Element E
Element E Filmproduktion GmbH is a German film production company founded in 2005, operating from Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig, producing premium commercials, feature films, and TV shows for major brands, public broadcasters, and global streaming platforms through a roster of six award-winning directors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Element E does
ELEMENT E Filmproduktion GmbH is a privately held German film production company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hamburg, with additional offices in Berlin and Leipzig. The company operates a multi-disciplinary production model spanning three core verticals: premium commercial production for major brands, feature film production with theatrical and public-funding distribution, and TV show and documentary production for German public broadcasters (ARD, MDR, ZDF, WDR, NDR) and global streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+). Its product portfolio is organized around a represented roster of six directors — Lars Büchel, Bernd Faass, Isa Prahl, Ali Bach, Facundo Scalerandi, and Leon Schlesselmann — each with distinct creative profiles and award-winning track records across advertising, narrative film, and episodic formats.
The company's revenue model is project-based, with each production engagement typically structured as a one-time license or fee-for-service contract negotiated directly with enterprise clients. Commercial production serves global consumer brands including Mercedes Benz, Otto, McDonald's, H&M, Renault, Sparkasse, Allianz, eBay, L'Oréal, Lufthansa, and MINI; feature film production involves co-production partnerships with entities such as Filmautoren AG, Collina Filmproduktion, Kinowelt, and Universum Film, plus public film-funding mechanisms; TV and documentary production is anchored by long-running relationships with German public broadcasters, with proprietary formats including Das Gipfeltreffen and RUMMS! Die News Show. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and all commercial relationships are direct enterprise engagements rather than volume-based or subscription models. Go-to-market is field/enterprise sales driven by the company's creative reputation, director roster, and portfolio of award-winning work (Cannes Lions, ADC, Deutscher Werbefilmpreis, German Television Award, New York Festival, PromaxBDA).
In 2024, Element E completed a leadership succession in which Fabian Lichtenberg was promoted to Managing Director and Partner after 15+ years with the firm, while co-founder Bernd T. Hoefflin stepped down from management; founder Lars Büchel continues as Managing Partner and Director. The company employs 11-50 staff across production, editorial, postproduction, commercial, and administrative functions. There is no evidence of external investment, parent-company ownership, subsidiaries, or public-market activity; Element E operates as a founder/management-owned private limited company (HRB 90169, Hamburg).
Element E firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Element E
- Legal name
- ELEMENT E Filmproduktion GmbH
- Website
- https://element-e.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Element E Filmproduktion GmbH is a German film production company founded in 2005, operating from Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig, producing premium commercials, feature films, and TV shows for major brands, public broadcasters, and global streaming platforms through a roster of six award-winning directors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Element E industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Production Services
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Casting & Talent Placement (Sessions, Bands, Touring Musicians) (MPAIAGAM), Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)
Keywords
Where Element E is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Element E business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commercial Production: Production of premium commercials for major brands including Otto, Mercedes Benz, McDonald's, H&M, Renault, and others
- Feature Film Production: Feature film production with co-production partners, theatrical distribution, and public funding
- TV Shows and Documentaries: Production of TV shows and documentaries for broadcasters (ARD, MDR, ZDF, WDR, NDR) and streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+)
- Directing Talent Representation: Representation and management of directing talent for commercial and narrative projects
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Element E product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Element E is a multidisciplinary German film production company producing premium commercials for major brands, theatrical feature films, and TV shows/documentaries for broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company operates across three core production verticals with offices in Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig, leveraging a roster of award-winning directors. Revenue is generated through project-based production contracts, co-production arrangements, and theatrical distribution licensing.
