Italian
A visionary transformation in German media: Oliver Berben’s innovative approach
Oliver Berben, who assumed leadership of the illustrious German production and distribution juggernaut, Constantin Film, on March 1, is confronting a German media landscape that is transitioning rapidly and profoundly. Amid these shifts, Berben is recalibrating the company’s strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
Embracing change: New film law reforms and production incentives
Berben is a proponent of the government’s proposed reform of the German Film Law. This anticipated reform, set to overhaul the nation’s production incentives, mandates broadcasters and streaming platforms to reinvest 20% of their Germany-derived revenues back into European productions. Notably, 70% of this reinvestment must be dedicated to German-language content. Berben passionately supports these changes, criticizing the stagnation of public broadcasters’ funding and the dwindling revenues of private stations. He questions the sustainability of traditional business models, urging the industry to break away from repetitive practices and seek innovative production and financing methods.
“Everything is evolving, and these advancements are beneficial,” Berben asserts, emphasizing the necessity for producers to explore novel ways of producing and funding shows.
Streaming successes: ‘Dear Child’ and beyond
Streaming has become a significant facet of Constantin’s strategy. Their thriller ‘Dear Child’, based on Romy Hausmann’s novel, has garnered an astounding 51 million views on Netflix, ranking among the streaming giant’s top 10 non-English-language scripted series worldwide. Constantin Film retained certain rights to ‘Dear Child’, including theatrical adaptation rights, underscoring their meticulous approach to intellectual property (IP) management.
“We meticulously evaluate each entity and IP, collaborating with partners to secure the optimal deal,” Berben explains.
Upcoming projects: ‘Murder Mindfully’ and IP branding with Netflix
Constantin is launching ‘Murder Mindfully’, a comedy crime show starring Tom Schilling, adapted from Karsten Dusse’s best-selling novel. Berben regards this project as a prime example of creating an IP brand in partnership with Netflix. Interestingly, the collaboration with actors differs; there are no exclusive deals, while filmmakers and creators receive substantial investments. This strategy allows Constantin to attract and retain top talent such as Baran bo Odar, Bully Herbig, Florian David Fitz, and David Wnendt.
International partnerships: ‘Smilla’s Sense of Snow’
An intriguing addition to Constantin’s roster is ‘Smilla’s Sense of Snow’, directed by Amma Asante and based on Peter Høeg’s novel. For this series, as with others, the goal is to find ideal partners in each territory while retaining considerable rights until the project reaches completion. Financially, this approach entails securing two to three anchor partners to cover 60-70% of the budget, supplementing the remainder internally and maintaining rights until distribution.
Pioneering high-budget productions: ‘Hagen’
One of Constantin’s most ambitious projects is the fantasy drama ‘Hagen’, which reimagines the medieval Nibelungen folk saga. With an unparalleled budget of approximately €45 million ($48.8 million), it represents the most expensive German production to date. This epic has been produced both as a six-part series and a feature film. Fremantle handles worldwide distribution, with RTL holding German streaming and free TV rights.
The stakes of genre: high expectations and budget
Berben acknowledges the high stakes and expectations that accompany such a substantial budget, underscoring the importance of creating a new world and IP in genre productions.
Expanding boundaries: ‘Those About to Die’
Constantin’s collaboration on Roland Emmerich’s gladiator drama ‘Those About to Die’ epitomizes their commitment to high-budget international productions. With $150 million invested, it streams on Prime Video in several European territories and on Peacock in the U.S. AGC manages international rights. Prime Video reports an unprecedented success, surpassing all goals across Europe and opening discussions for a second season.
Diversifying production: From feature films to potential Oscar contenders
Constantin continues to fortify its feature film roster, acquiring titles such as ‘Baby Girl’, ‘The Last Showgirl’, and ‘Megalopolis’ for theatrical distribution. On the production side, they back leading titles like ‘Regretting You’, inspired by Colleen Hoover’s bestseller, and ‘September 5’, a prospective Oscar nominee.
Stay tuned for more updates on Constantin Film’s groundbreaking projects and innovative strategies. Share this article on social media and follow our page for the latest industry insights.
