Professional organization for directors — establishes work standards, protects authorship rights, negotiates fees. Central hub for screenwriters and directors.
Anyone working as a director in Germany cannot avoid this association — and rightly so. The BVR (Association of Film and Television Directors in Germany) acts as the central representative body for all those who bear creative responsibility behind the camera. This doesn't just apply to major productions, but also to smaller television assignments, where the association actively enforces fee standards and scrutinizes employment contracts for fairness.
In daily practice, the BVR functions as an umbrella organization with real leverage — it negotiates with broadcasters, producers, and distributors on an equal footing and ensures that directors are not treated as interchangeable pawns. This is particularly relevant for television productions, where time pressure and tight budgets can quickly lead to unfair conditions. The association has enforced established minimum fee rates, which are tiered according to format (feature film, series, documentary). For independent filmmakers, the BVR also offers advice on contract negotiations — a service that pays off when it comes to protecting author's rights.
Crucially: The BVR defends the copyright and creative rights of directors against broadcasters and production companies that would like to acquire all exploitation rights. This is a core conflict in the German film business — while in some Anglo-American systems the production company owns everything, the BVR fights here for the director's authorial position. This has concrete consequences: subsequent use rights, digital distribution, international sales — all of this is negotiated, not simply ceded.
The association is also a hub for information — about tenders, funding updates, technical innovations on set, and legal changes. Memberships are stratified according to experience and income, which also allows young directors to join. Whether working freelance or employed full-time, individuals can find support here in enforcing appropriate working conditions — from shooting to editing and final acceptance.