News

In key appointments at Constantin Film, one of Europe’s biggest – and most ambitious – of production powerhouses, Viola Jäger and Jan Ehlert has been named as its new Chief Content Officers.

Jan Ehlert will head up TV/streaming, Viola Jäger oversee content for theatrical/film; both report to Constantin Film CEO Oliver Berben.

For years, Constantin has built its business on big international hits, such as the “Resident Evil” franchise, and a rock-solid domestic business powered by national blockbusters, such as, most recently, “Chantal and the Magic Kingdom,” which has sold over 2.6 million admissions in Germany.

Coming just a couple of months after Berben took over formally from Martin Moszkowicz as Constantin Film CEO, the new appointments are a play for continuity. Ehlert joined Moovie in 2000, just a year after Constantin head Berndt Eichinger had bought the Berben-headed company. Focusing on TV in his now 24-year career at Constantin Film,...

Veteran exec will be replaced by deputy chairman Oliver Berben.

Veteran German producer Martin Moszkowicz is to step down as chairman of Constantin Film.

In a statement today, Constantin said that Moszkowicz will let his contract expire as planned and at his own request on February 29, 2024 and will continue to work as a producer for Constantin Film from March 1.

Constantin has appointed deputy chairman, Oliver Berben, to be chairman of the company from March 1, 2024.

Moszkowicz has been part of the Constantin management team since 1990, and is responsible for the company’s film business, including worldwide production and distribution, world sales,...

Respected German industry veteran Martin Moszkowicz is stepping down as chairman of Resident Evil producer Constantin Film.

The independent film and TV production company announced that Moszkowicz will let his contract expire as planned and at his own request on February 29, 2024. He will continue to work as a producer for Constantin Film from March 1, 2024.

Current Deputy Chairman Oliver Berben has been appointed as his replacement in the chairman role with effect as of March 1 2024. In other board news, Hanns Beese has extended his contract.

“We are very grateful to Martin Moszkowicz for his many years of professional and loyal leadership and cooperation. Under his guidance, Constantin Film has developed sustainably into one of the most successful independent film and television production companies in Europe,” said Bernhard Burgener, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Constantin Film.

“We wish him the very best for his future and...

With global screen sectors increasingly in flux thanks to the aftershocks of an unprecedented pandemic coupled with intensifying streaming wars, it would be easy to see why execs in the business could feel a little on the apprehensive side. But for Oliver Berben, deputy CEO and deputy chairman of German production and distribution powerhouse Constantin Film, this is the golden age of international content production.

“If I could have chosen the time in the whole industry of moviemaking to be working, I would have absolutely chosen this time to live and do my work,” enthuses the well-respected exec. “It’s the perfect time to challenge yourself. I love situations where everything is questioned and I think for us working in a creative business, to be in a situation where you’re not sure is a good thing because you question yourself constantly. The moment you lean back and say ‘ok,...

Philipp Kadelbach, director and co-creator of the series “We Children From Bahnhof Zoo,” says his initial impulse when approached to helm the series was to steer well clear of what he saw as a fool’s errand, given the iconic status in Germany and elsewhere of Uli Edel’s 1981 feature film “Christiane F.,” which – like the series – is based on the book “Christiane F.: Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo.”

“I said, ‘I’m not going to do this. I’m not crazy.’ Because it’s like a monument for so many people. And everybody would start attacking me because I’ve gone to tell this story again, and they really loved it,” he tells Variety.

However, having read Annette Hess’ scripts, he saw how she had approached the material in a different way. The film felt like it had a voyeuristic approach to the subject, he says. He resolved to...

Netflix ushered in a new TV dawn in distribution. In reaction, Europe’s public broadcasters are driving a less vaunted but still significant revolution in production. Few are pushing the envelope more than Germany’s Zdf.

After “The Typist” and “Shadowplay,” four-hour limited series “The Winemaker,” a MipDrama entry, marks another series from the German state broadcaster which bring cinematic values and a darker edge to its scripted output, thanks in large part to direction by Austria’s Andreas Prochaska, who won an International Emmy for 2013’s “A Day for a Miracle.”

