Claussen Putz Film Production

What Claussen Putz Film Production does

Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion GmbH is a Munich-based independent film and television production company founded in 1992 (originally as Claussen+Wöbke Filmproduktion) and led by co-founders Jakob Claussen and Prof. Uli Putz. The company produces German-language cinema and television content across crime drama (Tatort and Polizeiruf 110 episodes for BR, the Sörensen films for NDR, and Mord mit Aussicht for WDR/ARD), children's literary adaptations (Die kleine Hexe, Heidi, Der Räuber Hotzenplotz, Der Regenbogenfisch), and prestige streaming and primetime TV movies (Biohackers for Netflix, SAFE for ZDFneo, Sturm kommt auf for ZDF). Its core technology is standard professional film and television production workflows, with no proprietary technology stack disclosed.

The company generates revenue through three primary streams: production fees and co-production arrangements with German public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, BR, WDR, NDR); licensing and co-production deals with streaming platforms (notably Netflix and ZDFneo); and theatrical distribution deals with German distributors (Studiocanal, Sony Pictures Germany, Senator Film Verleih). Pricing is negotiated project-by-project and is not publicly disclosed. Sales and distribution are handled through direct broadcaster commissioning relationships and established co-production partnerships rather than a dedicated sales force.

Claussen+Putz serves three primary customer segments: German public-service broadcasters commissioning and co-producing television films, series, and Tatort/Polizeiruf detective productions; streaming platforms seeking premium German-language series content; and German theatrical distributors releasing family films and literary adaptations. The company maintains a DACH regional focus, expanded through the 2023 founding of the DAS DACH producers' network with five independent production companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Award recognition is consistent, including Grimme-Preis wins and nominations, Deutscher Filmpreis for Best Children's Film (Heidi), and an Oscar shortlist for Im Labyrinth des Schweigens.

Name

Claussen Putz Film Production

Legal name

Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion GmbH

Website

https://claussen-putz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion is a Munich-based independent German film and television production company founded in 1992, producing German-language TV films, crime series (Tatort, Mord mit Aussicht), children's literary adaptations, and theatrical features for public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, BR, WDR, NDR), Netflix, and German distributors like Studiocanal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Television Production: Production of TV films, series, and Tatort/Polizeiruf productions for German public broadcasters including BR, WDR, NDR, ZDF, and ARD. Revenue generated through production fees, co-production arrangements, and broadcast rights.
2. Cinema/Kino Production: Theatrical film productions released through German distributors including Studiocanal, Sony Pictures, and others. Revenue from theatrical distribution, home entertainment, and downstream rights.
3. Series and Streaming: Production of series for streaming platforms such as Netflix (Biohackers) and ZDFneo (SAFE), generating revenue through platform licensing and co-production deals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion is a Munich-based independent film and television production company that produces cinema films, TV movies, TV series, and Tatort/Polizeiruf crime drama episodes for German public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF, BR, WDR, NDR), streaming platforms (Netflix, ZDFneo), and theatrical distributors (Studiocanal, Sony Pictures, Senator Film). The company operates through the complete production cycle from development to distribution, with a focus on German-language crime drama, children's films, and literary adaptations, producing over 50 films since 1992.

