Film Tank
Filmtank is a Berlin-based independent production company creating documentary films, TV documentaries, VR installations, and crossmedia projects for European broadcasters, museums, cultural institutions, and consumer audiences. Managed by Thomas Tielsch and Saskia Kress.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Film Tank does
Filmtank (filmtank GmbH) is a Berlin-based independent documentary and crossmedia production company headquartered at Reichenberger Str. 88, D-10999 Berlin. The company produces non-fiction content across multiple formats: theatrical documentary films for cinema release, TV documentaries broadcast on European public networks, immersive VR installations for museums and cultural institutions, and crossmedia projects combining interactive web documentaries, graphic novel apps, games, and audio formats. Core products include documentary titles such as Total Trust, Das geheime Wissen der Tiere, Der geraubte Wald, and Das Venedig Prinzip; VR experiences such as Inside Tumucumaque and Das Totale Tanz Theater; and crossmedia projects such as netwars/out of CTRL and MYRIAD. Where we connect. The company is managed by Thomas Tielsch and Saskia Kress (Geschäftsführer) and is registered at Amtsgericht Berlin under HRB 226575 B.
Filmtank's production model relies on co-productions and project financing rather than proprietary technology. The company collaborates with strategic partners including Interactive Media Foundation and Artificial Rome for VR and crossmedia development, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin for scientific VR projects, and Frogs & Friends e.V. for conservation-themed work. Major TV documentaries are co-produced with public broadcasters including ZDF, Arte, 3sat, and SWR. Production financing draws on German regional film funds (medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Baden-Württemberg, nordmedia, Kulturstiftung des Bundes), broadcaster commissions, and international co-production partners (WILDart Austria, 4Proof Film Romania).
Revenue is generated through a multi-channel distribution stack: theatrical distribution via Filmtank Audience and partners (Mindjazz Pictures, Magnetfilm, Realfictionfilme, Autentic Distribution), TV licensing to broadcasters, museum/institutional licensing for VR installations, and direct-to-consumer VOD/DVD sales through the Filmtank Shop. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or acquisitions, and has accumulated over 50 international awards including Grimme-Preis, Deutscher Dokumentarfilmpreis, DOC NYC International Competition, Prix Italia, and European Design Awards.
Film Tank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Film Tank
- Legal name
- filmtank GmbH
- Website
- https://filmtank.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Filmtank is a Berlin-based independent production company creating documentary films, TV documentaries, VR installations, and crossmedia projects for European broadcasters, museums, cultural institutions, and consumer audiences. Managed by Thomas Tielsch and Saskia Kress.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Film Tank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Documentary Film Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Feature-Length Documentaries (MPADADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Culture Documentaries (MPADADAI), Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)
Keywords
Where Film Tank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Film Tank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Video on Demand (VOD) or DVD purchase/rental |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Film Tank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Film Tank (filmtank GmbH) is a Berlin-based documentary and crossmedia production company that produces creative documentaries for theatrical cinema release and television broadcast (ZDF, Arte, 3sat, SWR), immersive VR installations for museums and cultural institutions, and crossmedia projects combining documentary with interactive web documentaries, mobile apps, and games. The company delivers its content through direct-to-consumer VOD/DVD sales (shop.filmtank.de), theatrical distribution (Film Tank Audience), broadcast licensing, and museum exhibitions worldwide.
Product overview
Film Tank is a Berlin-based documentary film production company (filmtank GmbH) producing content across multiple formats. The portfolio includes: theatrical documentary films (Kino) for cinema release, TV documentaries broadcast on channels like ZDF/ARTE/SWR, Virtual Reality (VR) installations and immersive experiences, crossmedia projects combining documentary with interactive digital formats (web documentaries, graphic novel apps, games), and web/mobile interactive experiences. Films are distributed through the Filmtank Shop (video on demand/DVD sales) and Filmtank Audience (theatrical distribution). The company operates as a multi-format production house rather than a unified software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Filmtank Audience: A distribution/Verleih brand operated by Filmtank for distributing productions to audiences, referenced as filmtankaudience.de.
- Filmtank Shop
Products and services
- Theatrical Documentary Films (Kino) Theatrical documentary films produced for cinema release, covering environmental issues, social themes, and cultural subjects, intended for broadcasters, theatrical distributors, festivals, and consumer audiences.
- TV Documentaries Documentary productions produced for television broadcast, often in collaboration with broadcasters such as ZDF, ARTE, 3sat, and SWR, distributed to broadcast partners and audiences.
- Inside Tumucumaque (VR Installation) VR installation allowing visitors to experience animal perception in the Brazilian rainforest, developed with Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and Artificial Rome, intended for museums, cultural institutions, and exhibition venues.
- Das Totale Tanz Theater (VR Installation) Immersive VR experience exploring human-machine interaction inspired by Bauhaus stage experiments, examining artificial intelligence through interactive dance, developed with Interactive Media Foundation and Artificial Rome for cultural institutions and exhibitions.
- netwars / out of CTRL (Crossmedia Project) Multi-format crossmedia project on cyber warfare comprising TV documentary, interactive web documentary, graphic novel app, e-book, and audiobook, intended for broadcasters, online audiences, and educational use.
- MYRIAD. Where we connect. (Crossmedia Project) Crossmedia project exploring human connection and interconnection, distributed across multiple platforms for online audiences and broadcasters.
