The German Funding Standard. Ready to submit.

The FFA budget is the rigorous blueprint required for German film financing. Built for absolute compliance, this template ensures your application meets every institutional standard of the Filmförderungsanstalt and regional funds.

Built for the Board

Secure your funding. This template aligns perfectly with the official German funding requirements, mapping every Euro to the exact category the auditors expect. No missing line items. Complete compliance.

Fluid Automation

Goodbye, broken cell references. Splinde’s smart subtotals and automated add-ons do the heavy lifting. You focus on scheduling your shoot. We handle the rigorous math required by the funds.

From Calculation to Application

Move beyond the grid. Your live-synced budget feeds directly into Splinde’s Document Editor. Generate a pristine, application-ready document that commands respect from funding boards.

Comprehensive Guide how to use the FFA budget template

Applying for German film funding shouldn't be an exercise in formatting frustration. The FFA template in Splinde provides a clean, rigorous framework designed to easily navigate institutional bureaucracy.

Key takeaways

• Institutional Standard: The exact structure required by the FFA, DFFF, and regional German film funds.

• Cloud-Native Speed: Calculate complex European co-production costs in real-time.

• Flawless Presentation: Export directly into professional, compliant application documents.

For whom is this budget template? Who will benefit from this?

This is the required workspace for Line Producers, Executive Producers, and Production Managers working within the German film industry. If you are applying for domestic funding or structuring an international co-production through the German system, this is your blueprint.

Understanding the structure of the budget

The FFA template categorizes production into 11 distinct, numbered sections. It spans from early development in "I. Vorkosten" (Pre-production costs) through "VIII. Endfertigung" (Finishing) and up to "XI. Kostenmindernde Erträge" (Cost-reducing revenues). It is an exhaustive financial map that tracks everything from script rights to specific crew wages.

How to customize the spreadsheet for your production

Splinde makes adaptation fluid. Easily expand or collapse line items within the 11 main sections depending on the scale of your film. If a project doesn't require "IV. Atelier" (Studio), simply hide it. The master totals and section summaries will adjust instantly.

Tips and Best Practices for Effective Budgeting

• Account for modern roles: Utilize the pre-built line items to ensure you aren't forgetting contemporary compliance costs, such as a "Green Consultant," "Intimacy Coordinator," or "Covid 19-Hygieneberater".

• Track rights meticulously: Funding boards closely audit intellectual property. Use the comprehensive "II. Rechte und Manuskript" section to detail everything from music composition rights to archive materials.

How the splinde key features will help you to manage this budget

Splinde is designed to make the rigorous FFA format feel effortless.

Drag and Drop financial logics like social fees, taxes, fringes, overtime etc.

Math you can touch. Apply standard German employer contributions, Künstlersozialkasse (KSK) rules, or union overtime logic directly to your "Gagen" (Wages) section. Just drag and drop. Splinde calculates the exact percentages instantly.

real time collaboration for the entire workspace

Two sides. One brain. Invite your Production Manager and Filmgeschäftsführer (Production Accountant) to the same budget. Watch numbers update live as your team scopes the job across different departments.

real time generation of an offer document in a notion like editor

Never manually copy budget totals into a Word document again. Splinde automatically syncs your FFA top-sheet totals into a beautifully formatted, customizable application proposal.

Calculate different currencies with real time conversion

Structuring a European co-production? Apply real-time exchange rates to specific sections or line items. Your international costs are automatically converted to Euros for your primary funding application.

What's Inside (The Blueprint)

This template is pre-loaded with the comprehensive, industry-standard categories required for a professional German funding application:

• Pre-loaded I-XI Sections: Covering the entire production lifecycle from "Vorkosten" to "Allgemeine Kosten".

• Granular Cast & Crew (Gagen): Detailed tracking for all departments, separating "Produktionsstab", "Regiestab", "Ausstattungsstab", and "Darsteller/-innen".

• Modern Production Roles: Pre-built entries for sustainable and safe sets, including "Berater/in für nachhaltiges Produzieren (Green Consultant)" and "Intimacy Coordinator".

• Comprehensive Post-Production: Rigorous tracking for "Endfertigung", including dedicated lines for "IT-Mischung" and a "Barrierefreie Fassung" (Accessible Version).

• Cost-Reducing Revenues: Includes the mandatory "Kostenmindernde Erträge" section to track income from insurance or sales.

Frequently asked Questions

What is the FFA budget schema? It is the official financial blueprint required by the Filmförderungsanstalt and regional German funds for film financing. It organizes production costs into 11 specific, audited categories to ensure standardized evaluation.

Can I use this template for DFFF applications? Yes. This template precisely mirrors the structure required by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF). It ensures absolute compliance for both domestic shoots and international co-productions seeking German rebates.

How do I calculate social fringes (Sozialversicherung) in this template? Splinde handles complex German fringes automatically. Simply assign the relevant employer contributions or KSK percentages to your cast and crew line items using our drag-and-drop logic. The system executes the math flawlessly.