REAL FILM Berlin GmbH

What REAL FILM Berlin GmbH does

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH is a Berlin-based German television and film production company founded in 2011, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Studio Hamburg Produktion Gruppe GmbH. The company produces scripted content — primarily fictional series, event films, and miniseries — for German public-service broadcasters (ZDF, ARD Degeto Film, rbb) and global streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+). Its core products span long-running public-broadcaster franchises including SOKO Wismar (ZDF, entering its 24th season), Praxis mit Meerblick (ARD Degeto, 6th season), Neuer Wind im Alten Land (ZDF Herzkino, 4th season), Polizeiruf 110 (rbb/ARD), and Die Jägerin (ZDF), alongside premium international co-productions such as Unorthodox and Schlafende Hunde (Netflix) and KRANK Berlin (Apple TV+ / ZDFneo).

The company's business model is B2B professional services combined with licensing/royalty revenue. Production fees are negotiated individually with commissioning editors at German broadcasters and streaming content acquisition teams, with co-production financing and international distribution managed via partners such as Beta Film. The portfolio is operated using conventional film and television production workflows — no proprietary technology platform is disclosed. Distribution channels are exclusively B2B, with no direct-to-consumer offering. Marketing relies on the Studio Hamburg Production Group's centralized press service, the company website, and the promotional reach of commissioning broadcasters and streaming platforms.

REAL FILM Berlin differentiates through a portfolio balancing quotenstarke domestic series (Praxis mit Meerblick averaging 3.7M viewers per episode at 16.5% market share in season 5) with internationally acclaimed premium drama (Unorthodox's 8 Emmy/Golden Globe nominations, KRANK Berlin's Deutscher Fernsehpreis for Best Drama Series and Grimme-Preis 2026). Membership in the Studio Hamburg Production Group provides shared production infrastructure, co-financing, and international sales capacity. The company is led by Managing Directors Henning Kamm (Peabody Award winner, Emmy/BAFTA-nominated) and Ira Wysocki, supported by a team of approximately 35 employees including multiple award-recognized producers.

Name

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH

Legal name

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH

Website

https://realfilm-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH is a Berlin-based TV and film production company, subsidiary of Studio Hamburg Production Group, producing scripted series and films for German public broadcasters (ZDF, ARD, rbb) and global streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon, Disney+).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television and Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Live-Action International/Co-Production & Service Production (MPADABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Television production services
• Film production services
• Broadcast commissioning productions
• Streaming platform content
• German TV series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

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

Revenue model

1. Broadcast Commissioning Fees: REAL FILM Berlin produces TV series, films, and miniseries commissioned by German national broadcasters (ZDF, ARD Degeto Film, rbb). Productions are commissioned for specific prime-time and evening slots such as 'Endlich Freitag im Ersten' (ARD), ZDF Herzkino, and ZDF crime series (SOKO Wismar, Polizeiruf 110). Revenue is earned through production fees, which may include co-production financing arrangements.
2. Streaming Platform / International Co-Productions: The company co-produces with global streaming platforms including Netflix ('Unorthodox', 'Schlafende Hunde'), Apple TV+ / ZDFneo ('KRANK Berlin'), Amazon Prime Video ('Viktor bringt's'), and Disney+ ('Call My Agent Berlin'). These deals involve international co-financing and co-production agreements, with revenue from platform licensing fees and international distribution rights managed through partners such as Beta Film.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH produces television series, films, and miniseries on commission for German public broadcasters (ZDF, ARD Degeto, rbb) and global streaming platforms (Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+). The company delivers both long-running established series such as SOKO Wismar and Praxis mit Meerblick as well as premium international co-productions like Unorthodox and KRANK Berlin. Revenue is earned through production fees from broadcasters and licensing of international distribution rights through partners such as Beta Film.

