Augenschein Filmproduktion
Augenschein Filmproduktion is a privately held German independent film production company producing feature films and documentaries as international co-productions, monetizing through distribution deals with platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, and A24, and through German/European public film funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersCologne, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Augenschein Filmproduktion does
Augenschein Filmproduktion GmbH is a privately held German independent film production company founded in 2008/2009 and headquartered in Cologne, with a second office in Hamburg. The company produces feature films and documentaries, operating primarily through an international co-production model that pairs German public and private film funding with foreign partners across Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America. Since inception it has produced more than 100 films spanning genres including thriller (STOWAWAY, 7500), drama (MY HAPPY FAMILY, ANA, MON AMOUR), and sci-fi (THE ASSESSMENT), with talent attachments including Anne Hathaway, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, Emma Thompson, Anna Kendrick, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Revenue is generated through three principal streams: one-time production licensing fees from feature film co-productions and fully-owned productions, transaction-based international distribution rights sales to streaming platforms (Amazon Prime Video, Netflix) and theatrical distributors, and licensing/grant income from German and European film funds including Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, FFF Bavaria, DFFF, EURIMAGES, and Creative Europe MEDIA. Films are typically launched via premieres at Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Cannes, and other A-list festivals, which drive pre-sales, distribution deals, and award recognition (Silver Bear 2017, BIFA 2024, multiple Grimme Award nominations).
The business model is project-based and B2B: Augenschein does not sell directly to consumers but monetizes through distribution partners (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, A24, Protagonist Pictures, Camino Filmverleih, Capelight Pictures, Realfiction Filmverleih) and public broadcasters (WDR, ZDF/ARTE). The company is in active operating status with a current slate including ISLANDS (Berlinale 2025), MOTHER MARY (with A24), THE FISHERWOMAN (Emma Thompson), and BERLIN NOBODY (Eric Bana, Sadie Sink). In March 2024, Erfttal Film & Television Production became a minority shareholder, representing the company's first confirmed external equity investor.
Augenschein Filmproduktion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Augenschein Filmproduktion
- Legal name
- augenschein Filmproduktion GmbH
- Website
- https://augenschein-filmproduktion.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Augenschein Filmproduktion is a privately held German independent film production company producing feature films and documentaries as international co-productions, monetizing through distribution deals with platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, and A24, and through German/European public film funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Augenschein Filmproduktion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring (MPADAAAK), Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)
Keywords
Where Augenschein Filmproduktion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cologne
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Augenschein Filmproduktion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Film Production Revenue: Revenue generated through producing feature films as co-productions or fully-owned productions, typically with German and international partners. Films are sold to distributors, streaming platforms, and broadcast networks.
- International Distribution Rights Sales: Selling world rights, regional rights, and free TV rights to major platforms like Amazon and Netflix for international distribution.
- Government Film Funding: Receiving production subsidies and script development grants from German and European film funds including Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, FFA, DFFF, EURIMAGES, Creative Europe MEDIA, and regional film foundations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Augenschein Filmproduktion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Augenschein Filmproduktion is an independent German film production company that develops, finances, and produces feature films and documentaries as co-productions with international partners. The company packages films with high-profile acting talent, secures financing from public film funds and private partners, and licenses finished films to global streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video), theatrical distributors, and public broadcasters for theatrical, streaming, and broadcast release.
Product overview
Augenschein Filmproduktion GmbH is a German independent film production company producing documentaries and feature films as co-productions with international partners. The company operates from offices in Cologne and Hamburg, producing a diverse slate of films for theatrical release, streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, MUBI), and festival circuits worldwide. The portfolio includes award-winning features such as THE ASSESSMENT (Amazon Prime acquisition), MOTHER MARY (A24 production), STOWAWAY (Netflix global deal), and THE DIVE (RLJE Films US rights), alongside acclaimed international co-productions like MY HAPPY FAMILY, ANA MON AMOUR, and LOS PERROS. The company also produces documentary features including TOUR DU FASO, WHO IS THOMAS MÜLLER?, and MONEY.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ISLANDS English-language feature film directed by Jan-Ole Gerster; world premiere at Berlin International Film Festival 2025.
- MOTHER MARY Pop music epic feature film directed by David Lowery, starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel; produced in collaboration with A24 and Sailor Bear.
