They serve as hubs, they acquire projects, provide information and present at trade fairs, support crews during pre-production, and make locations visible – film commissions have connected the film world, authorities and local economies for more than 70 years. The first German film commission was established in Bavaria in 1989, integrated into FFF Bayern in 1997, and has since, together with the FFF Bayern funding team, become the central point of contact for film productions in the Free State of Bavaria.
They serve as hubs, they acquire projects, provide information and present at trade fairs, support crews during pre-production, and make locations visible – film commissions have connected the film world, authorities and local economies for more than 70 years. The first German film commission was established in Bavaria in 1989, integrated into FFF Bayern in 1997, and has since, together with the FFF Bayern funding team, become the central point of contact for film productions in the Free State of Bavaria. With the introduction of the international funding program and the growing importance of Bavaria as a filming location, the tasks and reach of the Film Commission have continuously broadened, both regionally and internationally. And the Free State of Bavaria continues to expand the Film Commission team at FFF Bayern. Most recently, two additional positions have been added to meet the relevant target groups’ need for more service.
The new team members Oliver Pusch and Anja Schmidt both bring numerous years of experience in the film business. Oliver Pusch began his career in the industry in 2008 and most recently worked as a location manager and location scout on numerous projects in Bavaria, including Welcome to Germany, Fack you Goehte 3, Return to Silent Hill and Neue Geschichten vom Pumuckl. Anja Schmidt studied series production at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg and was most recently responsible for the production of animated series and films at Playmobil in Nuremberg. She handled the creative and content development and production of moving images for a worldwide audience and expanded her expertise in marketing.
Under the leadership of Anja Metzger, David Klein and Oliver Pusch are now jointly responsible for the growing number of national and international inquiries for Production Support & Coordination. Kathrin Winter is strengthening her efforts in developing and maintaining regional film locations throughout Bavaria and continues to oversee the Film Commission’s networking events and industry conferences, while Anja Schmidt handles Marketing & Social Media.
Bavarian State Minister for Media Dr. Florian Herrmann:
“Bavaria has long been the premier destination for international film productions – and we continue to build on this advantage. The coalition agreement therefore sends a clear message: International co-productions are to be specifically strengthened in Bavaria. With the international funding program introduced at FFF Bayern in 2013, we offer a unique financing instrument in Germany. At the same time, we continue to develop central acquisition and service offerings with the Film Commission of FFF Bayern so that filmmakers find the best conditions with us. Our goal is clear: Bavaria will remain an attractive, innovative and professionally organized location where great stories are created.”
FFF Bayern CEO Dorothee Erpenstein:
“FFF Bayern continuously expands its services for the film industry. Bavaria offers highly interesting locations, an ideal infrastructure, and excellently skilled professionals. With even more support in realizing projects here in Bavaria, we are increasing the effectiveness of our financing instruments.”
The Film Commission Bayern enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. Its network extends beyond Europe and includes international partners in Buenos Aires, Pinamar, São Paulo, Hong Kong, Busan, Guanajuato, and Los Angeles. As early as 2007, the Film Commission was a co-founder of the European Film Commissions Network and served on the board for three years. Since 1989, the Film Commission Bayern has also been a member of the Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI). As the central point of contact for filming in Bavaria, it presents the location at the most important international markets and trade fairs. At the same time, it also advises even the smallest regions of the Free State of Bavaria on how to successfully establish themselves as filming locations. Its core tasks include information, acquisition, location scouting tours, and mediation between film teams and local authorities, particularly in acquiring filming permits.
Additionally, it organizes industry events such as location tours, screenplay camps, the Film Academy Days, and studio tours. It also participates in panel discussions on the topics of sustainability, filming conditions, mobility transformation and skilled film professionals. With the longstanding initiative “Film Location of the Year”, the Film Commission recognizes outstanding locations, and through its participation in Germany’s first municipal film office at Munich’s Regional Administration Office, it helped to establish a pioneering model. Furthermore, it regularly informs the industry about filming-relevant topics such as construction sites, major events, or road closures. Together with Bayern Tourismus Marketing GmbH, it implemented the “Filmkulisse Bayern” (“Film Set Bavaria”) initiative, creating a statewide network that offers film crews optimal service while simultaneously providing film fans with access to original filming locations of their favorite productions.
Among the many productions supported by the Film Commission are the Eberhofer crime comedies (Frontenhausen), Michael Bully Herbig’s Wickie and the Strong Men (Walchensee), Paul W.S. Anderson’s The Three Musketeers with Milla Jovovich, Christoph Waltz, Orlando Bloom, Mads Mikkelsen, and Matthew Macfadyen (Bamberg and Würzburg), the award-winning ARD series Oktoberfest 1900 (Landshut, Fürth, Abenberg), Oliver Stone’s Snowden with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley (Munich, Tutzing, Upper Palatinate), Lisa Langseth’s Euphoria with Eva Green, Alicia Vikander, and Charlotte Rampling (near Ansbach), Eddie the Eagle with Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, and Christopher Walken (Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen), Marcus H. Rosenmüller’s Räuber Kneißl (Tittling, Freising, Landshut), Joe Wright’s Hanna with Saoirse Ronan (Bad Tölz, Lenggries), the award-winning series Pagan Peak (Berchtesgaden), Big Game with Samuel L. Jackson (Zugspitze), Bruno Dumont’s France with Léa Seydoux (Wetterstein mountains), Rupert Everett’s The Happy Prince (Mitwitz) and the emmy winning Netflix’s series The Empress (Bayreuth, Bamberg, Dinkelsbühl, Pommersfelden, Nuremberg, Aidhausen).
In 2024, a major portion of filming for the second season of the Hulu series Nine Perfect Straingers with Nicole Kidman took place in Penzing and Munich, and this summer Viechtach served as the backdrop for The Weight with Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe. The Oscar®-nominated films Beyond Silence, Sophie Scholl – The Final Days, The Baader Meinhof Complex and September 5 were also shot in Bavaria, as was the Oscar®-winning Nowhere in Africa.
Film Commission Bayern was involved in an advisory capacity in the founding of the continuing education program “Green Consultant – Film & TV” at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Academy for Munich and Upper Bavaria. It also participates in the “Keen to be Green” discussion series of the German Film Commissions, which has existed for five years. Through its comprehensive network, the Film Commission of FFF Bayern cooperates with various other popular regions and supports multi-country filming, for example with Bavaria’s neighboring regions in Austria and the Czech Republic. Film locations are very sought-after and the Film Commission is so well-known as a central point of contact that Bavarian regions now specifically apply for consultation and support to establish themselves as filming locations.