Founded in 2004, the World Cinema Fund (WCF) was established by the German Federal Cultural Foundation and the Berlinale. The WCF focuses on supporting the production and distribution of feature-length films from Africa, the Middle East, and other emerging regions. It provides support in production, post-production, and distribution.
New Head of WCF: In September 2025, Sata Cissokho officially took over as the new Head of the World Cinema Fund and Toolbox Program. She succeeded Vincenzo Bugno, who retired after leading the fund for 21 years.
Increased Budget: The German Federal Cultural Foundation confirmed an increase in funding for the 2025–2029 period. It will provide up to €450,000 annually, including a one-time increase of €90,000 for 2024 projects to help filmmakers navigate a complex international environment.
WCF Audience Strategies: The fund has expanded its Audience Strategies on the Road capacity-building program, which offers workshops and masterclasses to help filmmakers connect with global viewers early in the production process.
Funding Records: In October 2025, the WCF recommended €525,000 in funding for 12 projects across several countries, including Sudan, Bolivia, Ukraine, and Cambodia.
Berlinale 2026 Participation: Recent selections for the 2026 cycle include BLUE CARD (Sudan), DEAR TARKOVSKY (Palestine), and CORTE CULEBRA (Panama).