Product overview

Claussen+Putz Filmproduktion is a Munich-based German film and television production company founded in 1992 (originally as Claussen+Wöbke). The company produces a diverse portfolio of television films, TV series, and cinema releases across multiple genres including crime dramas (Tatort, Polizeiruf 110, Sörensen), children's films (Die kleine Hexe, Heidi, Die Vampirschwestern, Der Räuber Hotzenplotz), and dramatic features. Their core offerings include ongoing TV crime series like 'Mord mit Aussicht' and Tatort episodes for German public broadcasters (BR, ZDF, ARD), children's literature adaptations, and co-productions with partners including Film AG, Zodiac Pictures, and Studiocanal. The company operates through the complete production cycle from development through distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mord mit Aussicht A long-running German crime comedy TV series set in the fictional Eifel village of Hengasch, following police chief investigator Marie Gabler (Katharina Wackernagel) and her team as they solve quirky criminal cases; produced for ARD.
• Tatort (Munich and Franconia) Germany's most popular crime TV series franchise. Claussen+Putz produces Tatort episodes for BR (Bavarian Broadcasting) featuring investigators from Munich and Franconia teams.
• Sturm kommt auf (Unruhe um einen Friedfertigen) A two-part historical drama based on Oskar Maria Graf's novel depicting a Bavarian village community during the rise of National Socialism (1918-1933); co-produced with Film AG Vienna for ZDF; nominated for Grimme-Preis 2026 and awarded ROMY Sonderpreis 2025.
• SAFE A German drama series for ZDFneo about two child and adolescent psychotherapists using non-directive play therapy to help young patients, directed by Caroline Link; awarded Grimme-Preis Spezial and Blauer Panther Beste Regie.
• Der Regenbogenfisch A children's film adaptation of Marcus Pfister's picture book "The Rainbow Fish"; distributed by Studiocanal and directed by Florian Moch.
• Baumgeflüster A ZDF romantic comedy about a reluctant forester who falls in love with a photographer; broadcast on ZDF and available on the ZDF streaming portal.
• Der Räuber Hotzenplotz A children's film adaptation of Otfried Preußler's classic German children's novel about the robber Hotzenplotz and his adventures with Kasperl and Seppel; nominated for Deutscher Filmpreis Best Children's Film.
• Die kleine Hexe A family film adaptation of Otfried Preußler's novel about a young witch who must learn 7,892 magic spells within a year to attend Walpurgis Night; awarded Bayerischer Filmpreis, Schweizer Filmpreis Beste Filmmusik, and Gilde Filmpreis.
• Heidi A feature film adaptation of Johanna Spyri's classic Swiss novel about the orphan girl Heidi and her life with her grandfather in the Alps; won Deutscher Filmpreis Bester Kinderfilm 2016 and Bayerischer Filmpreis.
• Sörensen fängt Feuer / Sörensen hat Angst Crime drama films following Detective Sörensen as he investigates murder cases in a small Frisian community while battling his own anxiety disorder; produced for NDR; won Grimme-Preis 2022 and 2024.
• Die Vampirschwestern A popular German children's film series about half-vampire twin sisters Daka and Silvania and their adventures rescuing their brother from villain Count Dracula.
• Was man von hier aus sehen kann A dramedy film adaptation of Mariana Leky's novel about a young woman who reconnects with life and love after a Buddhist monk appears in her remote Westerwald village; awarded Ensemblepreis at Hessischer Film und Kinopreis.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DAS DACH NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Co-founded with five independent film production companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to form a producers' network. The aim is to promote exchange and cooperation in the DACH region and strengthen the role of independent producers. Partners include Claussen+Putz and Film AG from Vienna.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wiedemann & Berg Film: Munich-based independent German film and series production company comparable in scale and portfolio, with deep relationships to German public broadcasters and Netflix (Dark, 1899). Directly comparable in operating model, headcount, and customer mix.
• Studio Hamburg: Major German TV and film production company with strong public-broadcaster (NDR/ARD) commissioning relationships, producing series and Tatort/Polizeiruf episodes. Closely comparable in TV drama and crime-franchise production.
• Zeitsprung Pictures: German independent production company producing both cinema releases and TV films for public broadcasters. Comparable in scale and genre mix (drama, family, historical) with similar public-broadcaster dependence.
• Rat Pack Filmproduktion: German independent film production company producing cinema and TV content with established broadcaster and theatrical distributor partnerships. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized independent German producer.
• X Filme Creative Pool: Independent German film production company (Tom Tykwer among founders) producing premium cinema and high-end series. Comparable as a similarly-sized Berlin-based indie with established broadcaster and theatrical distributor relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Studio Babelsberg: Largest German film studio and production company, active across cinema, TV, and streaming. Comparable in cinema production portfolio but operates at meaningfully larger scale with studio infrastructure.
• Beta Film: Major German distribution and co-production company handling international sales and co-financing for premium European content. Comparable as a German-language content industry player but focused on distribution rather than primary production.
• UFA: Germany's largest TV production group (Bertelsmann/RTL subsidiary) producing across all major German broadcasters and streamers. Overlaps in public-broadcaster commission work but operates at vastly larger scale as part of an integrated media group.
• Constantin Film: Major vertically integrated German film production and distribution company. Comparable as a German cinema producer/distributor but materially larger, with integrated theatrical distribution (Highlight Film) and a much broader genre slate.
• Bavaria Film: One of Germany's largest film and TV production companies with integrated studio facilities. Overlaps heavily with Claussen+Putz in Tatort production and public-broadcaster commissions but at substantially larger scale and with proprietary studio assets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Claussen Putz Film Production