THIS

What THIS does

Filmby Aarhus is a municipal creative industry hub located in Aarhus, Denmark, operated under Aarhus Kommune's Kultur og Borgerservice administration. Founded in 2018 as an umbrella for the city's film, TV, game and animation industries, it functions as a physical business park and event operator rather than a software or product company. Its core assets are two professional film/TV production studios (Studie 1 at 576 m² with a 4×10m Virtual Production LED wall, and Studie 2 at 267 m² with a green cyclorama), six meeting rooms, makeup rooms, ~800+ m² of commercial office and coworking space (operated via partners Picturewise, Fridthjof Entertainment and DOKK21), and the MiXR Lab — a development project opened in March 2022 providing access to VR, AR, 3D scanning, Motion Capture and Virtual Production equipment for film, TV, game and animation tenants.

The organisation's go-to-market is event-driven: it produces the consolidated Aarhus Series & Film Festival (formerly THIS, AARHUS SERIES and AARHUS FILM DAYS, merged from 2023 and unified under a single brand for 2026), the Nordic Series Awards (12 categories, plus a new Best Score award from 2026), the THIS media conference, and Gameyard networking events. It also runs community-building programs (Ideas Lab startup community for game developers, GOLD Friday bars, FilmbyBar), EU-funded projects such as EPIC-WE (Horizon Europe, 2023-2026) and CresCine (green film production), and industry workshops on sustainability, CO₂ reporting, and emerging formats (vertical drama, YouTube distribution).

Revenue comes from three streams: (1) per-day and per-month venue rentals to film, TV and game production companies with a 50% municipal subsidy for film and cultural productions, (2) ticketing and sponsorship for events (Series Awards tickets via YourTicket.dk), and (3) ancillary services such as catering via DABBA Kanteen. As a government-owned entity, the bulk of underlying funding flows from Aarhus Kommune, Danmarks Erhvervsfremmebestyrelse and EU programs rather than commercial revenue, and no commercial revenue figures are publicly disclosed. Customer base spans enterprise broadcasters and streamers (Netflix, DR, TV 2, HBO Max, Nordisk Film Production) to SMB production companies (Uma Film, Profile Pictures, Kompagniet) and freelance creative professionals in Western Denmark.

Name

THIS

Legal name

Filmby Aarhus (under Aarhus Kommune, Magistraten for Kultur og Borgerservice)

Website

https://thisaarhus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Filmby Aarhus is a municipal creative-industry hub under Aarhus Kommune, operating professional film/TV studios, coworking spaces, and the MiXR Lab for VR/AR/Virtual Production in Aarhus, Denmark, serving film, TV, game and animation producers through venue rentals and industry festivals including Aarhus Series & Film Festival and Series Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Industry Hub and Film Production Facilities

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)

Keywords

• Film studio rental
• Creative industry hub
• Virtual production facility
• XR technology lab
• Film festival organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Aarhus C

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Studio Rental: Two professional film/TV production studios (Studie 1 at 576 m2 and Studie 2 at 267 m2) are rented to film and TV production companies, with Studie 1 featuring Virtual Production capabilities.
2. Meeting & Production Room Rental: Six meeting rooms, makeup rooms, and production offices are rented to production companies and event organizers, with 50% discounts for film productions and cultural events.
3. Commercial Office & Co-working Space Rental: Erhvervslejemål (commercial office units) and kontorpladser (coworking desks) are rented to creative companies in Filmbyen 11, 19, and 27. Multiple office units and desk spaces available at various price points.
4. Event Tickets & Sponsorships: Annual festivals (Aarhus Series & Film Festival, THIS, Aarhus Film Days, Gameyard) generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and partner contributions.
5. Catering Services (DABBA Kanteen): DABBA Kanteen provides catering for booked studios and meeting rooms, with four lunch variants and meeting catering available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Filmby Aarhus operates a creative-industry campus that rents professional film and TV production studios (Studie 1 with Virtual Production LED wall; Studie 2 with green cyclorama), meeting rooms, makeup rooms, commercial offices, and coworking desks to film, TV, game, and animation companies. It provides access to XR technologies through the MiXR Lab and organizes industry events including the Aarhus Series & Film Festival, Series Awards, Gameyard, and the GOLD game-developer community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Series Awards: Annual award show celebrating the best Danish and Nordic TV series, part of the Aarhus Series & Film Festival.
• Jyske Seriedage
• MiXR
• Ideas Lab
• GOLD
• Gameyard

