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Help & Documentation

Everything you need to use Filmsoftmoney effectively — from the first funding check to a finished application.

What is Filmsoftmoney?

Filmsoftmoney is the platform for German and European film funding: find the right funding programs for your project, calculate stackable funding amounts, check the DFFF cultural test, keep track of all submission deadlines and prepare applications in a structured way.

All tools work together: results from the finder, cultural test and budget can be saved to projects and feed directly into deadlines and applications. The search (⌘K or Ctrl+K) takes you to any tool, program or help section from anywhere.

Funding Finder

The funding finder matches your project against all German and European funding programs in our database and shows which sources are realistically available.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter project data: project type (feature, documentary, animation, series …), distribution channel, budget and region.
  2. 2Optionally refine: co-production, emerging talent, green production and more criteria.
  3. 3Review the results: each program shows funding type, maximum rate and cap — sorted by relevance.
  4. 4Reuse the result: export as CSV or save it directly to a project (save-to-project).

Good to know: CSV export for your finance plan; saved matches automatically appear under deadlines and in the project.

Funding Calculator

The calculator combines DFFF, GMPF and regional funding and shows how much funding can realistically be stacked for your budget — including EU state-aid ceilings.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter budget and eligible German production costs (or take the values from the budget).
  2. 2Select the programs you want to combine.
  3. 3Read the result: funding per program, combined rate and remaining equity share.
  4. 4Export the result as PDF or save it to a project.

Good to know: Automatically warns when combinations exceed the state-aid cap. Handover from the budget: one click transfers eligible costs into the calculator.

Budget

The budget derives the DFFF-eligible German production costs and the assessment basis under Sec. 16/Sec. 12 from your budget — the foundation of any serious funding plan.

Step by step

  1. 1Enter budget items: rights, screenplay, cast fees and other cost blocks.
  2. 2Mark non-eligible portions — the Sec. 16 (3) rules are built in.
  3. 3Review the assessment basis and funding preview.
  4. 4Save as a scenario and compare variants (scenario comparison).

Good to know: PDF export for banks and funders; scenario comparison puts two breakdowns side by side; handover to the calculator reuses the values without re-typing.

Culture Test

The cultural eligibility test is the entry ticket to the DFFF. Check in advance whether your project reaches the required score — for feature, documentary and animation.

Step by step

  1. 1Choose the project type (feature, documentary, animation) — the matching annex is loaded.
  2. 2Answer the criteria: content, crew, locations, minimum cultural criteria.
  3. 3Follow your score live — category caps and minimum criteria are applied correctly.
  4. 4Export the result as PDF or attach it to a project.

Good to know: Shows how far you are from the passing threshold and which criteria can still earn points.

Deadlines

All submission deadlines of your matched programs in one place — sorted by urgency, with calendar integration and reminders.

Step by step

  1. 1Match projects with programs (funding finder or project page) — deadlines appear automatically.
  2. 2Add your own internal deadlines per match (e.g. "application ready internally").
  3. 3Subscribe to the ICS calendar feed: all deadlines live in Google/Apple/Outlook calendars.
  4. 4Enable email reminders to be notified before due dates.

Good to know: Rolling submissions (no fixed date) are flagged instead of listed with fake dates; the ICS feed is protected by a private token.

Applications

The application area guides you step by step through preparing your funding submission — with progress tracking, versioning and AI assistance.

Step by step

  1. 1Create an application from a project match — program and project data are pre-filled.
  2. 2Complete the assistant steps; progress is saved per step.
  3. 3Work through the program requirements and document checklist in the cockpit (Pro/Studio).
  4. 4Export the final version as PDF and submit it to the funder.

Good to know: Every change is versioned — you can return to an earlier state at any time. Submission always happens with the funder itself; Filmsoftmoney prepares.

Projects

Projects tie everything together: finder matches, cultural test results, budgets, documents and applications for one film come together here.

Step by step

  1. 1Create a project with key data (type, channel, budget, region, shooting locations).
  2. 2Attach tool results via save-to-project: matches, cultural test, budget.
  3. 3Upload documents (Pro/Studio): screenplay, finance plan, budget and more.
  4. 4On the Studio plan, invite team members (editor/viewer) and work together.

Good to know: Saved snapshots record the exact state used for a calculation — even if programs change later.

Dashboard

Your starting point after login: upcoming deadlines, active projects and applications, plus quick access to all tools.

Step by step

  1. 1Check upcoming deadlines at a glance.
  2. 2Jump straight into projects and ongoing applications.
  3. 3Start any tool from here — or open the search with ⌘K.

Good to know: The dashboard only shows your own content and content shared with you.

Plans & Limits

The limits below come straight from the platform configuration and are always up to date. See the pricing page for full details on prices and features.

FeatureFreeProStudio
Projects110Unlimited
AI analyses / month33001000
Applications110Unlimited
Document upload
Application cockpit
Team sharing
Go to pricing

Recommended Workflow

How to get the most out of Filmsoftmoney — from first check to submission:

Step by step

  1. 1Funding finder: identify suitable programs for your project.
  2. 2Create a project and save the relevant matches.
  3. 3Run the cultural test — no DFFF without passing it.
  4. 4Budget: determine eligible costs and the assessment basis.
  5. 5Calculator: combine programs and stack the realistic funding amount.
  6. 6Subscribe to deadlines (ICS + reminders) so no due date slips.
  7. 7Prepare the application in the assistant and submit on time.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about plans, cancellation, privacy and AI usage are answered in the FAQ on the pricing page.

Go to the FAQ
Help & Documentation · Filmsoftmoney