinema and documentary films. This is to be achieved within the official framework of bilateral international agreements or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, as well as by means of financial support from the two contracting parties. As far as the economic effect is concerned, a balance is sought between the economic benefits and the parties’ financial and other investments and this will be statistically verified. Grant applications will be given fair and timely consideration and a decision taken.

After the agreement has been in force for two years, a joint examination will be conducted to see if the aims have been achieved.