Future Pact Between SWR and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg:

Genre-agnostic special fund of €100,000 per year

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is using the leadership transition at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW) as an opportunity to further intensify its longstanding and excellent cooperation with the renowned institution in Ludwigsburg in the area of talent development. SWR is entering into a "Future Pact" with the Filmakademie for the next three years: Through a genre-agnostic special fund amounting to an additional €100,000 annually, SWR will support short films, series pilots, animated films, as well as projects in the fields of interactive media and games created by the academy's students through 2027.

Kai Gniffke, Director General of SWR:
"Having such an outstanding film school in our broadcasting region is a great asset for SWR. Conversely, a longstanding and intensive partnership with a state broadcasting corporation is unique in Germany. SWR is committed to this engagement and will continue this strong partnership with Andreas Bareiß as Director of FABW."

ARD Short Films:
Starting July 21, 2025, SWR will broadcast three short films monthly, which will also be made available in the ARD Mediathek under the section "ARD Short Films." Additionally, a dedicated number of SWR editors from the "Fiction" and "Documentary" departments will be available for intensive exchanges with the students at the Filmakademie in Ludwigsburg. They will offer modular teaching units and study days while providing editorial support for student films. SWR is thus expanding its long tradition of teaching at the Filmakademie. A particular focus will be on innovative formats for the ARD Mediathek aimed at reaching a young, streaming-oriented audience.

Clemens Bratzler, Director of Programming for Information, SWR:
"Despite the significant budget pressures we face, fostering new talent remains a priority for us. We are wholeheartedly investing in young talents and their ideas—not only out of conviction but also because it benefits us. It enables students from one of Europe’s leading film schools to connect with SWR and its audience."

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Director of the Filmakademie:
"I am delighted by SWR's strong commitment to supporting young talent and by the opportunity to significantly renew, expand, and deepen the Filmakademie's close industry ties. At the same time, this agreement sends a powerful signal for the future, strengthening the media and creative industries in the Southwest region as a whole."

40 Years of Collaboration Between SWR and Filmakademie:
Two important SWR talent programs are celebrating major anniversaries this year. The series "Debüt im Dritten" ("Debut on the Third") turns 40 in 2025. Many films in the "Debüt im Dritten" series were created in close cooperation with the Filmakademie and the Baden-Württemberg media and film company MFG. Each year, the "Debüt" series produces five often award-winning feature-length films and a compilation of short films. The "Debut" editorial team also develops debut fiction series for the ARD Mediathek. Renowned directors such as Nina Grosse, Connie Walther, Maren Ade, Milena Aboyan (FABW alumna), and Chiara Fleischhacker (FABW alumna) took their first career steps with "Debüt im Dritten." Prominent male directors like Nico Hofmann, Andreas Dresen, Sönke Wortmann, Christian Schwochow (FABW alumnus), and Adrian Goiginger (FABW alumnus) have also been part of the program’s success.

The "Young Documentary Film" series, produced annually in cooperation with MFG and FABW, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Each year, it brings four high-quality, feature-length productions to SWR's television programming and the ARD Mediathek. Productions from this series regularly win awards at international festivals. Starting in 2026, the budget for the diploma film category will be slightly increased. The new season will air in the fall of 2025 on SWR Television and be available in the ARD Mediathek.