An archivable copy of funded films has to be submitted to the Federal Archives in accordance with the film funding laws and guidelines of the Federal Republic of Germany and certain federal states. The digital archive copies are redundantly stored in the Federal Archives on separate server systems that can only be accessed internally. The films may only be used in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Archives Act (BArchG) and copyright law.
Guide to Submitting a Copy
(Last updated: 20 February 2020; update of accompanying forms and handout for the BagIt structure)
(Last updated: 11 June 2020; information on submitting a copy of your funded film to the Federal Archives)
1.) Format
Please note that the film formats listed below cannot be submitted as compressed files (e.g. TAR, ZIP or similar compression methods).
We accept specimen copies in the following formats:
A) Cinema
New digital productions and the digitisation of analogue film material:
• DCDM (also feel free to submit unencrypted DCP)
B) Television and Internet (e.g. SVOD):
For HD productions:
• MXF file (XDCAM HD 422 50 MBit/s, MXF OP 1a)
For SD productions:
• MXF file (IMX D10 50 Mbit/s, MXF OP 1a)
Reference Film Funding:
If your film has been made without funding, we would appreciate an email with the film title.
2.) Accessible Version
You can see whether an accessible version of your film has to be created (and archived) by referring to the provisions contained in your funding agreement. Alternatively, this may be coordinated with your funding institution.
The accessible elements (audio description in WAV format and sound-describing subtitles in XML format) must be freely switchable.
3.) BagIt Format and Validation Report
The files must be structured on the storage media according to the BagIt format and checksums must be provided.
A validation report must be submitted alongside an optional DCP. If this is missing, the DCP will not be accepted.
4.) Storage Media
• External USB hard drive or USB stick (Windows NTFS formatting)
5.) Accompanying Form (from 20. February 2020)
We will only be able to start processing your film when you have completely filled out and submitted the accompanying form! An editable PDF is available.
6.) Confirmation of Receipt
Once we have verified the technical plausibility of your specimen copy, we will usually send the confirmation of receipt within four weeks – without you having to request this – to the email address indicated in the accompanying form.
7.) Transfer to the Internal Storage System at the Federal Archives
Once we have issued confirmation of receipt, we will transfer your film to the internal storage system and return the storage media to you freight collect via TNT within a few months.
Please note that the Federal Archives will merely verify the technical plausibility of the transferred data and save it in a long-term storage system. The submitting party is responsible for ensuring the correctness and completeness of the submitted data.
When it comes to accepting specimen copies of funded films, the essential legal basis is the Federal Archives Act (BArchG) and the German Film Funding Act (FFG). Additional legal regulations can be found on the websites of the film funding institution in each federal state.