Joint press release by:
Netflix, Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW), Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (KHM), ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln and Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB)

Boosting the Next Generation:
Panel on Diversity in the Film Industry – Success and future prospects of University Cooperation at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN

Munich / Berlin / Potsdam / Cologne / Ludwigsburg, June 30, 2025

What changes are needed to ensure that diversity for the professionals of tomorrow becomes the industry standard? This question was the focus of the panel “Boosting the Next Generation”, which took place today (June 30, 2025) as part of the 42nd FILMFEST MÜNCHEN.

Interim results of the project
Initiated by the MaLisa Foundation and six German film schools – Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (KHM), ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln and Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB) – the project, supported by the streaming provider Netflix, aims to strengthen discrimination-sensitive structures in training and thus provide impetus for new standards that can radiate into the industry.
The panel provided an opportunity to summarize the current situation, reflect on progress and challenges and take up new ideas.
In their keynote speeches, Sasha Bühler, Director Film at Netflix DACH, and Maria Furtwängler, actress, producer and co-founder of the MaLisa Foundation, highlighted the importance of diversity in front of and behind the camera for modern film production and emphasised the urgency of actively promoting it.

Under the moderation of Yugen Yah (filmmaker and podcaster “Indiefilmtalk”), university members, filmmakers and students discussed strategies on how diverse perspectives can be better anchored in education and film production. 

On the panel were:

- Susanne Stürmer, President of the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
- Merle Grimme, director and writer
- Yelyzaveta (Lisa) Davydenko, Animation/Effects Producing student at the Animation Institute of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
- Sinem Gökser, Consultant for Diversity and Inclusion at Kunsthochschulen SüdBayern

The partnership between the universities and the support of Netflix have pushed diversity efforts forward in important areas and enabled professionalization. One example is the development and implementation of a cross-university training course on diversity that is specifically tailored to the interface between film and teaching. If diversity-oriented perspectives and working methods are taught as a matter of course during training, it is more likely that students will take these standards with them into the industry. Committed lecturers from all six universities are taking part and the feedback is positive.

The discussion made clear that diversity is not an optional extra, but an essential part of film education and production. The participants emphasised the need to create sustainable standards and structures so that the responsibility for diversity does not rest solely on individuals. 
The “Boosting the Next Generation” project is an example of how diversity and anti-discrimination work can be effective if it is conceived structurally and tackled jointly. The discussion ended with an appeal for the industry, funding institutions and political decision-makers to take targeted action to anchor diversity and anti-discrimination as binding standards. There was also positive news: the participating film schools are continuing their collaboration to further promote diversity in a targeted manner.

Susanne Stürmer, President of the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, succinctly summarised the core idea of the project: "Together we are stronger – this applies to the solidarity of the German film schools in matters of gender and diversity, this applies to the great support of our activities by Netflix and the MaLisa Foundation – and this applies every day at the universities to issues of gender equality, diversity and tolerance. Film schools are also doing important work in this field for the future of the industry and society."

Maria Furtwängler, actress, producer and co-founder of the MaLisa Foundation, said: "It is more important than ever to stand up for gender equality in the audiovisual media. I am delighted that this successful collaboration between the film schools will continue."

Conclusion and outlook
The event gave the audience an insight into the important steps that the industry and film schools have already taken to strengthen diversity – and the steps that still need to be taken. The “Boosting the Next Generation” project has shown that change is possible when universities and the industry pull together. With this in mind, the participating universities, including the Hamburg Media School (HMS), have agreed to continue their joint work in order to further strengthen the impetus that has been generated and facilitate long-term change. In doing so, they are not only sending out an important signal, but also making an effective contribution to ensuring that the initial impetus can be followed by sustainable change.

Pictures of the event will be available tomorrow on the FILMFEST MÜNCHEN website.

Created on 30.06.2025