Coin Film

What Coin Film does

Coin Film GmbH is a German independent film production company headquartered in Cologne, founded in 1993 by Herbert Schwering (originally as ICON FILM, renamed COIN FILM in 2007) and now jointly led by Schwering and managing director Christine Kiauk. Over more than 25 years, the company has produced over 50 feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films, predominantly as international co-productions with partners across the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and South-East Europe. Its slate is concentrated in art-house and auteur cinema, with a recurring emphasis on feminist, socially relevant, and documentary storytelling, frequently featuring directors such as Jutta Brückner, Nanouk Leopold, Lola Randl, and Saskia Diesing.

Coin Film's products span four formats — theatrical feature films, theatrical documentaries, web series, and short films — with premieres anchored at top-tier international festivals (Berlinale, Locarno, Rotterdam, Toronto, Filmfest München) that drive subsequent theatrical and broadcast deals. The business model combines non-dilutive public film funding (FFA, DFFF, BKM, regional Filmstiftungen), pre-sale and co-financing from German and Swiss public broadcasters (ARD/WDR, ZDF, ARTE, SRF, Saarländischer Rundfunk), international co-production financing, and downstream theatrical distribution through partners including X Verleih/Warner Bros., W-Film, DCM, NFP, and Filmladen, with secondary digital distribution via broadcaster mediatheks and Vimeo on Demand. The company operates event-driven, festival-led go-to-market motion and has no disclosed pricing or direct-to-consumer commercial product.

The competitive position rests on a deeply embedded European production ecosystem: long-standing relationships with public broadcasters, regional and federal film funds, international co-producers, festival programmers, and theatrical distributors, all activated across a consistent slate of auteur projects. Both principals hold leadership positions in German and European industry bodies (PROG Producers of Germany, Film und Medienverband NRW, ACE Producers, European Film Academy), reinforcing the company's standing within the German art-house production sector. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Coin Film

Legal name

COIN FILM GmbH

Website

https://coin-film.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coin Film GmbH is a Cologne-based independent film production company producing art-house feature films, documentaries, and series as international co-productions, funded by German public film funds and public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, ARTE, SRF), and distributed theatrically across Germany and Austria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Production & Treaty Structuring (MPADAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Film production services
• International co-productions
• Documentary film production
• Art-house cinema
• Festival distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Co-production financing: Coin Film develops and co-produces films with European partners, sharing production costs, creative control, and territorial rights. Co-production partners include bildundtonfabrik (BTF), Amour Fou Luxemburg, KeyFilm, Circe Films, Dschoint Ventschr, MMC Movies Cologne, and others. German public broadcasters WDR, ZDF, and ARTE co-fund TV-coproductions in exchange for broadcast rights. This is the primary revenue mechanism, covering 50+ films over 25+ years.
2. Theatrical distribution: Coin films are released theatrically in Germany and Austria through distributor partners. Distribution partners include X Verleih (e.g., Im Spiegel meiner Mutter, Die Assistentin), W-Film (e.g., Der verlorene Zug, Cobain, Vatersland), DCM (Monte Verità), NFP marketing & distribution (Iraqi Odyssee, Mario Adorf doc), Filmwelt (Liebhaberinnen), Farbfilm (Die Räuber), Movienet Film (Die Kleinen und die Bösen), and Filmlichter (Die Besucherin, Brownian Movement). Theatrical box office and distribution fees represent a secondary revenue stream.
3. Broadcast licensing: TV broadcast rights are sold to German and Swiss public broadcasters. ARD (Das Erste, WDR), ZDF, ARTE, and SRF have aired Coin films. This includes both premiere windows and repeat broadcasts. Notable examples include Vatersland (ARD/ARTE premiere), Fühlen Sie sich manchmal ausgebrannt und leer? (ARD/ARTE), and Cobain (ARD/SWR). TV licensing is often structured as part of the co-production agreement.
4. Public film funding: German and European public film funding bodies contribute financing. Funding sources include Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Hessen Film & Medien, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFA (German Federal Film Board), DFFF (Deutscher Filmförderfonds), BKM (Commissioner for Culture and Media), Nordmedia, Saarländischer Rundfunk, and others. Funding is tied to specific productions and represents non-dilutive financing.
5. Home entertainment and streaming: Films are made available for digital purchase/rental via Vimeo on Demand and through broadcaster mediatheks (ARD Mediathek, ZDF Mediathek, ARTE Mediathek, SRF Mediathek). Physical media (DVD/Blu-ray) is also referenced for some titles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Coin Film develops and produces feature films, documentary films, web series, and short films — predominantly as international co-productions with European partners — for theatrical release, public television broadcast, and digital streaming. The company finances each project through public film funds, broadcaster pre-sales, co-producer contributions, and theatrical distribution, then delivers content to German and European audiences via festivals, cinema, broadcaster mediatheks, and Vimeo on Demand.

