Austrian Film Institute
The Austrian Film Institute (German: Österreichisches Filminstitut, ÖFI) is Austria's nationwide funding body and competence centre for theatrical film.[1] It supports the development, production and exploitation of Austrian films and promotes both the cultural and economic interests of Austrian filmmaking.[2][3] The institute is a legal entity under public law and is based in Vienna.[4]
History
Federal film funding in Austria is based on the Film Funding Act of 25 November 1980.[5] On this basis, the Austrian Film Funding Fund was founded in 1981.[3] In 1993, it was renamed the Austrian Film Institute.[6]
Since its foundation, the institute has formed part of Austria's federal film funding system. In addition to supporting individual projects, it regularly publishes activity reports, funding decisions and statistical analyses on the Austrian film industry.[7][8]
The Film Location Act 2023 and an amendment to the Film Funding Act expanded the funding system.[9] The reform, which came into force on 1 January 2023, introduced the location-based funding scheme ÖFI+. Its stated aim was to strengthen Austria as a film production location, support international productions and increase value creation in the Austrian film industry.[10][11][12]
Tasks and funding
The institute's responsibilities are defined by the Film Funding Act. They include support for the production, distribution and marketing of Austrian films, Austrian-international co-productions, emerging filmmakers, professional training, the international presentation of Austrian films, and the preparation of the annual film industry report.[13][4]
The ÖFI awards public funding for different stages of filmmaking and exploitation, including script and project development, production, distribution, festival participation, theatrical releases and further training in the film sector.
Its funding system includes selective project-based funding as well as automatic funding mechanisms. Selective funding applications are assessed by a project commission, while automatic funding includes reference film funding and, since 2023, the ÖFI+ location funding scheme.[14][15][16][17]
Budget
The institute receives annual federal contributions, which are listed separately for the ÖFI and ÖFI+ funding lines. According to the 2025 activity report, the total ÖFI budget for 2026 was increased to 39 million euros, including 2.5 million euros for ÖFI+ projects in innovative film funding and for theatrical releases.[18] For 2025, the budget overview listed 21 million euros for the ÖFI and 44.3 million euros for ÖFI+.[19]
Publications
The Austrian Film Institute publishes activity reports, funding decisions and the annual Film Industry Report. The report contains statistical data on the Austrian film industry, including production, funding, cinema attendance, employment and the international exploitation of Austrian films.[7]
The 2025 Film Industry Report stated that the Austrian film industry comprised 3,841 companies and 9,444 employees in 2023. It reported a market share of 6.8 percent for Austrian films in 2024.[20]
Discussion of the funding system
The institute's funding system has been discussed particularly in connection with the introduction and later budgetary changes to ÖFI+. In parliamentary debate, the 2023 reform was presented as a step toward a “one-stop shop” and faster funding procedures.[21][22]
Changes to the financing of ÖFI+ became controversial from 2025 onward.[23] While 44.3 million euros had been allocated to ÖFI+ for 2025, the federal contribution to this funding line fell to 2.5 million euros in the 2026 budget; at the same time, the regular federal contribution to the ÖFI was increased to 36.5 million euros.[24] In June 2025, the responsible ministry established a working group on new financing options for Austrian film, stating that it wanted to end uncapped funding while continuing to strengthen Austrian cinema.[25][26][27][28]
The Film and Music Industry Association of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber welcomed the creation of the working group, but argued that a new funding pillar would be needed if ÖFI+ resources were converted into selective ÖFI funds.[29][30] In 2025, The Gap reported on an open letter by Johannes Grenzfurthner and monochrom that criticised a lack of consistent support for medium-budget film projects between around 100,000 euros and one million euros.[31]
See also
References
- ↑ "Austrian Film Institute". European Film Agencies. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Österreichisches Filminstitut (ÖFI)". Lexikon der Filmbegriffe, Universität Kiel. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Österreichisches Filminstitut". Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Aufgaben und Ziele". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wir dürfen nicht zum Elfenbeinturm werden". ray Filmmagazin. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filmförderung". AEIOU Österreich-Lexikon. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Publikationen". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Julia Pühringer (6 April 2024). ""Der österreichische Film ist international eine Brand"". FM4. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Incentive Model for Austria as a film location". UNESCO Creativity Policy Monitoring Platform. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filmförderungsgesetz". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Regierungsvorlage: Filmstandortgesetz 2023 und Novelle des Filmförderungsgesetzes". Austrian Parliament. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "New incentive scheme for Austrian film producers". IRIS Merlin, European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 9 June 2026."Incentive Model for Austria as a film location". UNESCO Creativity Policy Monitoring Platform. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filmförderungsgesetz, § 2". Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filmförderungsgesetz, § 2". Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Förderung nach dem Standortprinzip Österreichisches Filminstitut Plus (ÖFI+)". Transparenzportal. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Austrian Film Institute". European Film Agencies. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "New incentive scheme for Austrian film producers". IRIS Merlin, European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tätigkeitsbericht 2025" (PDF). Österreichisches Filminstitut. 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Jahresbudget". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filmwirtschaftsbericht 2025, facts + figures 24" (PDF). Österreichisches Filminstitut. 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Nationalrat beschließt neue Filmförderung zur Stärkung des Filmstandorts Österreich". Austrian Parliament. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "New incentive scheme for Austrian film producers". IRIS Merlin, European Audiovisual Observatory. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Austria's Historic Sites, Diverse Landscapes Make It Top Filming Destination". Variety. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Jahresbudget". Österreichisches Filminstitut. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Arbeitsgruppe für neue Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten wird eingesetzt". Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Antragsstopp: Diskussion über heimische Filmförderung". ORF.at. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Peter Temel (22 January 2025). "Plötzlicher Förderstopp: Film-Erfolgsmodell leidet an seinem Erfolg". Kurier. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Stefan Grissemann (13 May 2025). "Filmförderung gekappt und einmal quer durch: Die Kultursparpläne der Regierung". profil. Retrieved 9 June 2026.Stefan Grissemann (30 May 2025). "Millionendilemma Filmförderung: Kann man Netflix & Co. zur Kasse bitten?". profil. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Im Filmförderdschungel". Ö1. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Fachverband Film- und Musikwirtschaft begrüßt Einsetzung einer Arbeitsgruppe". Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Selma Hörmann (30 September 2025). "„Missing Middle" – Offener Brief zu Defizit in der Filmförderung". The Gap. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
External links
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