Compliance with minimum social standards becomes the criterium for public funding of film festivals – blessing or a curse?

In its coalition agreement, the government of the German federal state of Hessen has set itself the goal of doubling its budget to support Hessian film festivals. This increase is, however, contingent upon these festivals’ commitment to abide by social standards in the remuneration of their employees. What, on the one hand, seems more than laudable in an area largely characterized by a precarious employment situation could, on the other, mean the end for a large number of film festivals that have already had to struggle following introduction of the minimum wage. In April, a panel discussion was held in Frankfurt with festival organizers and Hessian cultural politicians, whose presenter Andrea Wenzek has now summarized the major aspects in an article (along with a list of subsidies from the individual federal states). Article in German language here.