Product overview

Coin Film is a film production company that develops and produces feature films, documentaries, and series for the German and international market. The company operates four distinct product lines: Kino-Spielfilme (theatrical feature films), Kino-Dokumentarfilme (theatrical documentaries), Web-Serien (web series for platforms like ARD Mediathek), and Kurzfilme (short films). With over 25 years of experience and more than 50 theatrical films produced, primarily as international co-productions, Coin Film collaborates with German and European filmmakers on bold themes and new perspectives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Films (Kino-Spielfilme)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 films produced as international co-productions, presented at leading festivals worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• bildundtonfabrik (BTF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerbildundtonfabrik (BTF, Judith Fülle, Philipp Käßbohrer, Matthias Murmann) is a key co-production partner for Coin Film. BTF co-produced 'Liebhaberinnen' (2026) and the web series 'Saubere Sache' (2022). BTF is one of Germany's most prominent production companies, behind 'How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)' and other acclaimed TV series and films.
• Amour Fou LuxemburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmour Fou Luxemburg (Bady Minck, Alexander Dumreicher-Ivanceanu) is a recurring co-production partner, having co-produced multiple films including 'Liebhaberinnen' (2026), 'Der verlorene Zug' (2022), 'Die Erfindung der Liebe' (2013), and 'Die Räuber' (2014).
• Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaarländischer Rundfunk (SR), under Redaktion Christian Bauer, has co-produced several Coin films including 'Liebhaberinnen' (2026) and 'Der verlorene Zug' (2022). As a public broadcaster, SR provides both financing and broadcast rights acquisition.
• MMC Movies CologneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMC Movies Cologne (Bastie Griese) has served as a co-production partner and service provider for Coin films including 'Liebhaberinnen' (2026) and 'Baghdad in my Shadow' (2019), and provided studio facilities for 'Monte Verità' (MMC Studios Cologne).
• Circe Films (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCirce Films (Stienette Bosklopper, Lisette Kelder) is a long-standing Dutch co-production partner for Coin Film. The companies have collaborated on multiple films including 'Brownian Movement' (2010), 'Oben ist es still' (2013), 'Supernova' (2014), 'Cobain' (2018), and 'Fühlen Sie sich manchmal ausgebrannt und leer?' (2017).
• KeyFilm (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeyFilm (Hanneke Niens, Hans de Wolf) is a recurring Dutch co-production partner. KeyFilm co-produced 'Nena' (2014/15) and 'Der verlorene Zug' (2022) with Coin Film.
• Dschoint Ventschr (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDschoint Ventschr (Zürich, Joel Jent) is a Swiss co-production partner for Coin Film. The companies collaborated on 'Lost in Liberia' (2007) and 'Baghdad in my Shadow' (2019), and co-produced 'Iraqi Odyssee' (2014).
• ARD / Das Erste (and WDR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARD, led by WDR for co-productions, is a key funding and broadcast partner. WDR's 'Das kleine Fernsehspiel' has co-produced several documentaries and series (e.g., 'Lost in Liberia', 'Was lebst du?', 'Sofageflüster'), and ARD airs theatrical co-productions on Das Erste. 'Vatersland' premiered on ARTE and Das Erste.
• ZDF / ARTEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZDF and ARTE are key co-production and broadcast partners for Coin Film's feature films and documentaries. Notable co-productions include 'Die Assistentin' (2025/26), 'Die Räuber' (2014), 'Fühlen Sie sich manchmal ausgebrannt und leer?' (2017), and the Mario Adorf documentary (2019). ARTE provides pan-European distribution across Germany, France, and Belgium.
• X Verleih (and Warner Bros.)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorX Verleih is the German theatrical distributor for multiple Coin films. Warner Bros. handles the cinema booking/exhibition for X Verleih releases, including 'Im Spiegel meiner Mutter' and 'Die Assistentin' (both scheduled for 2026). X Verleih brought 'Im Spiegel meiner Mutter' to cinemas nationwide on 20 August 2026.
• W-FilmmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorW-Film (W-Film Dang & Albers GbR) handles German theatrical distribution for multiple Coin films including 'Der verlorene Zug', 'Cobain', and 'Vatersland'.
• DCM Film DistributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDCM Film Distribution handles German theatrical distribution for 'Monte Verità' (2021).
• Filmladen (Austria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFilmladen handles Austrian theatrical distribution for 'Liebhaberinnen' (2026).
• NFP marketing & distributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNFP marketing & distribution (Hamburg) handles German theatrical distribution for 'Iraqi Odyssee' and the Mario Adorf documentary 'Es hätte schlimmer kommen können'.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UFA Fiction (Bertelsmann/RTL): Germany's largest TV/film producer, part of the Bertelsmann group. Competes for talent and public broadcaster commissions in the same ecosystem as Coin Film, though focused on commercial-scale TV and streaming rather than auteur cinema.
• Bavaria Film / Bavaria Fiction: Large established German film and TV production group. Operates broadly across theatrical features, TV and streaming with public broadcaster relationships; overlaps with Coin Film on co-productions and broadcaster financing but at significantly larger scale.
• Studio Hamburg Produktion: Major German film and TV production group producing theatrical features and series with public broadcaster financing. Operates in the same German public-broadcaster/funding ecosystem as Coin Film, but at materially greater scale and portfolio breadth.

