German Film and Television Academy Berlin
German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB) is a state-owned film school founded in 1966, offering degree and postgraduate programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing to emerging international filmmakers, funded by the State of Berlin.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What German Film and Television Academy Berlin does
The German Film and Television Academy Berlin (Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin, DFFB) is a film school founded in 1966 and registered as a GmbH fully owned by the State of Berlin, with primary funding channeled through the Senatskanzlei Berlin. It operates from newly relocated premises at Am Studio 16, 12489 Berlin-Adlershof, offering a structured two-phase curriculum (Grundstudium semesters 1-5; Hauptstudium semesters 6-12, or 7 semesters total for the screenwriting track) across five disciplines: Directing (Regie), Screenwriting (Drehbuch), Cinematography (Bildgestaltung/Kamera), Producing (Produktion), and Editing & Sound (Montage Bild & Ton). The academy also runs postgraduate programs including Serial Eyes for television series development and VGF International Producers Programme for international producers. Its core technology consists of on-site film production and postproduction facilities: camera equipment, editing suites, sound-mixing studios, and a cinema screening room, supplemented by an open studio structure where students progressively assume responsibility for graduation work, documentaries, TV series pilots, shorts, and features.
DFFB serves emerging filmmakers from around the world, recruiting via an application-based admissions process that requires prior academic or professional experience. Pedagogy is delivered by working professionals rather than permanent faculty and is deliberately non-specialist, emphasizing collaborative cross-craft learning. The academy's go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: DFFB connect events pitch student projects to industry representatives, alumni success at festivals (Berlinale, Cannes, Locarno, David di Donatello) drives reputation, and partnerships with Arsenal Filminstitut and Deutsche Kinemathek — formalized through an April 2026 cooperation agreement — embed the school within Berlin's institutional film-culture cluster.
The business model is government grant-funded rather than commercial. There are no tuition fees (tuition is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a publicly funded institution), and the only disclosed commercial activity is the FILMSPARKS commemorative book sold at 17.95 EUR. Distribution of student work occurs through international film festivals, nationwide cinema releases, and a TV broadcast partnership with ARTE. Leadership transitioned in July 2025 with the appointment of Angelika Levi as Artistic Director, and Wolf Plesmann serves as Managing Director.
German Film and Television Academy Berlin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- German Film and Television Academy Berlin
- Legal name
- Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin GmbH
- Website
- https://dffb.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB) is a state-owned film school founded in 1966, offering degree and postgraduate programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing to emerging international filmmakers, funded by the State of Berlin.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
German Film and Television Academy Berlin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film School Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)
Keywords
Where German Film and Television Academy Berlin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
German Film and Television Academy Berlin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- State of Berlin Funding: DFFB is fully owned by the State of Berlin. Primary funding comes from government support as a state-funded film school.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | FILMSPARKS - 50 Years DFFB book |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
German Film and Television Academy Berlin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DFFB is a state-funded film academy in Berlin that trains emerging filmmakers through structured degree programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, production, and editing & sound. The academy operates a two-phase curriculum (Grundstudium and Hauptstudium) totaling up to 12 semesters, supplemented by postgraduate programs such as Serial Eyes for television series development and the VGF International Producers Programme. Student work is produced on on-site film production and postproduction facilities and reaches audiences through festivals, cinema releases, and TV broadcast partnerships.
Product overview
DFFB (Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin) is a film school offering a structured program in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing & sound. The academy operates a two-phase curriculum: Grundstudium (basic studies, semesters 1-5) and Hauptstudium (advanced studies, semesters 6-12+). In addition to its core educational programs, DFFB runs specialized postgraduate programs including Serial Eyes for television series development and VGF for international producing. The academy's offerings extend to student film productions, the FILMSPARKS publication documenting its history, and the Film Club 35K student initiative for regular public screenings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Serial Eyes: A postgraduate programme focused on television series development, run in conjunction with other partners.
- VGF – International Producers Programme
Products and services
- Regie (Directing)
Companies that use German Film and Television Academy Berlin
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
German Film and Television Academy Berlin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature1 record
German Film and Television Academy Berlin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Arsenal Filminstitut e.V.coreArsenal Filminstitut, Deutsche Kinemathek, and DFFB renewed their cooperation for a strong future of film culture. The leadership of all three institutions signed an agreement building on their successful cooperation at the former Filmhaus at Potsdamer Platz.
- Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und FernsehencoreThe three Berlin film institutions (Arsenal, Deutsche Kinemathek, and DFFB) signed a cooperation agreement in 2026 to expand collaboration at the new DFFB premises.
- Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie BerlinmajorProvided financial support for the FILMSPARKS book publication and 50th anniversary celebrations of the DFFB.
- Filmnetzwerk BerlinminorPartnered with Filmnetzwerk Berlin for the Serial Germany event series exploring German serial television production.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
German Film and Television Academy Berlin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Deutsche Kinemathek: Berlin's museum of film and television and a strategic cooperation partner with DFFB. Collaborates on cultural programming at the new DFFB premises; adjacent institution rather than competitor.
- ARTE (European culture TV channel): French-German public cultural TV channel that has a TV broadcast partnership with DFFB for student productions. They are a distribution partner and employer of DFFB graduates rather than a competitor.
Direct peers
- Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF: State-funded film university in Potsdam-Babelsberg, near Berlin, offering programs in directing, screenwriting, production, and animation. Strong public-sector peer with similar mission and structure to DFFB.
- CalArts (California Institute of the Arts): US fine arts school with a renowned School of Film/Video offering BFA and MFA programs in character animation, film directing, and film production. Strong peer in fine arts film education with comparable international reach.
- Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg: Major German film school in Ludwigsburg offering comparable programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and production. Consistently produces award-winning alumni and competes directly with DFFB for top-tier applicants.
- AFI Conservatory (American Film Institute): Top-tier US film conservatory offering MFA programs in cinematography, directing, editing, producing, and screenwriting. Comparable to DFFB in selectivity, alumni impact, and craft-focused curriculum.
- La Fémis (École nationale supérieure des métiers de l'image et du son): France's premier state-funded film school in Paris, offering direct equivalents to DFFB's programs. Comparable size, public funding model, and rigorous admission process producing internationally recognized filmmakers.
- National Film and Television School (UK): UK's national film school offering postgraduate programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, and producing. Closest international analog to DFFB in terms of public mission, program structure, and alumni reputation.
- London Film School: International film school in London offering MA programs in filmmaking, screenwriting, and producing. Comparable to DFFB in international student composition and postgraduate focus.
- HFF München (University of Television and Film Munich): One of Germany's premier publicly funded film schools, offering degree programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, producing, and editing. Direct competitor to DFFB for German film students, faculty, and resources.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
German Film and Television Academy Berlin social profiles
Digital presenceGerman Film and Television Academy Berlin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
German Film and Television Academy Berlin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
German Film and Television Academy Berlin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
German Film and Television Academy Berlin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
German Film and Television Academy Berlin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about German Film and Television Academy Berlin
What does German Film and Television Academy Berlin do?
DFFB is a state-funded film academy in Berlin that trains emerging filmmakers through structured degree programs in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, production, and editing & sound. The academy operates a two-phase curriculum (Grundstudium and Hauptstudium) totaling up to 12 semesters, supplemented by postgraduate programs such as Serial Eyes for television series development and the VGF International Producers Programme. Student work is produced on on-site film production and postproduction facilities and reaches audiences through festivals, cinema releases, and TV broadcast partnerships.
Is German Film and Television Academy Berlin a public or private company?
German Film and Television Academy Berlin is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was German Film and Television Academy Berlin founded?
German Film and Television Academy Berlin was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is German Film and Television Academy Berlin based?
German Film and Television Academy Berlin is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does German Film and Television Academy Berlin make money?
One revenue line is on record: state of Berlin Funding.
Who are German Film and Television Academy Berlin's main competitors?
Others on record are Deutsche Kinemathek and ARTE (European culture TV channel). Direct peers are Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, CalArts (California Institute of the Arts), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, AFI Conservatory (American Film Institute), La Fémis (École nationale supérieure des métiers de l'image et du son), National Film and Television School (UK), London Film School and HFF München (University of Television and Film Munich).
Does German Film and Television Academy Berlin have an API?
No public API is recorded for German Film and Television Academy Berlin.
What industry is German Film and Television Academy Berlin in?
German Film and Television Academy Berlin's product category is Film School Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAJAE, Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of MPADAKAI, Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 7812.