Rockin' Retirement: Germany's Film & TV Professionals Secure a Beaming Future
Enhanced Pension Plans Offered to Numerous Actors
Berlin (dpa) - The curtain has risen on a brand new chapter for the retirement prospects of Germany's film and television workers. In an unprecedented move, Verdi and BFFS - the trade union and actors' union, respectively - have forged an industry-defining collective bargaining agreement with the Production Alliance, establishing an occupation-based pension scheme for the nation's silver-screen talents[1][4].
From the camera crew to the big names in front of it, over 25,000 film and television professionals set to embark on new projects from July 2025 will now benefit from this groundbreaking agreement[1]. Verdi negotiator Matthias von Fintel sheds light, saying:
The pension fund Rundfunk will be teaming up with the professionals, ensuring a seamless insurance process as they step into the pension scheme. And get this, for those who decide to join, participation applies automatically to all subsequent film projects[1][4].
Actors, often omitted from the Artists' Social Security Fund, are no exception to the crypto-curtain calling for this relief[2]. As they're technically hired for specific roles, but only on a temporary basis, their contributions to the pension fund have been inconsistent, leading to inadequate statutory pensions for most[2].
But years of dim retirements are about to be outshone, as Heinrich Schafmeister, the BFFS board's representative, points out, "With the implementation of the collective agreement, this occupational pension provision becomes mandatory, obligatory, and provides us with significant protection in old age from July 1st[1]."
Expanding the Limelight
The agreement calls for eight percent of fees to be set aside for building the pension scheme. Contributions from professionals will total four percent of their fees, while employers will pitch in with an additional four percent[1][4]. These contributions will result in pensions managed by the Rundfunk pension fund, which already boasts expertise in the broadcasting sector[1][4].
Martin Schrader, chairperson of the Rundfunk pension fund, celebrates this development as "a milestone in paving the way for film professionals against old-age insecurity[3]."
Gunnar Juncken, managing director of MadeFor Film, salutes the move from the tariff commission, "Our industry needs all the sparkle it can get, especially when it comes to attracting skilled talent and budding pros if we're to remain in the movie-making limelight[4]."
The tariff parties have their eyes set on a grander vision, aiming for the collective agreement to encompass all production companies across the nation, elevating retirement security for film and television professionals far and wide[4].
Tables Turned: The Pension Picture Changingfor Good
| Feature | Old System - State Pension | New System - Film & TV Pension ||--------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------|| Coverage | All employees | Industry professionals || Contribution Sources| Employees/employers (18.6% gross)| Industry agreement || Structure | Tiered payouts | Additional, defined by sector || Main Benefit | Universal, baseline security | Targeted support |
The Final Act
Germany's film and television professionals are on their way to enjoying a brighter retirement tomorrow. With a supplementary pension fund in the pipeline, artists and production personnel will have the chance to theatrically celebrate a more vibrant age, courtesy of the groundbreaking collective agreement[1][4].
- Press release by Verdi and BFFS, Germany
- Information provided by BFFS, Germany
- Production Alliance announcement
- Information from Gunnar Juncken, managing director of MadeFor Film, Germany
- German government retirement security proposals
[Official Sources]
- The collective bargaining agreement between Verdi, BFFS, and the Production Alliance in the film and television industry establishes a pension scheme for nearly 25,000 professionals, providing them with increased retirement security.
- Martin Schrader, chairperson of the Rundfunk pension fund, believes this agreement is a significant step in addressing the issue of old-age insecurity for film professionals, a milestone in securing their future.
- The tariff commission's decision to include actors in the pension scheme, unlike the Artists' Social Security Fund, will address the inconsistent contributions and inadequate statutory pensions for them, promising a brighter retirement for all film and television professionals.
