The Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (FABW) is the first German film school to sign up to the Respect Code Film. The rules set out in the code will apply to everyone working at and for the film academy: staff, lecturers and students. As part of this, the film academy will also join the Themis Trust Centre.

The aim of the Respect Code Film is to ensure a professional working environment characterised by mutual respect for all employees – whether freelance or salaried – in film and television productions. It defines the principles of good cooperation in film production and clarifies which behaviours are not tolerated on film sets. The aim is to promote a fear-free and supportive working environment and enable communication on an equal footing. In addition, the Respect Code Film names the persons responsible and their respective responsibilities for compliance with and implementation of these principles and identifies contact points and procedures in the event of violations or misconduct. The Film Academy will expand the competencies of existing contact points.

The Respect Code film was created on the initiative of the Production Alliance, the Federal Association of Actors (BFFS) and the Ver.di trade union, supported and advised by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the German Federal Film Board (FFA), the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the Themis Trust Centre against Sexual Harassment and Violence, and the Professional Association for Energy, Textiles, Electrical and Media Products (BG ETEM). The first signatories include ARD, ZDF, the German Film Academy, the Federal Association of Directors (BVR), ARD Degeto, Netflix and VAUNET – Association of Private Media.