Former Cinerentapartner and current Lago Film managing director Marco Mehlitz has partneredwith former Vivendi Germany and Studio Babelsberg chief Thierry Potok on hisstate-backed incentive scheme for projects shooting in the Berlin-Brandenburgarea.

Producers who team up with German production partners willbe eligible for a guarantee through Potok's International Production FinancingServices (IPFS).

Under thescheme, Studio Babelsberg shoots may receive a state guarantee covering up to80% of the local spend, provided the guarantee is no greater than 30% of thetotal budget.

The guaranteewill be cash-flowed into the production. To access the scheme, producers need alending bank, a local co-producer, and someone to access the money andadministrate the process.

"After leavingCinerenta, I was looking for the best possible financing tool for films,"Mehlitz said. "The state guarantee is the single best tool available. Itenables us to produce locally at a very competitive level, while alsoattracting international financing and producers to shoot here inBerlin-Brandenburg."