What Capelight Pictures does

Capelight Pictures is a German independent film distribution company headquartered in Ahrensfelde, Germany, operating as a general partnership (OHG) owned by Steffen Gerlach and Stephan Selms. Founded in 2004, the company specializes in bringing international cinema to German-speaking audiences through theatrical releases, digital/VOD platforms, and physical home entertainment media including DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray formats, with a particular focus on premium collector's editions (Mediabooks, SteelBooks) and special 4K restorations of classic films.

The company's product portfolio spans standard physical media releases (DVDs from €7.99, Blu-rays from €9.99) through to limited collector's editions with multi-disc configurations and booklets (€32.99-€39.99), supported by modern format technologies including HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Capelight also operates the PosterArt-Collection sub-brand, offering numbered limited-edition movie poster art (250 copies) in partnership with MGM, distributed through a customer bonus-points system on their e-commerce platform. The company co-receives funding from the European Union's Creative Europe Media programme, indicating its role in European cultural content distribution.

Capelight generates revenue through three primary streams: theatrical exhibition in German cinemas (including the 'BEST OF CINEMA' classic re-release series), digital/VOD distribution, and physical media sales via direct-to-consumer e-commerce (shop.capelight.de, operated by ENTERLOG Trade GmbH) and German retail trade partners ('Handel'). The business model is transactional unit-pricing with no subscription or recurring contracts. The company serves individual consumers and home entertainment enthusiasts primarily in the DACH region, with international shipping extending to the EU, UK, USA, Japan, and Australia. The company maintains an active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Letterboxd for audience engagement.

Name

Capelight Pictures

Legal name

capelight pictures OHG

Website

https://capelight.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Capelight Pictures is a German independent film distributor (founded 2004) that releases international cinema in German-speaking markets through theatrical runs, digital VOD, and physical media including DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K UHD, and premium collector's editions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Distribution & Home Entertainment

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Catalog / Library Distribution & Re-Release (MPADAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Access & Distribution for Archives (Restored Masters, DCP Creation, Screening Deliverables) (MPADAMAJ), Distribution Rights & Windowing Management (Theatrical/TV/Streaming/Home) (MPADALAG)

Keywords

• Film distribution
• Home entertainment media
• Physical media distribution
• Video-on-demand services
• 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Headquarters

HQ city

Ahrensfelde

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Physical Media Sales: Sales of DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays, and collector's editions (Mediabooks, Steelbooks) through own shop and retail partners. Products include various pricing tiers from standard DVDs to premium limited editions.
2. Digital/VOD Distribution: Digital availability of films through streaming and video-on-demand platforms, with digital releases typically preceding physical media availability.
3. Theatrical Distribution: Cinematic releases in Germany, including special theatrical events such as the 'BEST OF CINEMA' series for classic film re-releases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Capelight Pictures is a German film distribution company that acquires distribution rights for international films and releases them in the DACH market through theatrical exhibition, digital video-on-demand, and physical home entertainment formats including DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The company specializes in premium collector's editions (Mediabooks, SteelBooks) with extensive bonus content, and distributes through its own e-commerce shop, German retail partners, and digital VOD platforms.

Product overview

Capelight Pictures is a German film distribution company specializing in physical and digital home entertainment media. The company operates as a hybrid distribution platform offering films through multiple formats: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (with Dolby Vision and HDR10), standard Blu-ray (including SteelBook and Mediabook collector's editions), DVD, and digital/VOD releases. The product portfolio centers on their core physical media business, with premium collector's editions (SteelBooks and Mediabooks) representing their add-on offerings featuring enhanced packaging, bonus content, and exclusive extras. The company also maintains a merchandise line through their PosterArt Collection, and operates both a consumer-facing website (capelight.de) and an e-commerce shop (shop.capelight.de). Films are released across various FSK ratings from general audiences to adults-only content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• capelight PosterArt-Collection: Exclusive poster art collection featuring MGM film posters, limited to 250 numbered copies, available exclusively through the bonus points system.

