Potsdam, March 7, 2022: At the end of 2020, UFA became the first German entertainment company to announce its commitment to more diversity in front of and behind the camera. The aim is to reflect the diversity of society in the overall portfolio of UFA programs in a given year by the end of 2024, using the German government’s census as a guide – just one year after announcing its commitment, UFA is now presenting concrete data.

The focus was on collecting data in front of the camera, so-called on-screen diversity. In order to collect and evaluate these figures, UFA’s in-house research department set up a database to measure diversity in front of the camera for all main and supporting roles (in fictional productions, it is the role that counts, not the actor/actress) and all main and supporting actors/actresses in UFA formats from 2021 onwards. The measurements relate to the four focus topics of gender / women, PoC (People of Color), LGBTIQ+ and people with disabilities / inclusion. All productions from all UFA units in 2021 were recorded.

Central results

UFA on-screen diversity 2021 total

• For the measurement in 2021, 45 UFA productions and thus 3,205 roles or actors were counted according to their on-screen diversity in the four focus areas.
• 45.3% of all roles and actors in UFA productions were female in 2021. (for comparison, the national average for women is 50.7%*)
• 7.6% of the roles and actors in UFA productions were People of Color. (the proportion in the Federal Republic can be estimated at approx. 10%*)
• 4.6% were LGBTIQ+ roles or actors. (Cf.: according to a representative study, the national average is 11%*)
• 1.6% of the roles and actors in UFA productions featured people with an impairment/disability. (Cf.: the proportion of severely disabled people in Germany is 9.5%*)
• In all four focus areas counted, it was found that diversity was more visible in leading roles or among leading actors than in supporting roles or among supporting actors (e.g. in 2021, almost 11% of leading roles or actors in UFA formats were LGBTIQ+, while the figure for supporting roles or actors was just under 3%)

The overviews and further details on the key findings are below available below.

Nico Hofmann, CEO UFA: “The figures for on-screen diversity were discussed in detail internally. They show us that we are still a long way from reaching our goal, but that we can be very proud to have taken the first important steps. The measurement database is a major milestone for us. The comparative values from this year will be exciting, so that we can then achieve our self-imposed goal at the end of 2024 with confidence and even more diversity in front of and behind the camera. We want to inspire all colleagues, partners and creatives in our industry to join us on this journey to show viewers a realistic picture of our world.”

In order to achieve the objective of the voluntary commitment and drive forward all activities relating to diversity in a focused manner, employees also founded an internal Diversity Circle in 2020, consisting of mentors for the four focus topics. The circle serves as a point of contact not only within UFA, but also for all interested parties in the industry.

Gender / Women: Katja Bäuerle, Creative Responsibility Manager, UFA and Johanna Langhof, Head of Internal Communications, UFA
PoC (People of Color): Juliana Maug, Manager Assistant Digital, UFA Serial Drama
LGBTIQ+: Markus Schroth, Head of Human Resources, UFA Show & Factual
People with disabilities / inclusion: Jeannette Venzke, HR Manager & Inclusion Officer UFA

Measures in front of the camera
In 2021, UFA and the MaLisa Foundation initiated the study “Gender-specific violence on German television. A media content analysis” initiated and funded. For the first time, it provides an overview of the portrayal of gender-specific violence on German TV. The study was conducted by Prof. Dr. Christine Linke and Ruth Kasdorf M.A. and is a cooperation project between Wismar University of Applied Sciences and the University of Rostock. In addition, UFA is developing internal guidelines for creatives to help them depict gender-specific violence in UFA programs more realistically on screen.

Measures behind the camera
In addition to internal workshops, training sessions and keynotes for employees (e.g. to raise awareness of racism, unconscious bias or female leadership), the recruitment process in particular called for more diversity in creative and administrative management positions as well as in entry-level positions. Job advertisements and recruitment processes were revised, employee contracts were made gender-neutral and workplaces in offices and at filming locations were checked for accessibility and in some cases have already been adapted.

For interview requests to the management or patrons of the Diversity Circle and for further questions, please contact

Maja Genowa
Senior Manager Communications
maja.genowa@ufa.de
Phone: +49 151 2777 0573

Janine Friedrich
Senior Manager Communications

janine.friedrich@ufa.dePhone: +49 331 70 60 379

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The press release as pdf for download: