Razor Film

What Razor Film does

Razor Film Produktion GmbH is a Berlin-based independent film production company founded in 2002 by Gerhard Meixner and Roman Paul. It produces international arthouse and crossover feature films as well as German-language television series, with a stated focus on developing new talent and championing challenging social and political stories from diverse global perspectives. The slate includes award-winning titles such as Waltz with Bashir (Golden Globe, Oscar-nominated), Paradise Now (Golden Globe, Oscar-nominated), Wadjda (first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia), and Quo Vadis, Aida? (European Film Award winner, Oscar-nominated). The company also produces television series for German public broadcasters, including Der Usedom Krimi (ARD/NDR), Gods Are Us (ZDF), and Das Manko.

The business operates on a co-production model in which Razor Film originates projects and assembles financing from multiple sources: international pre-sales via world sales agents (The Match Factory, Indie Sales, mk2, Beta Cinema), regional theatrical distributors (Neue Visionen, FarbFilm Verleih, Weltkino, Alamode), German and European public broadcaster commissions (ZDF, ARTE, NDR, ARD, BBC Film, BFI), and a deep stack of film-fund financing (FFA, DFFF, BKM, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MDM, NRW, Hamburg, Eurimages, CNC, Creative Europe). Razor Film leads or co-produces each title with partner production companies from France (Les Films Pelleas, Haut et Court), Israel (Bridgit Folman Film Gang), Bosnia (deblocada), Russia (Hype Film), the UK (Good Chaos), and many others. The underlying production technology is traditional cinematography and documentary-based filmmaking; no proprietary software, AI tooling, or platform is employed.

Razor Film employs co-CEOs Meixner and Paul, Head of Production Christiane Sommer, Creative Producer Flora Rumpler, Producer and Green Consultant Aimée Fox, and Office Manager Stella Wendeln. The company is privately held with no disclosed external investors, no subsidiaries, and operates a single Berlin headquarters. Geographic reach covers co-production activity across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, the Philippines, and India, with films distributed globally through sales agents and regional distributors. Revenue is generated through production fees, licensing royalties, broadcast rights, festival grants, and international sales commissions.

Name

Razor Film

Legal name

Razor Film Produktion GmbH

Website

https://razor-film.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Razor Film is a Berlin-based independent film production company founded in 2002, producing international arthouse feature films and German television series for broadcasters, sales agents, and theatrical distributors across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Feature Film Production Revenue: Razor Film generates revenue through producing feature films for international theatrical distribution. Revenue comes from pre-sales to distributors, broadcast rights, festival awards and grants, and international sales agent commissions.
2. Television Series Production: Production of television series (e.g., Gods Are Us, Der Usedom Krimi) for German broadcasters ZDF, ARTE, NDR, resulting in production fees and residual revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Razor Film Produktion GmbH is a Berlin-based independent film production company that develops, finances (in conjunction with public film funds), produces, and co-produces international arthouse and crossover feature films and German television drama series. Its portfolio includes award-winning titles such as Waltz with Bashir, Paradise Now, Wadjda, and Quo Vadis, Aida?, sold to distributors and broadcasters worldwide and premiered at major A-festivals. The company operates as both primary producer and co-producer with partners across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Product overview

Razor Film is a Berlin-based film production company founded in 2002 by Gerhard Meixner and Roman Paul. The company produces national and international feature films ranging from arthouse to crossover, with a focus on new talent and high-quality productions. Their portfolio includes award-winning films such as Wadjda (the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia), Waltz with Bashir (Golden Globe winner), Paradise Now (Oscar-nominated), and Quo Vadis, Aida? (European Film Award winner). In recent years, Razor Film has expanded into television series production, including German productions of Gods Are Us and Der Usedom Krimi. The company operates as both a primary producer and co-producer on international projects, working with partners across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feature Films International arthouse and crossover feature films produced by Razor Film, including award-winning titles such as Wadjda, Waltz with Bashir, Paradise Now, Quo Vadis Aida?, and Copilot, distributed internationally via sales agents and theatrical release.
• Television Series German television series produced and co-produced by Razor Film for German public broadcasters, including Der Usedom Krimi (ARD/NDR) and Gods Are Us (ZDF/HR).
• International Co-Production Services Co-production services on international film projects, collaborating with production companies from France, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Colombia, and other countries to develop and finance cross-border productions.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Haut et CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company as co-producer on Copilot and Haut et Court Distribution handles French theatrical distribution of Razor Film productions including Quo Vadis, Aida? and The Future
• zero one filmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman co-production company partnered on Copilot alongside Razor Film
• Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman public broadcaster co-producer on Copilot and partner on multiple Razor Film television productions
• ARTE / ARTE France CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranco-German public broadcaster partnership for Copilot production and multiple Razor Film co-productions including One Fine Morning, Tandem, Womb
• The Match FactorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling world sales for multiple Razor Film productions including Copilot, The Perfect Candidate, Waltz with Bashir, Womb, Last Hijack, Quo Vadis, Aida?, The Wind Journeys
• Neue VisionenmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman theatrical distributor for Copilot, Mr Kaplan, Halal Love
• Modern FilmsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor for Copilot
• deblocadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosnian production company as main producer for Quo Vadis, Aida?
• coop99 filmproduktionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian co-producer for Quo Vadis, Aida?
• Indie SalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent handling Quo Vadis, Aida? worldwide sales
• FarbFilm VerleihmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman theatrical distributor for Quo Vadis, Aida?
• Les Films PelleascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company as main producer for One Fine Morning (Mia Hansen-Løve), with Philippe Martin & David Thion producing
• Les Films du LosangemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor and world sales for One Fine Morning
• WeltkinomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor for One Fine Morning
• Bayerischer RundfunkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavarian public broadcaster co-producer on One Fine Morning
• Inforg Stúdió BudapestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian co-producer for Womb alongside Razor Film
• A.S.A.P. Films ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench co-producer for Womb (Cedomir Kolar)
• CharadesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales for Petrov's Flu, handling international distribution
• Farbfilm VerleihmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor for Petrov's Flu
• Haifaa Al Mansour Est.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaudi Arabian production company co-producing The Perfect Candidate with Razor Film
• Orange StudiomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor for The Perfect Candidate
• Music Box FilmsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS distributor for The Perfect Candidate
• Big World CinemacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company for Rafiki alongside Razor Film and MPM Film
• MPM Premium/Orange StudiomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distribution for Rafiki
• SalzgebermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distribution for Rafiki
• Bridgit Folman Film GangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsraeli production company as main producer for Waltz with Bashir alongside Razor Film
• Les Films d'IcicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench documentary production company co-producer of Waltz with Bashir
• Rotana StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaudi production company co-producer for Wadjda with headquarters in Riyadh
• Koch FilmsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman DVD and distribution for Wadjda
• Les Films PelléascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company as main producer for Goodbye First Love / Eine Jugendliebe (Mia Hansen-Løve), David Thion producing
• WDRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest German broadcaster co-producer for Goodbye First Love alongside ARTE
• PlaytimemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for Goodbye First Love / Eine Jugendliebe
• Hype FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian production company as main producer for Petrov's Flu alongside Razor Film (Ilya Stewart)
• Logical Pictures & Pierre MazarsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company co-producer for Petrov's Flu
• Bord Cadre FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss production company for Petrov's Flu (Dan Wechsler)
• Arte / ZDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranco-German broadcaster co-producer and broadcaster for Petrov's Flu
• Alamode FilmdistributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor for IDENTITTI
• Good ChaoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK production company as main producer alongside Haut et Court and Razor Film for Santosh (Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher)
• Haut et CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench co-producer for Santosh alongside Good Chaos and Razor Film
• MK2coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for Santosh
• Les Films de PierrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company as main producer for Tandem / Langue Étrangère (Marie-Ange Luciani)
• Les Films du FleuvemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian co-producer for Tandem (Delphine Tomson)
• MDR/ArtecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman broadcaster Redaktion: Meike Götz (MDR) & Barbara Häbe (ARTE)
• goodfellascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for Tandem / Langue Étrangère
• Ad Vitam DistributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distributor for Tandem
• Port au Prince PicturesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman-French co-distributor for Tandem
• Tim GehrkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer for Der Usedom Krimi series
• ARD DegetocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman public broadcaster (ARD) co-commissioning Der Usedom Krimi alongside NDR
• CS FilmproduktionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production company for Gods Are Us series alongside Razor Film
