Gaumont GmbH

What Gaumont GmbH does

Gaumont GmbH is the German production arm of the historic French film group Gaumont (founded 1895), operating as a private limited company (GmbH) in Germany since July 1, 2018. It develops, produces and co-finances high-end television drama and film for both international streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+) and German-language broadcasters (ZDF, ARD/Degeto, Sky Studios, ProSiebenSat.1, RTL, SRF). Its portfolio since launch spans historical epic (Barbarians S1/S2, Deutsches Haus), thriller (Unfamiliar, Westwall, Die zweite Welle), comedy (Die Wespe S1–S3), social drama (RESET, In Her Car) and franchise reboots (Heidi, Die Wanderhure), with the company headquartered in Cologne and operating a second office in Berlin opened in 2020.

The core production model combines (i) commissioned production revenue from streamers and broadcasters paying production fees with retention of certain distribution rights, (ii) international co-production financing structured across multiple territories (France, Belgium, Ukraine, Thailand, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland) and (iii) public film-funding support from German and European bodies (Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFF Bayern, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW). Distribution outside primary platform deals flows through world-sales partners Beta Film and Red Arrow Studios International. Technology consists of standard industry film and TV production tooling — cameras, post-production workflows and visual effects — with no proprietary platform. The business operates as a project-based B2B services model priced per production, not as a recurring SaaS or subscription business.

Strategically, the company has leveraged the parent Gaumont network (offices in Paris, London, Los Angeles, Rome) to position itself as Germany's leading independent supplier of premium local-language drama for global streamers, a position reinforced by Barbarians becoming Netflix's most-watched German original series and by repeat commissions from Sky (Die Wespe) and ZDF (multiple projects). Leadership consists of Managing Director Sabine de Mardt, producers Andreas Bareiss and Ivo-Alexander Beck, and Head of Development Rainer Marquass; the entity is privately held within the Gaumont group with no public revenue disclosure.

Name

Gaumont GmbH

Legal name

Gaumont GmbH

Website

https://gaumont.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gaumont GmbH is the German production subsidiary of the historic French Gaumont group, producing high-end TV drama and film for international streamers (Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+) and German-language broadcasters (ZDF, ARD/Degeto, Sky, RTL) from offices in Cologne and Berlin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Production Revenue: Gaumont produces TV series and films commissioned by streaming platforms (Netflix Originals, Paramount+ Originals) and German broadcasters (ZDF, Sky, ProSiebenSat.1, ARD/Degeto), receiving production fees and retaining certain distribution rights.
2. International Co-production Financing: Gaumont structures multi-country co-productions with partners in France, Belgium, Thailand, Poland, and others, combining multiple financing sources including public film funds (MBB, FFF Bayern, NRW Film Foundation) and broadcaster pre-sales.
3. Distribution and Licensing: Revenue from licensing produced content to broadcasters and streaming platforms internationally, including world sales through partners like Beta Film and Red Arrow Studios International.
4. Public Film Funding: Gaumont receives production funding from German and European film foundations including Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB), Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, FFF Bayern, and Polish Film Institute.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gaumont GmbH is a B2B film and television production company that develops, finances, and produces high-end drama series, limited series, and TV movies for international streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Paramount+) and German broadcasters (ZDF, ARD/Degeto, Sky, ProSiebenSat.1). The company operates as part of the global Gaumont group, executing German productions and international co-productions through its Cologne headquarters and Berlin office.

Product overview

Gaumont GmbH is a film and television production company based in Cologne and Berlin, Germany, operating since 1895. The company develops and produces films and series for major international streaming platforms and broadcasters. Its core production portfolio includes high-end drama series for Netflix (BARBAREN, UNFAMILIAR), Paramount+ (PARALLEL ME), Disney+ (DEUTSCHES HAUS), and ZDF (RESET, Die zweite Welle, IN HER CAR, Westwall), as well as comedy series for SKY Studios (Die Wespe), and TV movies/series for ARD/Degeto (Klara Sonntag) and SAT.1 (Julia Durant series). The company operates as part of the global Gaumont group with affiliated companies including Gaumont International, Gaumont Connect, and Gaumont Classique.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gaumont International: International division of Gaumont handling global productions and distribution
• Gaumont Connect
• Gaumont Classique
• GP Archives

Products and services

• BARBAREN (Barbarians) Season 1 A 6-part Netflix Original historical drama series about the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE for global Netflix audiences.
• BARBAREN II (Barbarians Season 2) Second season of the Barbarians Netflix Original historical drama, continuing the story of Ari and the Germanic tribes one year after the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
• Die Wespe (The Wasp) A Sky Studios Original comedy series about dart professional Eddie 'Die Wespe' Frotzke, produced across multiple seasons for Sky Deutschland audiences.
• DEUTSCHES HAUS A 5-part Disney+ drama series based on Annette Hess' bestselling novel about a young interpreter working at the first Auschwitz trial in 1963 Frankfurt.
• RESET - Wie weit willst du gehen? A 6-part ZDF drama series featuring Katja Riemann as a TV presenter who uses a time travel service to prevent her daughter's suicide and reshape her family's future.
• IN HER CAR A Ukrainian war drama series in 10x25 minute episodes distributed across multiple European broadcasters, following therapist Lydia who offers rides to help people reach loved ones or safety during the war.
• Die zweite Welle (The Second Wave) A 6-part ZDF miniseries about a family whose secrets surface when their supposedly dead sister returns after 15 years following a tsunami in Thailand.
• Klara Sonntag An ARD/Degeto series featuring probation officer Klara Sonntag (Mariele Millowitsch), with multiple TV films produced across the franchise.
• 9 Tage Wach (9 Days Awake) A 100-minute TV movie for ProSieben based on Eric Stehfest's autobiographical novel about Crystal Meth addiction and his journey to become an actor.
• Westwall A 6-part ZDFneo miniseries about a police student who discovers a neo-Nazi network planning attacks at the old Westwall bunkers from WWII.
• Nichts, was uns passiert A 90-minute WDR drama film about a young woman who accuses a man of rape after a party, exploring conflicting perspectives and societal responses.
• PARALLEL ME An 8x45-minute Paramount+ exclusive dramedy series about a 30-year-old woman who discovers a magical scarf enabling her to travel to parallel versions of her life.
• UNFAMILIAR A 6-part Netflix Original spy thriller series featuring former top agents Meret and Simon who operate a secret safe house in Berlin.

