Von Stauffenberg (R) was killed for attempting to assassinate Hitler in 1944. (File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) said Thursday it endorsed a subsidy worth 6.5 million dollars to subsidize a controversial new film in which Tom Cruise plays a German hero -- Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg -- executed for trying to kill Hitler, according to media reports.

    "Yes, it's been approved," said Christine Berg, DFFF project head at the Federal Film Board (FFA). "The application was submitted, the criteria for the grant were fulfilled and the project was approved."

    But the film's efforts to use a memorial site where the Nazis shot Stauffenberg was thwarted.

    The subsidies are available to any film as long as a German-based producer is involved and certain percentages of the costs fall in Germany.

    One of the officials said the grant should reduce fears that Germany is fundamentally opposed to Cruise playing Stauffenberg because of the actor's membership of Scientology.

    The government regards Scientology as a cult masquerading as a religion to make money, which is a view rejected by its leaders.

    (Agencies)

German military sites ban Tom Cruise filming

    BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- One Tome Cruise's movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler has been banned from filming at German military sites, media reported Tuesday.

    Cruise, also one of the film's producers, is a member of the Church of Scientology which the German government does not recognize as a church. Berlin said it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientology leaders reject. Full story