- Filmtank Shop (VOD/DVD Sales Platform) E-commerce platform for renting or purchasing Filmtank documentary films as video on demand (VOD) or DVD, serving direct consumer audiences worldwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50+ international awards across various productions including Grimme-Preis, DOC NYC, and multiple festival prizes
Companies that use Film Tank
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Film Tank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Film Tank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Interactive Media FoundationcoreCo-production partner for major crossmedia and VR projects including Inside Tumucumaque, Das Totale Tanz Theater, and BAUKRAFT. Joint development of immersive VR experiences and educational content.
- ZDF / ArtecoreBroadcast partner for numerous TV documentary productions. Major co-production relationships for documentary films and TV content.
- Museum für Naturkunde BerlincoreScientific collaboration partner for Inside Tumucumaque VR project. Development of scientifically accurate animal and environment models for immersive experiences.
- Artificial RomecoreDesign and development partner for VR projects including Inside Tumucumaque and Das Totale Tanz Theater.
- Mindjazz PicturesminorDistribution partner for theatrical releases including An den Rändern der Welt DVD sales.
- MagnetfilmminorWorld distributor for Der geraubte Wald (Wood).
- RealfictionfilmeminorTheatrical distribution partner for films including Das Venedig Prinzip and Die singende Stadt.
- Frogs & Friends e.V.coreOngoing partnership for amphibian conservation crossmedia projects. Originally initiated as a crossmedia project, now established as an international amphibian protection organization.
- WILDart (Austria)minorCo-production partner for Der geraubte Wald (Wood) documentary.
- 4Proof Film (Romania)minorCo-production partner for Der geraubte Wald (Wood) documentary.
- Apollo FilmminorCo-production partner for crossmedia projects including Conquest of the Seven Seas and Deltas der Welt.
- Autentic DistributionminorDistribution partner for Deltas der Welt documentary series.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Film Tank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- REALFICTIONFILME: Cologne-based documentary theatrical distributor. Direct peer partnering with Film Tank on Das Venedig Prinzip and Die singende Stadt theatrical releases.
- Mindjazz Pictures: German independent distributor specializing in arthouse and documentary theatrical releases. Direct peer already partnered with Film Tank on An den Rändern der Welt DVD distribution.
- Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion: Berlin- and Hamburg-based independent documentary and factual production house. Direct peer producing award-winning feature documentaries and series for German broadcasters and international streamers, with overlapping ZDF/Arte commission relationships.
- Final Cut for Real: Copenhagen-based independent documentary production house producing festival-grade feature docs. Direct peer in the Nordic/European documentary production ecosystem with comparable ZDF/Arte commissioning relationships.
- Autentic Distribution: German factual documentary production and distribution company with global sales reach. Direct peer partnering with Film Tank on Deltas der Welt distribution and operating in the same broadcaster-funded documentary ecosystem.
- Submarine: Amsterdam-based documentary and crossmedia production studio producing films, interactive, and transmedia projects. Direct peer in the European crossmedia documentary space, particularly in interactive web docs and transmedia storytelling.
- Magnetfilm: Berlin-based documentary distribution and production company. Direct peer handling world sales of German documentaries; already works with Film Tank as distribution partner on Der geraubte Wald (WOOD).
Broad incumbents
- ZDF / Arte: Major German public broadcaster and Franco-German cultural channel. Broad incumbent — operates as both commissioner/funder for Film Tank's documentary slate and as a much larger broadcaster producing and acquiring documentaries directly.
- Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb): Berlin/Brandenburg regional public broadcaster and a frequent commissioner/co-producer of regional documentaries. Broad incumbent operating in the same Berlin documentary ecosystem and partnering with local indies including Film Tank.
Others
- Interactive Media Foundation: Berlin non-profit developing interactive and crossmedia projects. Adjacent ecosystem partner co-developing Inside Tumucumaque and Das Totale Tanz Theater with Film Tank; comparable in VR/crossmedia delivery capability.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Film Tank social profiles
Digital presenceFilm Tank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Film Tank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Film Tank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Film Tank 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 Film Tank
What does Film Tank do?
Film Tank (filmtank GmbH) is a Berlin-based documentary and crossmedia production company that produces creative documentaries for theatrical cinema release and television broadcast (ZDF, Arte, 3sat, SWR), immersive VR installations for museums and cultural institutions, and crossmedia projects combining documentary with interactive web documentaries, mobile apps, and games. The company delivers its content through direct-to-consumer VOD/DVD sales (shop.filmtank.de), theatrical distribution (Film Tank Audience), broadcast licensing, and museum exhibitions worldwide.
Is Film Tank a public or private company?
Film Tank is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Film Tank founded?
Film Tank was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Film Tank based?
Film Tank is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Film Tank's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are REALFICTIONFILME, Mindjazz Pictures, Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion, Final Cut for Real, Autentic Distribution, Submarine and Magnetfilm. Broad incumbents are ZDF / Arte and Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb). Interactive Media Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Film Tank have an API?
No public API is recorded for Film Tank.
What industry is Film Tank in?
Film Tank's product category is Documentary Film Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADADAA, Feature-Length Documentaries, with a secondary code of MPADADAI, Arts & Culture Documentaries. Its NAICS code is 512110 and its SIC code is 7812.