Bandenfilm is winner of 2019 SKW Schwarz scholarship

This year’s SKW Schwarz scholarship for the promotion of young producer talent was awarded to production company Bandenfilm based in Potsdam-Babelsberg. The winners, Bandenfilm general managers Laura Klippel and Britta Strampe, were announced on February 13 at the traditional Early Morning Brunch of SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte held on the occasion of the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.

Bandenfilm general managers Britta Strampe (l.) and Laura Klippel (r.)

Having completed their first joint short film during their educational training in 2017, the two graduates of Babelsberg Konrad Wolf Film University founded Bandenfilm in January 2019. Bandenfilm makes feature film, TV, and video on demand (VOD) productions, both fictional and documentary, either as a stand-alone feature or as episodes. The first feature-length film with the working title “Subtext” is currently being produced as part of the “ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel” series in co-production with the Film University. A science fiction tragicomedy is in the works as the second feature film.

“Bandenfilm’s concept convinced us because the two producers not only demonstrated an enormous amount of determination in establishing their joint company, but they were also able to clearly show the wide range of fictional and documentary productions they are intending to create,” said Prof. Dr. Mathias Schwarz, jury member and Partner at SKW Schwarz’s Media & Entertainment department.

The SKW Schwarz scholarship is directed at graduates of German film academies. The scholarship backed by contributions in kind particularly aims at supporting young film and TV producers with SKW Schwarz’s many years of experience and its network in the film and TV sector in setting up or expanding their production companies during the initial period of self-employment. The scholarship was first announced in 2017.

The SKW Schwarz scholarship includes legal advice for the first film production after graduation from university and industry mentoring. Scholarship winners are supported by the law firm’s team of specialized legal professionals, who will also provide access to a wide network of industry experts.