CZAR.BE
CZAR.BE is a Brussels-based film and television production company founded in 1999 that produces feature films, documentaries, TV series, commercials, and music videos for international brands (IKEA, Nike, McDonald's), broadcasters (BBC, Netflix), and music artists, supported by Belgian Tax Shelter financing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSint-jans-molenbeek, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CZAR.BE does
CZAR.BE is a Brussels-based international film and television production company founded in 1999 by Belgian directors Koen Mortier and Joe Vanhoutteghem, operating under the trade name Czar Film & TV. The company produces feature films, short films, documentaries, TV series, commercials, music videos, photography services, and Belgium-wide production servicing, anchored by a roster of represented directors including its founding duo, who direct commercial work under the alias Lionel Goldstein. Since 2010, the company has been led by executive producer Eurydice Gysel with a strategic focus on director-driven cinema and ambitious TV co-productions, supported by access to Belgian Tax Shelter financing through BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, VAF, and Screen Flanders.
The company generates revenue across four primary streams: commercial production for international brands (AXE, IKEA, McDonald's, Nike, Toyota, Patta) on professional-services fees; feature film production and co-production (Borgman, Ex Drummer, Un Ange, Skunk) earning theatrical, broadcast, and international sales revenue; TV series co-production with broadcasters such as BBC and Netflix generating licensing royalties; and music video production for artists including Radiohead, Feist, Major Lazer, and Desiigner. Distribution occurs through a network of partners including Kinepolis Film Distribution, Dutch FilmWorks, Cinéart (theatrical), BBC, Canvas, Starz (broadcast), Netflix and Streamz (streaming), and All3Media and Fortissimo Films (international sales).
Czar's go-to-market is enterprise field sales: securing co-production deals with major broadcasters and brand-direct commercial engagements through long-standing agency relationships, with the company's brand presence reinforced by 18 Cannes Lions (including five gold), a Palme d'Or nomination for Borgman (2013), and Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy nominations for The Missing. Despite operating with a small core team, the company maintains a diversified international footprint across Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US, and runs an active development slate across feature films, TV series, and documentaries.
CZAR.BE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CZAR.BE
- Legal name
- Czar
- Website
- https://czar.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CZAR.BE is a Brussels-based film and television production company founded in 1999 that produces feature films, documentaries, TV series, commercials, and music videos for international brands (IKEA, Nike, McDonald's), broadcasters (BBC, Netflix), and music artists, supported by Belgian Tax Shelter financing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CZAR.BE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film and Television Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)
Keywords
Where CZAR.BE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sint-jans-molenbeek
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CZAR.BE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commercial Production: Production of commercials for international brands including AXE, IKEA, McDonald's, Nike, Toyota, and others. Revenue generated through creative fees, production services, and post-production work.
- Feature Film Production & Co-production: Production and co-production of feature films including Borgman (Cannes Official Competition), Ex Drummer, Un Ange, Skunk, and others. Revenue from theatrical distribution, international sales, and broadcast rights.
- TV Series Production: Production of TV series including The Missing (Golden Globes/BAFTA nominations), Les Miserables (BBC), and Voices of Liberation (Netflix). Revenue from broadcaster licensing and international distribution.
- Music Video Production: Production of music videos for international artists including Radiohead, James Blake, Feist, Royksopp, and Major Lazer. Revenue from artist labels and production fees.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
CZAR.BE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CZAR.BE is an international film and television production company that produces and co-produces feature films, short films, documentaries, TV series, commercials, and music videos. The company operates a roster of represented directors, provides production servicing across Belgium, and handles end-to-end production including development, production, and post-production. It secures co-production financing through the Belgian Tax Shelter and partners with broadcasters and distributors worldwide.
Product overview
CZAR.BE is an international production company that produces and co-produces feature films, short films, documentaries, TV shows, and commercials. The company was founded in 1999 by Belgian directors Koen Mortier and Joe Vanhoutteghem and operates as a director-driven production house with a roster of represented directors. Their services span the entire production spectrum including feature films (such as Ex Drummer, Borgman, Skunk), television series (The Missing, The White Queen), documentaries, commercials for international brands, music videos, and photography services. The company is led by executive producer Eurydice Gysel and maintains a network of directors with diverse creative specialties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lionel Goldstein: Alias for directing duo Koen Mortier and Joe Vanhoutteghem, known for absurd, melancholic, and humorous commercials with 18 Cannes Lions awards.
Products and services
- Feature Film Production
- TV Series Production
- Documentary Production
- Short Film Production
- Commercial Production
- Music Video Production
- Photography Services
- Production Servicing
Companies that use CZAR.BE
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CZAR.BE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CZAR.BE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BBCcoreBBC is a key co-production partner for Czar's TV series including The Missing (nominated for Golden Globes and BAFTA awards) and Les Miserables adaptation. BBC provides broadcast licensing and co-production financing.
- NetflixcoreNetflix is the streaming partner for Voices of Liberation, an 11-part documentary series about WWII released on Netflix Netherlands in May 2022.
- StreamzcoreStreamz is the Belgian streaming partner for Voices of Liberation released September 2022.
