Filming Fees in the Federal Sector

Movie and Television filming in government-owned buildings and facilities

Joint statement of the Bavarian State Chancellery and all Bavarian State Ministries from May 25, 1992, file number 43-VV 2500-3/262-30 054.


Permit Requirement

All movie and television filming, as well as still photography involving state-owned buildings and facilities require a permit. An exception will be made for film shots of buildings and facilities located on public streets, paths and city squares (paragraph 59, UrhG) and filming for private use on a small scale. Applications for permits shall come under benevolent review.

The permit shall not be granted if filming could endanger government property, be detrimental to official interests or cause unacceptable levels of interference with general public traffic.


Jurisdiction

Responsible for the issuance of permits are the respective main governmental authorities

• for buildings and facilities which they manage themselves
• for buildings and facilities being managed by their subordinate departments, while continuing to retain the right to grant permits

Moreover, only the specific proprietary managing departments are responsible for the issuance of permits, as long as the main and subordinate authorities do not choose to reserve the right of final approval in special cases.


Agreement upon Permit Issuance

The granting of permits for movie and television filming is predicated on an agreement regarding an adequate compensation for right of usage (rental fee) and the reimbursement for any resultant costs to the federal government.

There will be no permit fee charged.


Compensation for Right of Usage (Rental Fees)

Rental fees will be waived

• for filming of news coverage
• for non-commercial reporting
• for reporting which serves the public interest for contemporary historical reasons
• for student films from the Munich School for Television and Film within the framework of their training,and comparable federal or federally-funded facilities

Rental fees will also be waived for the following types of filming:

• for small-scale filming (e.g. inserts/B-Roll)
• for film material serving as an adequate advertisement for the State of Bavaria or its government agencies

Rental fees are charged according to the following scale:

Documentaries & Scientific Films
External shots per shooting day		0 - 500 DM (0 - 255,65 Euro)
Internal shots per shooting day		0 - 1.000 DM (0 - 511,29 Euro)
Feature Films
External shots per shooting day		200 - 2.000 DM (102,26 - 1022,58 Euro)
Internal shots per shooting day		500 - 5.000 DM (255,65 - 2556,46 Euro)
Commercials
External shots per shooting day		500 - 5.000 DM (255,65 - 2556,46 Euro)
Internal shots per shooting day		1.000 - 10.000 DM (511,29 - 5112,92 Euro)

In making a decision on adequate permit fees, the permit authority has to take into account the scale of usage and the possible extent of resulting inconvenience as well as the historical and artistic merit and value of the objects filmed.


Reimbursement of Costs

Reimbursement of costs will be charged back for all expenditures and revenue loss caused as a direct result of filming. This particularly includes running costs (hydro, heating and cleaning) should these not be automatically covered by the persons or organization responsible for the film project; the replacement of expenses for public employees supervising, advising or instructing the film crew (wages, pay scale, etc.) as well as the reimbursement of possible loss of entrance fees, etc. Charges for minor expenses incurred will be waived, however, if it is obvious that the required administration of these charges is out of proportion to the incurred expenditures.


Furthermore, agreement is to be reached on the following issues:

The State of Bavaria is not liable for damages to the person or company responsible for filming. The responsible party is obligated to carry all liability alone for any personal and/or property damage in connection with filming. This does not apply, however, when damages are caused deliberately or through gross negligence of a public employee or subordinate of the State of Bavaria.

The party responsible for filming obligates itself to observe the regulations laid down by the Fire Marshall and other authorities. Furthermore, a certificate or statement of insurance coverage must be submitted if these are considered essential by the permit department.

The filming permit can be cancelled at any time without notice for any important reason, especially if official interests are at stake. The permit department is responsible for permit cancellation. In case of such a cancellation, the party responsible for filming can make no claims of compensation against the State of Bavaria.