Direct peers

• Pandora Film: Cologne-based independent German film production company with a comparable art-house slate, festival-circuit focus, and similar reliance on German public film funds and broadcasters. Direct regional peer to Coin Film.
• Komplizen Film: Independent German film production company based in Berlin/Munich, focused on festival-oriented, internationally co-produced art-house cinema. Highly comparable to Coin Film in slate profile, public-funding reliance, and auteur-director relationships (Maren Ade, Jan-Ole Gerster).
• Razor Film Produktion: Berlin-based German production company producing art-house features and documentaries for festival and theatrical release, with public funding and broadcaster financing. Direct overlap with Coin Film's narrative/documentary slate.
• X Filme Creative Pool: Berlin-based independent German producer of internationally co-produced art-house and festival films (e.g., Toni Erdmann). Comparable producer profile to Coin Film with overlapping public broadcaster and festival funnels.
• Heimatfilm (Heimatfilm GmbH): German indie producer of art-house features and documentaries with strong festival track record. Comparable auteur cinema positioning and similar co-production model with European partners and public broadcasters.

Others

• Beta Film: Major German TV/film distribution and co-financing company that handles international sales and distribution for many European producers including art-house and high-end series. Comparable ecosystem participant through distribution and co-financing rather than direct production.

Emerging players

• Walker Worm Film: Smaller independent German production company with festival-circuit auteur cinema focus. Comparable in business model and art-house positioning to Coin Film, though with a narrower slate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coinfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/coinfilm_cng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coin-film-gmbh

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 Coin Film