Products and services

• Studie 1 - 576 m² Production Studio with Virtual Production Largest professional film/TV production studio at Filmby Aarhus, featuring a 4 x 10 m Virtual Production LED wall that enables in-camera VFX. Includes 137 rigging points, 10.5 m free height, attached workshop, and access to a closed production yard. Targeted at film and TV production companies needing Virtual Production and large-scale studio space.
• Studie 2 - 267 m² Production Studio with Green Cyclorama Professional film/TV production studio featuring a green cyclorama for chroma key / green screen filming, 60 rigging points, 10.5 m free height, and closed production-yard access with vehicle parking. Targeted at film and TV production companies needing green-screen capabilities.
• Meeting, Production, and Makeup Rooms (Mødelokaler) Six meeting rooms (4-20 persons) and a dedicated makeup room with 3 stations are rented to film and TV production companies, event organizers, and cultural productions. Includes options with direct studio access, terrace, costume room, lounge/workspace, large conference setup, and makeup station. Targeted at production crews, event organizers, and cultural events.
• Commercial Office Leases (Erhvervslejemål) Commercial office units at Filmbyen 11 (463 m², divisible), Filmbyen 19 (123 m² plus shared area), and Filmbyen 27 (297 m² with panoramic harbor view) leased to creative companies. Targeted at film, TV, game, and media companies needing long-term office space on the Filmbyen campus.
• Coworking Spaces (Picturewise, Fridthjof Entertainment, DOKK21) Monthly coworking subscriptions at Picturewise (open desks and glass offices for 2) and Fridthjof Entertainment (open area and closed office) within the Filmbyen complex, with internet and cleaning included. Targeted at freelancers, startups, and small creative teams.
• MiXR Lab - XR Technology Access Lab and development project at Filmbyen 4 providing equipment and expertise in VR, AR, 3D scanning, Virtual Production, and Motion Capture for film, TV, game, and animation productions. Includes MiXR Open Labs, Photogrammetry Jams, and Motion Capture workshops. Targeted at production companies and studios needing access to XR technology otherwise expensive to acquire independently.
• Aarhus Series & Film Festival Annual eight-day festival combining series and film screenings, talks, debates, screenings, and the Series Awards. Programming extends via Jyske Seriedage to 8 Jutland municipalities. Targeted at Danish audiences, industry professionals, and creators.
• Series Awards Annual award ceremony (the only pure series awards in the Nordics) honoring the best Danish and Nordic TV series across 12 categories. Includes public-voted Aarhus Seriepris and the new Best Score award. Targeted at industry professionals and the Danish public.
• DABBA Kanteen Catering Catering service located on the Filmbyen campus offering four lunch variants and meeting catering for booked studios and meeting rooms. Targeted at production crews and event organizers renting Filmby Aarhus venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Series Awards 2025 had 12 award categories honoring Danish and Nordic series, with 5th edition held November 6, 2025 at Vue in Bruuns Galleri
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARoS (Kunstmuseum i Aarhus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilmby Aarhus collaborates with ARoS on the EPIC-WE project, hosting Cultural Game Jams where young people develop games inspired by art and cultural heritage. ARoS provides exhibition spaces and cultural themes for game development workshops. The partnership has produced over 100 games across 5 European countries.
• Aarhus Universitet (Aarhus University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAarhus Universitet is a key partner in EPIC-WE (Horizon Europe project 2023-2026), Cultural Game Jams, MiXR Lab (in collaboration with VIA University College), and EPIC-WE Legacies conference. DPU (Danmarks Pædagogiske Universitetsskole) serves as national hub and research coordinator.
• Øst for ParadiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe iconic Aarhus cinema is the primary venue for Aarhus Film Days festival and also hosts Aarhus Series screenings. Filmby Aarhus collaborates with Øst for Paradis and Den Danske Filmskole to create the film festival.
• Den Danske Filmskole (National Film School of Denmark)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Aarhus Film Days festival and co-organizer of the Visuel Storybuilding professional development course held at Filmby Aarhus.
• Den Vestdanske Filmpulje (West Danish Film Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm fund partner for branchemøder (industry meetings), sustainability seminars, and pitch events. Hosts events for film and TV professionals in West Denmark.
• Vision DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for multiple events including Digital Kids Today conference, Gameyard, pitching workshops, GOLD community, sustainability events, and EU projects. Vision Denmark supports game industry development across Denmark.
• VIA University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MiXR Lab development project, contributing expertise in film and media education alongside Filmby Aarhus and industry companies.
• CPH:DOXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPH:DOX collaborates with Øst for Paradis and Filmby Aarhus to host AARHUS:DOX branchemøder (industry meetings) for documentary film professionals in West Denmark.
• Glas - Museet for glaskunst i EbeltoftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlas museum's glassblower Chris Lowry created the unique glass trophy/statueette for Series Awards 2026, presented to winning series and talent.
• Danish Life Science ClusterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Virtual Reality in Psychiatry conference and other healthcare-related XR events exploring VR applications in healthcare.
• AATE VRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Virtual Reality in Psychiatry conference and related XR healthcare events exploring VR applications in the healthcare sector.
• YouTubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouTube representative Joe Bergan hosts a masterclass at Aarhus Series & Film Festival 2026 on YouTube as a future distribution channel for creators, producers, and media entrepreneurs.
• VertiScope StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerVertiScope Studio conducts seminars on vertical drama format and dramaturgy at Filmby Aarhus (September 2026), introducing Danish producers to the vertical video format.
• Brancheforeningen for professionelle Film- og Mediekomponister (Danish Film & Media Composers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Series Awards to establish the music jury for the new Best Score award (2026), selecting nominees and winner among Danish series scores composed by KODA members.
• Danmarks Erhvervsfremmebestyrelse (Danish Business Promotion Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding support for multiple Filmby Aarhus initiatives including Digital Kids Today, GOLD community, Gameyard events, EPIC-WE Cultural Game Jams, and EU project co-financing.
• EU (Horizon Europe / Regionalfond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU provides funding for EPIC-WE project (2023-2026) and CresCine project (green transition in film industry), enabling cross-border cultural collaboration and sustainability initiatives.
• BFTP - Bæredygtig Film og TV-produktion (Green Film & TV Production)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CresCine project and Greener Film Industry roundtable at Berlinale 2024, collaborating on CO2 reporting standards and green production practices for European film industry.
• Green Producers' ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured speaker Ege Heckmann from Green Producers' Club at CresCine Greener Film Industry roundtable at Berlinale 2024, sharing expertise on sustainable production practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Film i Väst: Swedish regional film fund and production hub in Trollhättan providing studio facilities, co-production funding, and industry services. Direct analogue as a publicly-backed regional film production hub supporting local industry; Filmby Aarhus's Jutland role mirrors Film i Väst's Västra Götaland focus.
• Zentropa: Denmark's leading film production company (Lars von Trier-founded) operating from Hvidovre. Comparable as a Danish film production hub but focused on producing films rather than providing shared infrastructure; both entities compete for Danish film production activity.

