The academy’s development association was founded in 1993 and now has some 250 members from the media, advertising and communications sectors. From the beginning it has been supported by private citizens with an interest in film as well as lecturers and graduates of the Film Academy. The Film Academy Development Association is an officially recognized non-profit organization, and according to its charter its task is to promote achievement and particularly gifted students. However, it does not assume any tasks in the area of social support. Membership fees are to be directly invested in student film productions. Monies should be used to provide extra funding for particularly ambitious and artistically valuable study projects over and above the standard budget provided by the Film Academy.
The president and founder of the development association was Fred Oed, Managing Director of TC Studios, Ludwigsburg. In 1997 Klaus Haasis, Managing Director of the Media Development department of the MFG (Baden-Württemberg Media and Film Company), Stuttgart took over the presidency and, with Wolfgang Rolli from the Daimler Corporation, Stuttgart acting as his vice-president, increased the number of association members to 220. In 2005, Klaus Haasis handed over the presidency to Professor Albrecht Ade, Artistic Director of the Film Academy from 1991 to 2000. The deputy vice-presidency was assumed by Wolfgang Zahn, Director of Development with Andreas Stihl Corporation.
Other members of the managing committee are Matthias Berlinghof, Deputy Board Member of the Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg bank, Dittmar Lumpp,
Business Director of the Film and Media Festival Company, Stuttgart, Friedrich O. Müller, former Advertising Director of the Kodak Corporation, Stuttgart, and Uli Weber, Managing Director of Leonhardt & Kern SEA Advertising Agency, Ludwigsburg.
Since it was founded the development association has provided 200000 euros in financial support for student film productions. The annual “Caligari” award, which comprises 5 prizes each with a value of 5000 euros, is the association’s most established and sought-after funding instrument, and students from all departments are entitled to apply for it by submitting projects. Winners are selected by a jury made up of members of the managing committee.
Professor Albrecht Ade