Product overview

REAL FILM Berlin GmbH is a German TV and film production company producing a diverse portfolio of fictional programming for national broadcasters and international streaming platforms. The company specializes in crime series (SOKO Wismar, Polizeiruf 110, Kolleginnen), medical dramas (Praxis mit Meerblick, KRANK Berlin), romance/herzkino formats (Neuer Wind im Alten Land), thrillers (Die Whistleblowerin), and premium series for Netflix and Apple TV+. The portfolio includes long-running established brands alongside new productions, serving both German public broadcasters (ZDF, ARD/Degeto, rbb) and global streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SOKO Wismar Long-running ZDF crime series set in the Hanseatic city of Wismar, featuring a team of detectives solving criminal cases in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Currently in its 24th season.
• Praxis mit Meerblick ARD Degeto Film series following island doctor Nora Kaminski on Rügen, combining medical cases with personal drama. Currently in its sixth season.
• Neuer Wind im Alten Land ZDF Herzkino series starring Felicitas Woll as Beke Rieper, a former journalist who returns to her hometown in the Altes Land region near Hamburg. Currently in its fourth season.
• KRANK Berlin High-end drama series about the emergency room of a major German hospital, co-produced with Violet Pictures for ZDFneo and Apple TV+. Won German Television Award for Best Drama Series and Grimme Prize 2026.
• Unorthodox Netflix miniseries about a young woman leaving an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. Nominated for 8 Emmys and Golden Globes, won Peabody Award.
• Die Whistleblowerin ZDF/arte thriller about a Russian whistleblower who contacts her ex-boyfriend to help expose hackers who infiltrated Berlin hospital systems. Premiered on ZDF in 2023.
• Die Jägerin ZDF crime series featuring prosecutor Judith Schrader (Nadja Uhl) investigating criminal cases.
• Polizeiruf 110 Long-running crime series produced for rbb/ARD, featuring detectives Vincent Ross and Karl Rogov solving criminal cases in Potsdam.
• Mandat für Mai ZDF series about lawyer Maria Gardner who moves from Berlin to the Vogtland region and takes on local legal cases.
• Kolleginnen ZDF crime series featuring female investigators, including episodes like 'Abgetaucht' with Caroline Peters and Natalia Belitski.

Quantifiable outcome

• PRAXIS MIT MEERBLICK 5th season: 3.7M average viewers per episode, 16.5% market share on Das Erste, highest season average since series start
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Violet PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner with REAL FILM Berlin on 'KRANK BERLIN' for ZDFneo and Apple TV+. Jointly developed the series with former emergency physician Samuel Jefferson and Viktor Jakovleski as co-creator. Alexis von Wittgenstein serves as Executive Producer from Violet Pictures side. Gilda Weller as Producer. This is a flagship co-production that won the German Television Award and Grimme Prize.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix co-produced 'Unorthodox' (nominated for 8 Emmys and Golden Globes) and 'Schlafende Hunde' with REAL FILM Berlin. Both series achieved international success, with 'Schlafende Hunde' reaching Top 10 in 66 countries.
• Apple TV+ / ZDFneocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor'KRANK Berlin' was co-produced for ZDFneo and Apple TV+ as first-window partners. The series won the German Television Award for Best Drama Series and Grimme Prize 2026.
• ZDFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary commissioning broadcaster for multiple long-running series including SOKO Wismar (24 seasons), Neuer Wind im Alten Land (ZDF Herzkino), Die Jägerin, and Polizeiruf 110. A key strategic partner for recurring production commissions.
• ARD Degeto FilmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary commissioning broadcaster for Praxis mit Meerblick (6th season in production) and other ARD productions. Long-standing strategic relationship with recurring commissions for the 'Endlich Freitag im Ersten' slot.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioned 'Viktor bringt's' for Amazon Prime Video. The comedy series starring Moritz Bleibtreu was launched in April 2024 and was Grimme-Preis nominated.
• Disney+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioned 'Call My Agent Berlin' (via Friday Film GmbH subsidiary) for Disney+. The German adaptation of the French 'Dix pour cent' was produced in collaboration with Wild Bunch Germany.
• Studio Hamburg Production Group (SHPG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREAL FILM Berlin is a member of the Studio Hamburg Production Group, which includes LETTERBOX FILMPRODUKTION, Nordfilm, FRIDAY FILM, AMALIA FILM, Doclights, and others. SHPG provides centralized services including press distribution, accounting, IT, and co-financing. The group shares a data protection officer and press service infrastructure.
• Beta FilmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeta Film serves as the worldwide distribution partner for 'KRANK Berlin', handling international sales of the series produced by REAL FILM Berlin and Violet Pictures.
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (MBB)minorOthersKRANK Berlin received funding from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, a regional film funding body. The production also received support from the German Motion Picture Fund.
• German Motion Picture FundminorOthersKRANK Berlin received funding from the German Motion Picture Fund, a national film financing mechanism supporting high-quality German film and TV productions.
• rbb (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioning broadcaster for Polizeiruf 110 episodes produced by REAL FILM Berlin, including 'GOLDRAUB' (2026). The regional public broadcaster commissions crime procedurals for national broadcast on ARD Das Erste.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/real-film-berlin-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/studio.hamburg.produktion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 REAL FILM Berlin GmbH