Cologne-based augenschein Filmproduktion has sold a minority stake to the family owned film production outfit Erfttal Film. augenschein will continue to operate as a full-range film production company under the new deal, but with the ability to develop, package and produce director-driven feature films with a stronger commercial potential for the global market.
The new deal will also combine resources from both companies to expand augenschein’s industry reach. Still maintaining augenschein’s access to Germany’s film funds and soft money, the collaboration aims to increase access to other financial resources. This marks a major step for augenschein in retaining the ability to curate the artistic edge of its filmmakers but with higher budgets for its feature film packages.
“This deal is a major next step in our company’s trajectory and enables us to keep growing and building on our strength as a truly global and filmmaker friendly company. It takes us to the next level, allowing us to be much more active and compete for projects with the very best production companies both in the U.S. and beyond. It’s the best of both worlds where we combine our resilience and strength to be even more bold and fearless backed by a wonderful partner, in an ever-changing market,” said augenschein Filmproduktion’s Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo. “We have a fantastic slate of high-profile films already shot and in development and Erfttal is the ideal partner to support us as our company continues its evolution,” they continued.
“The cooperation will help both companies to make the most of their strengths and produce a diverse range of captivating and inspiring films for viewers from Germany and around the world,” commented Erfttal Films’ owner Klaus Dohle.
augenschein produced several major movies in 2023 including director David Lowery’s Hunter Schafer-penned Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway, and Michaela Coel coming soon from A24, Jan-Ole Gerster’s new thriller Islands starring Sam Riley, Stacy Martin and Jack Farthing, and upcoming Eric Bana starrer, Berlin Nobody, from director Jordan Scott.
Going forward, company is joined by renowned Romanian producer Oana Iacu (Academy Award-nominated Quo vadis, Aida?) and finance line producer Lennart Wemcken for its upcoming slate, the first of which is director Brian Kirk’s (21 Bridges, “Luther”) The Fisherwoman. The action thriller centers on a widowed fisherwoman (Emma Thompson) who, while trapped in a Minnesota blizzard, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenager and soon finds she is the young victim’s only hope.
Kirk directing from a script by Nicholas Jacboson-Larson and Dalton Leeb. Next to Iacu, Greg Silverman and Jon Berg of Stampede Ventures are producing alongside augenschein’s Katzenstein and Leo.
Erfttal Film is a longtime shareholder in the German production company Amusement Park, who produced the Academy Award-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as holding other selective film investments.