Products and services

• DVD Releases Standard DVD releases in softbox packaging, priced from €7.99, distributed to German-speaking consumers through the capelight shop, retail partners, and theatrical/digital windows.
• Blu-ray Discs Standard and collector's edition Blu-ray discs in various packaging formats including SteelBooks and Mediabooks, priced from €9.99, targeting home theater enthusiasts and physical media collectors.
• 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs Physical Blu-ray discs featuring 4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, typically released as part of SteelBook or Mediabook limited editions, priced from €17.99.
• SteelBook Editions Limited edition SteelBook packaging for collector's editions, often including both 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs with premium finishing, starting from €19.99, aimed at physical media collectors.
• Mediabook Editions Limited collector's edition Mediabooks containing multiple discs (UHD + Blu-ray + Bonus Blu-ray) with accompanying booklets, priced from €32.99-€39.99, targeted at premium physical media collectors.
• Digital/VOD Releases Digital availability of films through video-on-demand platforms, typically released prior to or alongside physical media, including both transactional purchase and rental options for German-speaking consumers.
• Theatrical Distribution Cinematic releases in German theaters, including special events like the 'BEST OF CINEMA' series for classic film re-releases, distributed to German cinema audiences prior to home entertainment availability.
• capelight PosterArt-Collection (Merchandise) Exclusive collectible movie posters featuring MGM film art, including signed editions and numbered limited prints (limited to 250 copies), available through the capelight shop bonus points system.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for the capelight PosterArt-Collection featuring high-quality poster art from MGM films. Includes titles like Moby Dick, Rollerball, Heaven's Gate, and others from the MGM catalog.
• ENTERLOG Trade GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOperational partner for the Capelight Shop e-commerce platform. ENTERLOG Trade GmbH (Köln) handles online shop operations, fulfillment, customer service, and payment processing for capelight-pictures.de/shop.capelight.de. Managing directors: Nils Zehnpfennig, Axel Gallep.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alive AG: German independent film distributor specializing in physical home entertainment releases (DVD/Blu-ray/4K UHD) for arthouse, horror, and international titles in the German market.
• Universum Film (UFA): Established German distributor of films and series across theatrical, home entertainment, and digital channels, with comparable catalog depth in international and German-language cinema.
• Koch Films / Plaion Pictures: Direct German/Austrian home entertainment and theatrical distributor with comparable physical media (Blu-ray/DVD/4K), digital, and collector's edition offerings. Highly overlapping product portfolio and target customer base.
• Studiocanal Germany: Subsidiary of a major European studio handling theatrical and home entertainment distribution in Germany, including premium Blu-ray/4K UHD collector's editions of catalog and new-release titles.
• Turbine Medien: German specialty distributor known for premium physical media releases including Mediabooks and limited collector's editions, very closely overlapping with Capelight's collector-edition strategy.
• Wild Bunch Germany: European sales and distribution arm operating in Germany, handling theatrical and home entertainment rights for arthouse and commercial titles.
• Pandastorm Pictures: German independent distributor focused on genre cinema (horror, thriller, action) released in physical and digital formats to German-speaking audiences.
• LEONINE Distribution: Major German film and home entertainment distributor covering theatrical, physical, and digital release windows for a broad catalog including arthouse and mainstream titles.

Regional players

• Neue Visionen Filmverleih: Berlin-based German arthouse distributor with overlapping physical media and theatrical release activity in the DACH region.

Broad incumbents

• Filmwelt / EuroVideo Medien: Long-established German home entertainment distributor with broader catalog and longer operational history, serving as a larger incumbent in the same physical-media and digital distribution space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/capelightpictures
• Facebookfacebook.com/capelightpictures
• Instagraminstagram.com/capelight_pictures
• TikToktiktok.com/@capelight_pictures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capelight-pictures-ohg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Capelight Pictures