- THE ASSESSMENT Sci-fi drama feature film set in a futuristic world where couples undergo evaluation before being allowed to have children. Directed by Fleur Fortuné; stars Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, and Himesh Patel. Acquired by Amazon Prime Video.
- STOWAWAY Science fiction thriller feature film directed by Joe Penna, starring Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Daniel Dae Kim, and Shamier Anderson. Netflix secured global rights.
- 7500 Hijacking thriller feature film directed by Patrick Vollrath, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Amazon acquired world rights and released on Amazon Prime Video.
- HOME Feature film directorial debut of Franka Potente, starring Kathy Bates, Jake McLaughlin, and Lil Rel Howery. Premiered at Rome Film Fest and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
- THE DIVE English-language deep sea survival thriller feature film directed by Maximilian Erlenwein. Louise Krause and Sophie Lowe star as two sisters. RLJE Films acquired US rights.
- THE FISHERWOMAN Survival thriller feature film starring two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson, directed by Brian Kirk. Principal photography wrapped in Cologne.
- BERLIN NOBODY Thriller feature film directed by Jordan Scott, starring Eric Bana and Sadie Sink. Distribution deals secured through Protagonist Pictures partnership.
- MY HAPPY FAMILY German-Georgian-French co-production feature film directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross. Released on Netflix; won multiple international awards.
- ANA, MON AMOUR Romanian-German-French co-production feature film directed by Calin Peter Netzer. Won Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution at Berlin Film Festival.
- SAMUI SONG Thai-German co-production feature film directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. Drama with satirical film-noir style; premiered at Venice Days Competition.
- LOS PERROS Chilean co-production feature film directed by Marcela Said. Won Horizontes Award at San Sebastián Film Festival; nominated for GOYA.
- APPRENTICE Singaporean-German-French co-production feature film directed by Boo Junfeng. World premiere in Official Selection at Cannes (Un Certain Regard).
- CLOUD WHISPERS Family road movie feature film directed by Kerstin Polte, starring Corinna Harfouch, Meret Becker, and Sabine Timoteo. Won Bavarian Film Prize for Best Newcomer Director.
- BOX Romanian-German-French co-production feature film directed by Florin Serban. Won FIPRESCI Award at Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
- KID Belgian co-production feature film directed by Fien Troch. Premiered at International Rome Film Festival and Rotterdam.
- THE INNOCENT Feature film directed by Simon Jaquemet. Premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (Platform competition).
- THE WOUNDED ANGEL Kazakh-French-German co-production feature film directed by Emir Baigazin. Second part of trilogy dealing with teenage issues; premiered at Berlinale Panorama.
- DER RUSSE IST EINER, DER BIRKEN LIEBT Feature film nominated for the prestigious Grimme Award in the Fiction category in 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- Films premiered at major international festivals including Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Cannes
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Augenschein Filmproduktion
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Augenschein Filmproduktion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Augenschein Filmproduktion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Number 9 FilmscoreCo-producer of THE ASSESSMENT with Number 9 Films; also collaborated on other projects like THE ASSESSMENT and other co-productions
- ShivHans PicturescoreCo-production partner for THE ASSESSMENT film
- Project InfinitycoreCo-production partner for THE ASSESSMENT
- Tiki TaaneminorCo-production partner for THE ASSESSMENT
- A24flagshipMajor production and distribution partner for MOTHER MARY; A24 handling worldwide distribution of David Lowery's pop music epic starring Anne Hathaway
- Sailor BearcoreU.S.-based production company co-producing MOTHER MARY with augenschein and A24
- Homebird ProductionsminorCo-production partner for MOTHER MARY
- ZDF / Das Kleines Fernsehspiel / ARTEcoreGerman public broadcasters co-producing documentaries including MONEY with augenschein
- WDRcoreGerman public broadcaster co-producing documentaries and feature films including THE COALMAN, WHO IS THOMAS MÜLLER?
- RISE PicturescoreProduction partner for STOWAWAY sci-fi thriller with Anna Kendrick and Toni Collette
- XYZ FilmscoreProduction partner for STOWAWAY; involved in international sales and financing for the project
- Protagonist PicturescoreInternational sales agent partnered with augenschein Sales for global sales partnership representing selected English-language slate films
- La HuitminorFrench co-producer for TOUR DU FASO documentary feature
- Prime TimeminorBelgian production company, delegate producer for KID feature film
- Camino FilmverleihcoreGerman theatrical distributor for WHO IS THOMAS MÜLLER?
