German director Wim Wenders establishes foundation for young filmmakers

Film director Wim Wenders announced Friday the creation of a foundation in his native German city to ensure his work is publicly accessible and to support young film-makers.

The maker of films such as "Pina" and "Don't Come Knocking" said the foundation would firstly buy the rights to all his movies by the end of this year for around 1.8 million euros ($2.4 million).

His works "belong to the collective memory of viewers of every age and of many nationalities," said a statement by the film and media foundation of the western North Rhine-Westphalia state, which has helped with financing.

The state is home to the city of Duesseldorf where Wenders was born.

Wenders, 67, told local DPA news agency that it had long been his dream.

"Eventually one gets to an age where you imagine the work living on without you," he was quoted by the agency as saying.

The new foundation will also gradually take on Wenders's photographic, artistic and literary works and will also award grants to young film- and video-makers.