- Lookout Point LtdcoreCo-producer of Les Miserables television adaptation along with BBC Studios.
- Two Brothers PicturescoreCo-production partner for The Missing series and Baptiste spin-off.
- New Company PicturescoreCo-production partner for The Missing series.
- Graniet FilmcoreCo-production partner for Borgman and Nr 10 (Alex Van Warmerdam films), as well as The Weeping Walk.
- All3MediacoreWorld sales agent for Czar productions including The White Queen and Baptiste.
- Dutch FilmWorkscoreBenelux distribution partner for theatrical releases and TV series.
- Kinepolis Film DistributioncoreBelgian theatrical distribution partner for feature films including The Weeping Walk.
- CinéartcoreNetherlands theatrical distribution partner for feature films including Borgman.
- Cobra FilmsminorCo-production partner for Les Lunes Rousses documentary.
- Anonymes FilmsminorCo-producer of Un Ange feature film.
- CCCPminorProduction company co-producer of Ex Drummer.
- Quad ProductionsminorCo-producer of Ex Drummer feature film.
- Versus ProductionminorCo-production partner for Waste Land and Rookie.
- CTM PicturesminorProducer of J. Kessels feature film adaptation.
- Climax FilmsminorCo-producer of Coureur feature film.
- Kino ProduzioniminorItalian co-producer of Coureur feature film.
- Baldr FilmcoreDutch co-producer for The Garden of Early Delights, Joe Speedboot, and Skunk.
- Stenola ProductionsminorProducer of L'île de la demoiselle feature film.
- KG ProductionsminorCo-producer of L'île de la demoiselle.
- StarzcoreUS broadcaster and distribution partner for The Missing series and The White Queen.
- Les Films D'IciminorCo-producer of Inner Lines documentary.
- WIPminorCo-producer of Inner Lines documentary.
- CanvascoreBelgian public broadcaster for documentaries and short films.
- RTBFminorBelgian French-language broadcaster partner for various productions.
- VRTminorFlemish public broadcaster partner for TV series.
- Tarantula BEminorBelgian co-producer of Lynx feature film.
- John Doe ProductionsminorCo-producer of Lynx.
- Cookies FilmsminorCo-producer of Lynx.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CZAR.BE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Caviar: Belgian boutique production company with an analogous director-driven model spanning commercials, music videos, and feature films for international brands and broadcasters; the closest direct peer to Czar in market, geography, and offering.
- Skin & Bones Films: Belgian boutique commercial and content production house with a director-driven roster serving international brands; comparable geography, scale, and creative positioning to Czar.
- Tarantula Belgique: Belgian production company producing feature films and series in French and English; comparable in Belgian-based feature/TV production with international co-financing and festival focus.
Broad incumbents
- Smuggler: Internationally recognized commercial and content production company with a strong director roster; directly comparable in serving global brands with award-winning commercial work alongside longer-form projects.
- Anonymous Content: US- and London-based director-driven production company representing award-winning directors for commercials and long-form content; comparable in operating model (director representation + prestige film/TV), though materially larger in scale.
- Partizan: Global director-led production and representation company producing commercials, music videos, and feature films; comparable to Czar in the director-representation commercial/film crossover.
- MJZ: Long-established US production company representing a roster of prestigious directors for global advertising campaigns; comparable in its reliance on elite director talent to serve blue-chip brand clients.
- RSA Films: Ridley Scott's long-established commercial and long-form production house; comparable as a globally recognized director-led production company spanning commercials, music videos, and feature films.
- Hungryman: London- and US-based production company producing commercials, music videos, and feature films with a director-led model; directly comparable in commercial production plus long-form content crossover.
Regional players
- Lunanime: Belgian production company producing animation and live-action content for international broadcasters; comparable Belgian production-house footprint with international co-production activity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CZAR.BE social profiles
Digital presenceCZAR.BE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CZAR.BE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CZAR.BE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CZAR.BE 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 CZAR.BE
What does CZAR.BE do?
CZAR.BE is an international film and television production company that produces and co-produces feature films, short films, documentaries, TV series, commercials, and music videos. The company operates a roster of represented directors, provides production servicing across Belgium, and handles end-to-end production including development, production, and post-production. It secures co-production financing through the Belgian Tax Shelter and partners with broadcasters and distributors worldwide.
Is CZAR.BE a public or private company?
CZAR.BE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CZAR.BE founded?
CZAR.BE was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CZAR.BE based?
CZAR.BE is headquartered in Sint-jans-molenbeek, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does CZAR.BE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Production is the primary driver. The others are feature Film Production & Co-production, TV Series Production and music Video Production.
Who are CZAR.BE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Caviar, Skin & Bones Films and Tarantula Belgique. Broad incumbents are Smuggler, Anonymous Content, Partizan, MJZ, RSA Films and Hungryman. Lunanime is listed as a regional player.
Does CZAR.BE have an API?
No public API is recorded for CZAR.BE.
What industry is CZAR.BE in?
CZAR.BE's product category is Film and Television Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAC, Co-Production & Treaty Structuring. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.