Quantifiable outcome

• 'Barbaren' became Netflix's most-watched German original series, leading to second season commission
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration9 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Paramount+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2025Paramount+ exclusive commissioned production of 'Parallel Me', an 8-part emotional Dramedy series released April 2025 on Paramount+
• DCM SchweizmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Swiss production company co-producing 'Heidi' series for RTL and SRF with Gaumont Germany; ongoing international co-production partnership
• Disney+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Disney+ exclusive commissioned production of 'Deutsches Haus' series about the first Auschwitz trial; also developing 'Die Wanderhure' for Disney+
• Sky StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2021Sky Original comedy series 'Die Wespe' seasons 1-3 produced for Sky Studios; ongoing relationship for German high-end comedy productions
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2020Netflix Original productions including 'Barbaren' seasons 1-2 (2020, 2022), 'Unfamiliar' (2026), representing Gaumont's flagship international streaming partnerships
• Gaumont FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Parent company/sister company relationship within Gaumont international network; co-development of international projects like 'Die Wanderhure' with Gaumont France
• ZDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZDF productions including 'Die zweite Welle', 'Westwall', 'RESET', 'In Her Car' released on ZDF and ZDFmediathek; ongoing commissioned productions
• ARD/DegetocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARD/Degeto commissioned productions including 'Klara Sonntag' series; ongoing relationship for German public broadcasting drama productions
• ProSiebenSat.1coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProSieben commissioned productions including '9 Tage Wach' TV movie; also producing 'Die Wanderhure' for ProSiebenSat.1 platform
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB)coreOthersGerman public film funding body providing production financing for Gaumont productions; supported 'Barbaren', 'Die Wespe', 'Unfamiliar', 'Die Wanderhure' and other productions
• FFF BayerncoreOthersBavarian Film Funding providing production grants; supported 'Die Wanderhure' production with 1.9 million euros
• Film- und Medienstiftung NRWcoreOthersNorth Rhine-Westphalia film funding; supported 'Die Wespe' and 'Heidi' productions
• Beta FilmmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational film and TV distribution company handling world sales for Gaumont productions including 'In Her Car' international distribution
• Red Arrow Studios InternationalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution and licensing of produced content for territories outside primary platform deals
• France TélévisionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench public broadcaster co-producing 'In Her Car' Ukrainian war drama series
• Thai Production PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThai production company involvement in 'Die zweite Welle' co-production with filming in Thailand

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zieglerfilm: Cologne/Berlin-based German production company producing drama and TV movies for ZDF, ARD and streamers; same production hub as Gaumont GmbH (Cologne) and competes for the same regional commissioning opportunities and NRW film funding.
• DCM Schweiz: Swiss production company already co-producing 'Heidi' with Gaumont GmbH for RTL and SRF; a comparable DACH-region high-end drama producer that often co-produces with German partners and accesses the same regional film funds.
• Beta Film: Munich-based German production and world-sales company that both produces and internationally distributes high-end drama; an overlap in that Beta Film already handles world sales for some Gaumont productions, and competes as a producer in the German premium drama space.
• Constantin Film: Major independent German film and series producer with deep relationships across ProSiebenSat.1 and the streaming platforms, producing comparable event-series (e.g., German-language Netflix/Amazon originals). Directly competes for premium drama commissions in the German market.
• UFA (Bertelsmann / RTL Group): Germany's largest TV production group, owned by RTL Group / Bertelsmann, producing high-end drama and series for German broadcasters and streamers. Directly competes with Gaumont GmbH for the same ZDF/ARD/Sky commissions and increasingly for Netflix/Disney+ German Originals.
• Studio Hamburg: Hamburg-based German production company producing high-end drama, comedy and TV movies for ARD/NDR and other public broadcasters; comparable slate size, similar broadcaster relationships and similar reliance on regional film funds (Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein).
• Bavaria Film: Munich-based heritage German film and TV production company with comparable slate of high-end drama series and TV movies for public broadcasters. Operates in the same premium German-language production segment with similar access to FFF Bayern and other regional film funds.
• Wiedemann & Berg Film: Independent German production company behind prestige series and feature films (e.g., Dark, 4 Blocks); competes directly with Gaumont GmbH for streamer commissions and has a similar high-end German-language drama positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: One of Europe's largest production and distribution groups (RTL Group / Bertelsmann), producing drama and entertainment globally with comparable international co-production capability to the Gaumont network; a broader incumbent competing in the same premium drama market.
• Red Arrow Studios (ProSiebenSat.1): Production and distribution arm of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, producing and globally distributing series; comparable as both a producer and an international distributor for Gaumont-produced content (Red Arrow Studios International already handles world sales for some Gaumont titles).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gaumont
• Instagraminstagram.com/gaumont
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gaumont-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Gaumont GmbH