- Capelight PicturescoreGerman distributor for THE ASSESSMENT sci-fi drama
- Agat Films Et CieminorFrench partner for development of crime series 34 with augenschein and Unité de Production
- Realfiction FilmverleihcoreGerman distributor for ANA, MON AMOUR
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Augenschein Filmproduktion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- A24: A24 is a US-based film and production company that handles worldwide distribution of MOTHER MARY for Augenschein. While much larger, A24 is the closest partner/incumbent comparable as a vertically integrated indie producer-distributor combining premium talent, festival strategy, and streaming/digital releases — the same playbook Augenschein operates in.
- Studio Babelsberg: Germany's largest and most established film studio and production services company, based near Berlin. Comparable as a German-headquartered film production entity operating internationally; serves as the broader incumbent against which Augenschein positions itself as a more boutique, festival-driven alternative.
Direct peers
- Number 9 Films: UK-based boutique film production company and core co-production partner on THE ASSESSMENT. Number 9 Films produces English-language prestige features with international talent — operationally and strategically the most direct peer in terms of slate composition and co-production model.
- Sailor Bear: US-based production company and co-producer on MOTHER MARY alongside Augenschein and A24. Comparable as a small, talent-driven indie producer structuring premium English-language features with festival ambitions.
- XYZ Films: XYZ Films is a US/international sales-and-production company that co-produced STOWAWAY with Augenschein. Comparable as a mid-sized indie specializing in international genre and thriller titles, festival-friendly packaging, and global licensing — directly overlapping on production financing and sales approach.
- RISE Pictures: RISE Pictures is a UK/international production company co-producing STOWAWAY with Augenschein. Comparable as a boutique producer of English-language genre thrillers working with US/international talent across multiple European jurisdictions.
- Protagonist Pictures: UK-based international sales agent handling global sales for selected Augenschein titles (e.g., BERLIN NOBODY, English-language slate). Comparable as a closely linked commercial intermediary representing independent films to streaming platforms and theatrical distributors — adjacent services in the same indie value chain.
- Pandora Film: German independent film production company with a similar profile of producing festival-oriented German and international co-productions. Comparable in size, arthouse programming, and reliance on federal/regional film funds plus international co-production partners.
- Tamtam Film: German boutique independent film producer based in Cologne producing festival-titled documentaries and features. Comparable given similar scale, German public broadcaster relationships, and focus on awards-circuit titles.
- Heimatfilm (now GmbH): German-Cologne-based independent production company producing German and international arthouse feature films. Closely comparable on geography (Cologne), operational scale (boutique), and focus on festival-premiered co-productions with public funding access.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Augenschein Filmproduktion social profiles
Digital presenceAugenschein Filmproduktion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Augenschein Filmproduktion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Augenschein Filmproduktion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Augenschein Filmproduktion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Augenschein Filmproduktion
What does Augenschein Filmproduktion do?
Augenschein Filmproduktion is an independent German film production company that develops, finances, and produces feature films and documentaries as co-productions with international partners. The company packages films with high-profile acting talent, secures financing from public film funds and private partners, and licenses finished films to global streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video), theatrical distributors, and public broadcasters for theatrical, streaming, and broadcast release.
Is Augenschein Filmproduktion a public or private company?
Augenschein Filmproduktion is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Augenschein Filmproduktion founded?
Augenschein Filmproduktion was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Augenschein Filmproduktion based?
Augenschein Filmproduktion is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Augenschein Filmproduktion make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Film Production Revenue is the primary driver. The others are international Distribution Rights Sales and government Film Funding.
Who are Augenschein Filmproduktion's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are A24 and Studio Babelsberg. Direct peers are Number 9 Films, Sailor Bear, XYZ Films, RISE Pictures, Protagonist Pictures, Pandora Film, Tamtam Film and Heimatfilm (now GmbH).
Does Augenschein Filmproduktion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Augenschein Filmproduktion.
What industry is Augenschein Filmproduktion in?
Augenschein Filmproduktion's product category is Film Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAO, Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing, with a secondary code of MPADAAAK, Sales Agency Representation & Deal Structuring. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.