Product overview
Element E Filmproduktion GmbH is a multidisciplinary film production company with offices in Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig. The company operates three core production divisions: Commercial Production (premium commercials for brands), Feature Films (cinema releases), and TV Shows/Documentaries (for broadcasters and streamers). The product portfolio is organized around a roster of represented directors (Bernd Faass, Lars Büchel, Isa Prahl, Ali Bach, Facundo Scalerandi, Leon Schlesselmann) who work across these three production verticals, creating premium commercials, feature films, and TV shows. The company also developed successful TV formats including 'Das Gipfeltreffen', 'RUMMS! Die News Show', and 'Schubert, Echse und…' for ARD and MDR.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Production
- Feature Film Production
- TV Shows and Series
- Documentary Production
- Directing Talent Representation
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1.2 million cinema viewers for 'Jetzt oder Nie' (2000)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Element E
Customer profileNamed customers30 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Element E technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability2 records
Element E partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Aggro Krabben HamburgminorCo-production partner for indie film 'Beule' - an absurdist comedy by Janek Rieke
- NDRcoreCo-production partner for TV film 'Simon sagt Aufwiedersehen zu seiner Vorhaut' directed by Viviane Andereggen
- Filmautoren AGcoreCo-production partner for 'Paulas Geheimnis' - family adventure film
- ZDFcoreCo-production partner for 'Paulas Geheimnis' - family adventure film
- Collina FilmproduktionminorCo-production partner for 'Lippels Traum' based on Paul Maar's book
- b.a. produktionminorCo-production partner for 'Lippels Traum'
- Kinowelt FilmproduktionminorCo-production partner for 'Lippels Traum'
- Universum FilmminorCo-production partner for 'Lippels Traum'
- WDRcoreCo-production partner for 'Die Räuberin' - television film
- Stüfi-Film & Tyche-FilmminorCo-production partners for 'Bis zum Ellenbogen' - comedy film
- déjà-vu filmminorFilm distributor for 'Die Räuberin'
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Element E competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UFA: Germany's largest TV and film production group (Bertelsmann subsidiary), producing scripted series, entertainment, and feature films for all major German broadcasters plus streamers. As a broad incumbent with thousands of employees, it competes for the same broadcaster and brand contracts as Element E but at materially greater scale.
- Studio Babelsberg: Historic German film studio and production company producing international feature films and high-end series, with co-production partnerships across Europe. Competes for premium feature-film and international-streamer work that overlaps with Element E's higher-budget cinema and series slate.
- Constantin Film: Major German producer and distributor of feature films, series, and entertainment content for theatrical, broadcast, and streaming distribution. Competes with Element E for feature-film commissions, broadcaster commissions, and streamer series budgets but with corporate scale and IP catalog Element E lacks.
- Bavaria Filmproduktion: Long-standing German film and TV production company with studios in Munich/Geiselgasteig producing scripted, entertainment, and cinema content for German and international broadcasters. Competes with Element E for feature-film commissions and episodic work but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- Partizan: Globally networked production company with German offices (Partizan Germany / Partizan Berlin) producing premium commercials, branded content, and feature films for international brands. Directly comparable for cross-border commercial pitches; offers geographic reach Element E lacks.
- CZAR Film: Germany- and Europe-based production company with a comparable mix of commercials, branded content, and feature films for major brands and international platforms. Operates an analogous director-roster model and targets overlapping Tier-1 advertiser accounts.
- Tony Petersen Film: Berlin-based commercial production house producing high-end ads for major German and international brands. Direct competitor for branded-content and commercial commissions, with a similar director-roster model and tier-1 advertiser client base.
- Wiedemann & Berg Film: German production company producing premium feature films and series with major German broadcasters and international streamers. Closely comparable portfolio mix to Element E's narrative/series work, particularly Berlinale-grade cinema and broadcaster co-productions.
- Tempomedia Filmproduktion: Hamburg-based film production company with a directly comparable mix of commercials, feature films, and TV content for German broadcasters and brands. Most geographically and operationally analogous competitor to Element E in Germany.
- MAIK LOEW Filmproduktion: German commercial and branded-content production house specializing in premium commercials for major brands. Direct competitor to Element E with overlapping client roster in automotive, FMCG, and fashion, and similar boutique production-services model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Element E social profiles
Digital presenceElement E financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Element E leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Element E funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Element E 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 Element E
What does Element E do?
Element E is a multidisciplinary German film production company producing premium commercials for major brands, theatrical feature films, and TV shows/documentaries for broadcasters and streaming platforms. The company operates across three core production verticals with offices in Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig, leveraging a roster of award-winning directors. Revenue is generated through project-based production contracts, co-production arrangements, and theatrical distribution licensing.
Is Element E a public or private company?
Element E is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Element E founded?
Element E was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Element E based?
Element E is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Element E make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Production is the primary driver. The others are feature Film Production, TV Shows and Documentaries and directing Talent Representation.
Who are Element E's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UFA, Studio Babelsberg, Constantin Film and Bavaria Filmproduktion. Direct peers are Partizan, CZAR Film, Tony Petersen Film, Wiedemann & Berg Film, Tempomedia Filmproduktion and MAIK LOEW Filmproduktion.
Does Element E have an API?
No public API is recorded for Element E.
What industry is Element E in?
Element E's product category is Film Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAH, Event Technical Production Management & Crew, with a secondary code of MPAIAGAM, Casting & Talent Placement (Sessions, Bands, Touring Musicians). Its NAICS code is 51211 and its SIC code is 7812.