Multi-prized Austrian actor Tobias Moretti (“The Dark Valley”) plays soigné vintner Matteo, a fine upstanding member of his Tyrol valley community, with a lovely loving wife and a daughter whom he is training to one day take over his business.

Then, suddenly, an immigrant is shot but not killed in his vineyards. Nico, a smiling ghost from Matteo...

In today’s Mipcom Roundup, ITV closes format deals around the world for some of its biggest properties; History greenlights prison break factual series with Morgan Freeman; Beta Film sells several catalog titles across Europe and the Americas; and Nent Studios U.K. scores Joe Biden doc.

Formats

ITV Studios’ most popular format “Love Island” has landed in two new territories after commissions for the format were ordered by Atresmedia in Spain, where it will be produced by Boomerang, and Tvc for terrestrial and on 9 Vision Media for digital in Nigeria, the show’s first commission in Africa. Meanwhile the German remake of “Love Island” has been renewed for a fifth season this spring on Rtl Zwei.

Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of “The Voice of Holland,” which launched a global phenomenon, “The Voice Allstars” was also announced by ITV Studios. In the updated version of the classic program, familiar voices from...

Exclusive: Beta Film has secured a raft of deals with U.S. and international buyers on its TV drama slate.

Going into MIPCOM, Beta closed a deal with U.S. buyer MHz Networks for thriller Agent Hamilton (10h), which had its red carpet world premiere last year at MIPCOM in Cannes. The platform is also the new home for Canneseries-awarded Bauhaus – A New Era (6h) from director Lars Kraume (The Verdict), as well as former Canneseries and Geneva International Filmfestival contender The Typist (5h) by Nina Grosse.

Agent Hamilton was also acquired by AMC for Latin America and Rtp Portugal. The show stars Jakob Oftebro (Kon-Tiki), Katia Winter (Dexter) and Wallander lead Krister Henriksson and is based on the best-selling Hamilton novels by Jan Guillou. Producer is Dramacorp’s Patrick Nebout (Midnight Sun), German broadcaster is Zdf.

Additional deals for Bauhaus – A New Era include Denmark (Dr), Finland (Yle), HBO Latin America,...

“Resident Evil” and “Shadowhunters” producer Constantin Film has renewed the contracts of its long-serving CEO Martin Moszkowicz and TV and digital chief Oliver Berben, and promoted Berben to deputy CEO.

Moszkowicz has been CEO of Constantin Film since Jan. 1, 2014 and in addition to company management and strategy he is also in charge of worldwide production and distribution, world sales, marketing and publicity, and corporate communication and legal affairs, among other duties.

Moszkowicz’s most recent credits include “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2017), “Suck Me Shakespeer” (2017), “This Crazy Heart” (2017), “How About Adolf?” (2018), “Polar” (2019), “The Collini Case” (2019), “The Silence” (2019), “Das perfekte Geheimnis” (2019), “Dragon Rider” (2020), and “Monster Hunter” (2020).

Berben has been a member of the board since Jan. 1, 2017, and as deputy CEO will continue to run the TV, entertainment and digital media division, and supervise the development and production of all national and international projects of the division. Berben will continue his activities as a producer as well.

Exclusive: Germany-based production and distribution powerhouse Constantin Film has renewed the contracts of long-serving CEO Martin Moszkowicz and Management Board member Oliver Berben early, and for an extended period of several years. The Supervisory Board of the Resident Evil producer extended Moszkowicz’s contract this month, taking effect from January 1, 2021. Berben has also been named Deputy CEO.

The respected Moszkowicz has been CEO of Constantin Film since 2014. In addition to company management and strategy, he is in charge of worldwide production and distribution, world sales, marketing and publicity, corporate communication and legal affairs — among others. He has been part of Constantin Film’s management since 1990, first as Producer and Managing Director, then as a member of the Managing Board. As a producer, executive producer and co-producer, Moszkowicz has been responsible for numerous local and international hit features and TV productions. In 2019, he exec produced Das Perfekte Geheimnis (Perfect Strangers) which...