• Magna ManamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company co-producing Gods Are Us
• ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/QuantumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZDF commissioning editor for Gods Are Us alongside HR Neue Medien
• HR Neue MedienmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHessian broadcaster co-producer for Gods Are Us alongside ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/Quantum
• MK ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain production company for MINOTAUR alongside CG Cinema and Forma Pro Films
• CG CinemamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production company for MINOTAUR alongside MK Productions
• Forma Pro FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company for MINOTAUR alongside MK Productions and Razor Film
• mk2 filmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for MINOTAUR and associate partner
• Les Films du LosangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production and sales company associated with MINOTAUR production
• Arte France CinémacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer and broadcaster for MINOTAUR in cooperation with Arte
• Expresso FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguayan co-producer for Mr Kaplan alongside Razor Film
• Baobab 66 FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish co-producer for Mr Kaplan alongside Expresso Films and Razor Film
• Memento FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for Mr Kaplan alongside Neue Visionen German distribution
• Sabbah Media CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanese production company producing Halal Love in Beirut
• Ginger Beirut ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeirut-based production company co-producer for Halal Love
• Films Distribution / PlaytimecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales and distribution for Halal Love alongside Neue Visionen Germany
• ZDF Das kleine FernsehspielcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZDF editor (Claudia Tronnier) for Running on Empty / Der Lebensversicherer
• Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie BerlinmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerdffb film school as production partner for Running on Empty (Bülent Akinci's graduation film)
• SubmarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch production company (Bruno Felix, Femke Wolting) co-producing Last Hijack alongside Razor Film
• Still FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish production company (Nicky Cogan) co-producer for Last Hijack
• Savage FilmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian production company (Bart Van Langendonck) co-producer for Last Hijack
• ZDFmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman broadcaster (Lucas Schmidt, Lucia Haslauer, Isa Ostertag) co-producer for Last Hijack
• IKONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch broadcaster co-producer for Last Hijack interactive documentary
• The Match FactorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales agent for Last Hijack
• The FilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench production company producing The Patience Stone directed by Atiq Rahimi
• Le PactecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distributor for The Patience Stone
• ArtecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranco-German broadcaster co-producer and broadcaster for The Patience Stone
• Antorcha FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian production company founded by director Jhonny Hendrix for Candelaria
• Dag Hoel DHFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian production company co-producer for Candelaria
• Pucarà CinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine production company co-producer for Candelaria
• Producciones de la 5ta avenidamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuban production company co-producer for Candelaria
• Beta CinemacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for Candelaria alongside DCM
• DCMmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor for Candelaria alongside Beta Cinema
• Atopic FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench co-producer for Independencia alongside Razor Film, Volya Films, Arte France Cinéma
• Volya FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch co-producer for Independencia alongside Atopic Films, Razor Film, Arte France Cinéma
• Arte France CinémacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench broadcaster and co-producer for Independencia alongside Razor Film, Atopic Films, Volya Films
• Memento FilmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for Independencia
• A.S.A.P. FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench-Bosnian production company (Cedomir Kolar) as main producer for Cirkus Columbia alongside Razor Film
• AutonomousmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish production company co-producer for Cirkus Columbia 2006 Bosnia
• Man's FilmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian production company co-producer for Cirkus Columbia
• Studio MajminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSlovenian production company co-producer for Cirkus Columbia
• FTV – Bosnian Federal TelevisionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBosnian public broadcaster co-producer for Cirkus Columbia
• The Match FactorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld sales for Cirkus Columbia
• Cuidad Lunar ProduccionescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian production company as main producer for The Wind Journeys
• Cine-Ojo FilmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian co-production partner for The Wind Journeys alongside Razor Film
• Universidad Nacional ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColombian university co-producer for The Wind Journeys
• Elle DrivercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for The Wind Journeys
• Gina KwoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS producer for The Future alongside Razor Film Germany (Gerhard Meixner & Roman Paul)
• Haut et CourtcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distribution for The Future alongside Film4 UK broadcaster
• Film4majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK broadcaster for The Future alongside Haut et Court France distribution
• Cinematografica FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine production company (Armi Rae S. Cacanindin & Alyx Ayn Arumpac) co-producer for Aswang
• Les Films de l'oeil sauvagemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench documentary production company co-producer for Aswang
• Stray Dog Productions ASmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian production company co-producer for Aswang
• Level KcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales for Aswang documentary
• CS FilmproduktionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production company for Gods Are Us alongside Razor Film
• Magna ManamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company co-producing Gods Are Us
• ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/QuantumcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZDF commissioning editor for Gods Are Us alongside HR Neue Medien
• HR Neue MedienmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHessian broadcaster co-producer for Gods Are Us alongside ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel/Quantum
• Tim GehrkecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer for Der Usedom Krimi series
• ARD DegetocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman public broadcaster (ARD) co-commissioning Der Usedom Krimi alongside NDR