Broad incumbents

• Pinewood Studios: UK-based global film studio operator with stage rental, Virtual Production (LED stages), and production services. Comparable as a large-scale studio facility operator with Virtual Production infrastructure, though at vastly greater scale than Filmby Aarhus.
• Nordisk Film: Nordic region's oldest and largest film studio and production company, operating production facilities and distribution. Comparable as a vertically integrated Nordic film/media infrastructure player but at much greater scale and with broader portfolio.
• Babelsberg Studio: One of Europe's largest and oldest film studio complexes near Berlin, offering stage rental, Virtual Production, and production services. Comparable as a major European studio facility operator with Virtual Production capabilities similar to Filmby Aarhus's Studie 1 LED volume.

Direct peers

• Göteborg Film Festival: Sweden's leading film festival and Nordic's largest. Comparable as a Nordic film festival competitor in the regional audience/sponsorship market that Filmby Aarhus competes for via the Aarhus Series & Film Festival.
• CPH:DOX: Copenhagen-based international documentary film festival. Explicit partner of Filmby Aarhus for AARHUS:DOX industry meetings; both festivals operate in the Nordic documentary/film event ecosystem and overlap in audience and programming.
• Creative District Copenhagen: Copenhagen-based creative industry cluster and workspace provider for creative businesses. Direct analogue as a municipal/backed creative industry hub providing office space, community, and events — the Copenhagen counterpart to Filmby Aarhus's Aarhus cluster.
• Khora: Copenhagen-based VR/AR content production studio and XR innovation lab. Comparable as a Danish XR lab operator with overlap to Filmby Aarhus's MiXR Lab capabilities; both serve Danish creative industry XR experimentation.
• Studio CPH / CPH Studios: Copenhagen-area commercial film and TV production studio facility operator renting stages to productions. Direct competitor for studio rental bookings; Filmby Aarhus's Studie 1 and Studie 2 compete for the same Danish production clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/filmbyaarhus
• YouTubeinstagram.com/seriesfilmfestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thisaarhus
• Instagraminstagram.com/filmbyaarhus

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 THIS