Jonas Katzenstein / Maximilian Leo : photo credit Juliane Guder
Cologne-based augenschein Filmproduktion has sold a minority stake to the family owned film production company Erfttal Film as part of a decisive step in growth. Under the new cooperation, augenschein will continue to operate as a full-range film production company but with the ability to develop, package and produce director driven feature films with a stronger commercial potential for the global market.
In a major strategic move to significantly expand the company, Cologne-based augenschein Filmproduktion has sold a minority stake to the family owned film production company Erfttal Film, it was announced today by augenschein’s Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo and Erfttal’s Klaus Dohle. Under the new cooperation, augenschein will continue to operate as a full-range film production company but with the ability to develop, package and produce director driven feature films with a stronger commercial potential for the global market. 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.
Under this game-changing deal, the partnership will 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 will 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.
Already a proven company able to successfully produce international festival and commercial fare, augenschein produced several major movies in 2023 including:
Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway, Michaela Coel and Hunter Schafer is written and directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight), A24 will handle the global release of the film. Lowery, Toby Halbrooks and James M. Johnston produce alongside Jeanie Igoe of Homebird Productions and Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo and Jonathan Saubach of augenschein Filmproduktion. The epic pop melodrama follows a fictional musician (Hathaway) and her relationship with an iconic fashion designer (Coel).
Islands (aka The Tourist) is a thriller starring Sam Riley, Stacy Martin and Jack Farthing from German filmmaker Jan-Ole Gerster. Produced by augenschein’s Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo, Islands tells the story of a former tennis pro, who lives an endless summer filled with booze and brief affairs. But when he helps a young woman search for her missing husband, he wonders how coincidental this encounter really is. The film is in post-production.
“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.
Additionally, with an increased multi-million credit line and boosted personnel ranks including two in-house producers – renowned Romanian producer Oana Iacu (Academy Award-nominated Quo vadis, Aida?) and finance line producer Lennart Wemcken, augenschein plans to shoot three to four features in 2024. The first is The Fisherwoman, the action thriller from director Brian Kirk (21 Bridges, “Luther”). Starring two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson, the film is set to start production in February. Produced by Greg Silverman and Jon Berg of Stampede Ventures and Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo from augenschein Filmproduktion, Thompson plays a widowed fisherwoman who, while trapped in a Minnesota blizzard, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenager and soon finds she is the young victim’s only hope.
