Films
The reference service is governed by the Federal Archives Act and the access regulations.
- In general, answers to straightforward enquiries and the viewing of film-related materials are free of charge.
- Specific film screenings and further types of use are likewise free of charge in line with the Federal Archives cost regulations. Uses for commercial purposes, on the other hand, are subject to a charge in all cases.
- It is also possible that the holders of patent rights may levy further charges for showings, the production of copies or the use of historical film material in new productions.
- The required recordings may be copied by external service providers at market rates in any medium and format.
- Prior to visiting, it is recommended to write and enquire as to the availability of records on the relevant subject matter.
- As a rule, the reading rooms are always open on workdays. Film screenings may only take place by prior agreement. Prior notification is recommended to obtain personal information and to access film-related materials in the reading room or library. It is possible to order archival records and materials in advance.
In certain circumstances, videos (VHS or DVD) are available to rent out a series of films from the holdings of the Federal Archives. Retail purchases are mainly DEFA films and feature films from the period up to 1945. For legal reasons the Federal Archives itself does not offer for sale videos of complete films or excerpts. Interested parties are referred to the holders of rights, who must give their consent to the production of a DVD. As it is generally a question of individual pieces, the charges amount to hundreds of euros or more, so a purchase for private use is virtually out of the question. Video media currently available on the German market can be found via the "Verzeichnis lieferbarer Kaufmedien" [list of media in stock]. Information and links on searching for all the video media published on German and international films are contained in Wikibooks film research.