Verena Schmidt Takes Over as Managing Director of Medienförderung RLP

Since January 1, Verena Schmidt has been the new managing director of the Medienförderung RLP. Schmidt, who now leads the agency responsible for funding films and games in Rhineland-Palatinate, aims to enhance the industry’s visibility and strengthen its networks.

Verena Schmidt begins her role with significant momentum and a high level of trust. Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz (Media Authority Rhineland-Palatinate) has doubled the agency’s 2025 funding to €226,000. “The doubling of the funds by the Media Authority Rhineland-Palatinate underlines the importance we attach to the funding of innovative media projects. In this way, we are promoting creative diversity in Rhineland-Palatinate and enabling the development of new, exciting productions,” said Albrecht Bähr, chairman of Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz.

Medienförderung RLP, founded in 2021 as a subsidiary of the Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz, is responsible for media funding in the state. Alongside the parent organization, it receives financial support from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, SWR, and ZDF. Since its inception, it has funded 128 audiovisual projects and 27 games projects, with the latter receiving nearly €750,000 in total funding.

As the new managing director, Verena Schmidt is eager to drive the industry forward. “I look forward to making RLP media funding even more visible in the coming years and to further expanding the network across the state. Our new office in Mainz will serve as an important anchor point. The increased budget is a clear commitment to promoting Rhineland-Palatinate as a media hub. We are facilitators: every euro invested benefits recipients in Rhineland-Palatinate, helping them successfully bring their projects to life,” Schmidt said.

While Rhineland-Palatinate lags behind leading game hubs like Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, Hamburg, and Baden-Württemberg in terms of game funding budgets, the state holds a respectable 7th place in the recently updated game ranking. In previous evaluations, Rhineland-Palatinate consistently placed in the upper midfield.