CZAR.BE

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.

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

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

• Film production services
• Commercial production
• Music video production
• Documentary production
• Television series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Sint-jans-molenbeek

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC 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.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix is the streaming partner for Voices of Liberation, an 11-part documentary series about WWII released on Netflix Netherlands in May 2022.
• StreamzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreamz is the Belgian streaming partner for Voices of Liberation released September 2022.
• Lookout Point LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Les Miserables television adaptation along with BBC Studios.
• Two Brothers PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Missing series and Baptiste spin-off.
• New Company PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The Missing series.
• Graniet FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Borgman and Nr 10 (Alex Van Warmerdam films), as well as The Weeping Walk.
• All3MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent for Czar productions including The White Queen and Baptiste.
• Dutch FilmWorkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBenelux distribution partner for theatrical releases and TV series.
• Kinepolis Film DistributioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian theatrical distribution partner for feature films including The Weeping Walk.
• CinéartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetherlands theatrical distribution partner for feature films including Borgman.
• Cobra FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Les Lunes Rousses documentary.
• Anonymes FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Un Ange feature film.
• CCCPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company co-producer of Ex Drummer.
• Quad ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Ex Drummer feature film.
• Versus ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Waste Land and Rookie.
• CTM PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of J. Kessels feature film adaptation.
• Climax FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Coureur feature film.
• Kino ProduzioniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian co-producer of Coureur feature film.
• Baldr FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch co-producer for The Garden of Early Delights, Joe Speedboot, and Skunk.
• Stenola ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of L'île de la demoiselle feature film.
• KG ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of L'île de la demoiselle.
• StarzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS broadcaster and distribution partner for The Missing series and The White Queen.
• Les Films D'IciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Inner Lines documentary.
• WIPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Inner Lines documentary.
• CanvascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian public broadcaster for documentaries and short films.
• RTBFminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian French-language broadcaster partner for various productions.
• VRTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlemish public broadcaster partner for TV series.
• Tarantula BEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian co-producer of Lynx feature film.
• John Doe ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Lynx.
• Cookies FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Lynx.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/czarbrussels
• Facebookfacebook.com/CzarBrussels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/czar.be

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CZAR.BE