The UFA Academy was offered for the first time in 2022 and successfully supported the first participants in their lateral entry into the media industry until mid-2024.

With the launch of the Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg in spring 2024, the UFA Academy will hand over a large part of the program’s accompanying organization and training to the Erich Pommer Institute, which will manage and be responsible for the Media Academy.

The qualification program offers career changers and those returning to the industry the great opportunity to explore the diversity of media professions in a practical and theoretical way to enable a successful entry into the industry. The UFA Academy is one of many practical companies participating in this pioneering specialist initiative.

As part of the Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg, we are looking for people in Berlin and Brandenburg who already have (initial) professional experience, regardless of their previous industry. The aim is to promote enthusiasm for various professions on the film set and in film production through practical experience and skills-based qualifications in order to diversify the industry in the long term.

Participants start with a basic course that teaches knowledge of film production and relevant soft skills. This is followed by a 10-month paid trainee program in a film production company. During this time, participants receive intensive support in the area of professional and personal development. The Erich Pommer Institute offers tailor-made advice and training opportunities during networking events. A talent pool rounds off the program.

Some of the participating production companies receive a wage subsidy and are supported by a mentoring program. Mentoring provides access to events and workshops on topics such as the transformation of the labor market, inclusion and individual advice on personnel development.

The Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg offers an application period twice a year. You can find the latest information here.

The Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy of the State of Brandenburg, the State of Berlin and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Florian Graf, Head of the Berlin Senate Chancellery and State Secretary for Media and the Metropolitan Region, on the program: “The training and qualification of skilled workers is a key aspect of maintaining Berlin-Brandenburg as an attractive and competitive media location. With the Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg, we want to inspire those interested in a job in the media industry who have had little or no previous contact with the industry. At the same time, we want to make it easier for people from a wide range of professional and social backgrounds to enter the media world.”

Brandenburg’s Minister of Economics and Labour Jörg Steinbach explained: “Brandenburg is an important and internationally recognized media location. In order to maintain this role, we not only need more skilled workers, we also need an appropriate level of qualification. The Media Academy Berlin Brandenburg is tackling these challenges in a targeted manner, as evidenced by the very positive response from media companies. We are very happy to support the initiative, as it offers real added value for companies based in the media city of Babelsberg.”

Medienboard Managing Director Kirsten Niehuus: “The new Media Academy is an important addition to the range of training opportunities for anyone who wants to make films behind the camera in Germany’s No. 1 film location. There are tailor-made training courses here that are tailored to the special requirements of the film and TV industry. Hands-on training in cooperation with renowned production firms and in-depth courses at the EPI is an investment in the future.”

Susanne Stürmer, President of the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF: “The Media Academy Berlin-Brandenbu strengthens the film and media workforce both qualitatively and quantitatively and makes the industry in our region even more future-proof. I wish our joint initiative every success!”

The Media Academy is an association of companies from the media industry and was developed for the region under the responsibility of the Media Collective training association. One of the initiators and one of the first companies to join is UFA. Its former managing director Joachim Kosack said at the launch of the program: “Following the success of the UFA Academy, the Media Academy Berlin-Brandenburg is a great example of what can be achieved when politics, the private sector and training institutes meet as equals and everyone pulls together with great commitment and the possibilities that each party has.”

The continuing education network is based at the Erich Pommer Institute (EPI) and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) as part of the federal program “Development of continuing education networks”.