Themonth-long wave of protests against the proposals by Hamburg's Culture SenatorKarin von Welck to cut funding for FilmFoerderung Hamburg (FFHH) by 50% has hadthe desired effect.

Accordingto German press reports on Wednesday afternoon (July 7), the Senate forEconomics & Labour is to provide at least Euros 2m from its economicfunding budget for Hamburg's film fund. One report suggested that this would beon the understanding that von Welck reduces her proposed cut from Euro 3.5m toEuro 2.5m.

In a firstreaction to the Senate for Economics & Labour's move, FFHH's executivedirector Eva Hubert stressed that "the most important thing for us is thatwe can continue doing our work as good as previously. Damage to the image ofthe film city of Hamburg will nevertheless stay. We will do everything toremove this damage, but that can't happen within four weeks."

Thislatest positive development just before the summmer holiday break comes twodays after Wim Wenders and Peter Schwartzkopff, his partner in their Hamburg-basedproduction company Reverse Angle Production, sent an open letter to Hamburg'sLord Mayor Ole von Beust protesting at von Welck's proposal.