QueerScope funding for queer film festivals in 2026
Purpose of the funding
QueerScope supports queer film festivals in Germany that contribute to the visibility, cultural diversity and social participation of LGBTIQ* people, as well as to education about and equality for queer issues. Funding is provided for projects that are professionally implemented in terms of content and organisation and that comply with the updated QueerScope Funding Guidelines entsprechen.
There is no entitlement to funding.
Who do we fund?
QueerScope supports queer film festivals that are organised by an association or collaborate with a public institution. As in general, QueerScope does not support projects that are run by individuals or non-organisational associations of individuals.
Funding can only be granted if the applicant festival has sufficient staff to ensure that the festival can be run reliably and professionally.
Only festivals that have a clear queer theme and take place on at least two consecutive days with a total of five or more film screenings will be supported.
Pilot projects or special formats can be applied for in advance in consultation with QueerScope.
What do we fund?
- Including fees/honoraria for voluntary work, material costs, public relations, travel expenses (in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Act), and administrative costs directly related to the festival.
- Additional programmes/special programmes outside the festival period are eligible for funding if they offer added value in terms of content (e.g. school screenings, workshops, special series) and are related to the film festival.
What we do not fund
- Cost-free film screenings (except as part of cultural education, such as school screenings)
- prize money
- Projects that have already started
- Projects without own or third-party funding
How do we fund
- QueerScope does not provide full or partial fundingi.e. own and/or third-party funds must be contributed.
- In general, funding from QueerScope e. V. is granted as subsidised financing , i.e. if own and third-party funds are insufficient, QueerScope will compensate for the existing funding gap within the framework of subsidised financing (subsidiarity principle). Festivals are not permitted to generate profits; income and expenses must be balanced.
Application
- Applications for 2026 can be submitted online on our website.
- Zusätzlich ist ein detaillierter Kosten- und Finanzierungsplan (KFP) einzureichen. Bitte verwendet dafür die von QueerScope bereitgestellte Excelvorlage.
- The funding is based on the QueerScope funding guidelines.
Deadline: 19.12.2025