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lemming Film: Dutch independent production company specializing in European co-productions of arthouse features and series. Comparable: small-team European co-producer operating with the same multi-territory financing and international sales-agent model that Razor Film uses.
• Zentropa: Danish independent film production company co-founded by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, producing high-end arthouse and crossover cinema with strong international festival presence. Comparable as a European indie producer of prestige arthouse titles competing for the same talent, sales agents, and festival slots.
• Coproduction Office: Berlin- and Paris-based international sales, co-production, and distribution company (Philippe Bober) focused on auteur cinema. Comparable: European arthouse specialist that combines production, co-production, and international sales - similar in scope to Razor Film's co-producer plus sales-agent relationship model.
• Haut et Court: Paris-based independent film production and distribution company focused on arthouse cinema with a strong festival track record. Directly comparable: an established co-producer partner of Razor Film (Copilot, Quo Vadis, Aida?) operating in the same European arthouse segment with similar business model.
• Komplizen Film: Berlin-based independent film production company (Maren Ade, Janine Jackowski) producing arthouse features with international festival pedigree including Toni Erdmann. Comparable to Razor Film in scale, German base, arthouse focus, and festival-driven model.
• Good Chaos: UK-based independent production company (Mike Goodridge) focused on arthouse and international co-productions. Comparable: indie producer partnering with Razor Film on Santosh, operating the same European co-production model with festival-grade output.
• Pandora Film: German independent production and distribution company focused on arthouse cinema with international co-production experience. Comparable: German-based indie producer/distributor operating in the same arthouse segment with similar funding and sales partner relationships.
• Les Films du Losange: Iconic French independent production company (Eric Rohmer's legacy, Margaret Menegoz) producing auteur cinema for international festivals. Comparable: French arthouse production with similar co-production and international sales approach, and an existing Razor Film distribution/sales partner (One Fine Morning).
• MPM Film: Paris-based independent production company (Martine Marignac) producing auteur-driven arthouse films with festival success. Comparable: French indie producer with similar co-production-driven arthouse slate, competing for similar European funding and festival recognition.

Emerging players

• maze pictures: Berlin-based independent production company producing arthouse features with international festival reach. Comparable: a smaller-scale German indie producer in the same Berlin production ecosystem; Office Manager Stella Wendeln previously worked there, illustrating personnel overlap in the local indie scene.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/razorfilmproduktion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Razor Film