X Verleih Ag

What X Verleih Ag does

X Verleih AG is a Berlin-headquartered, privately held German film distribution company founded in 2000, operating as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) without public listing. The company acquires theatrical distribution rights and releases German and international films in German cinemas, with a catalog that spans decades — from cultural milestones such as 'Lola rennt' (1998), 'Good Bye, Lenin!', 'Funny Games U.S.', 'Das weisse Band', and 'Cloud Atlas' to contemporary releases including Tom Tykwer's 'Das Licht' (which opened the 75th Berlinale in March 2025), Agnieszka Holland's 'Franz K.', and the upcoming 'Lieblingsmenschen' (2026 Audience Award at Filmfest München). Distribution is coordinated through German theatrical release campaigns, supplemented by a directly operated e-commerce shop (shop.x-verleih.de) selling DVDs, Blu-rays, and merchandise for catalog titles at unit prices around €12.90, plus press services, school/educational materials, and a consumer newsletter.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: (i) one-time theatrical licensing fees from cinema exhibitors for each acquired title, (ii) direct-to-consumer hardware sales (DVDs and Blu-rays) through the proprietary online shop, and (iii) distribution-services revenue flowing from co-production and co-financing arrangements with strategic partners, notably X Filme Creative Pool, ZDF, ARTE, Nordpolaris, Trimafilm, and Warner Bros. International and Austrian distribution are handled via partner agents (Beta Cinema for worldwide sales on 'Das Licht', Filmladen for Austria, The Playmaker for 'Don't Kill Loretta'). The go-to-market motion is sales-led: coordinated German theatrical releases, festival positioning, press/media relations, and educational outreach to schools for select titles.

Operationally, X Verleih runs as a small organization (11-50 employees) with a 2026 governance refresh — Amélie Bertin joined the Vorstand effective June 1, 2026 alongside Martin Kochendoerfer. The company holds no disclosed funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Customer segments are horizontal (general German cinema audiences interested in arthouse, drama, and international co-productions); production-partner concentration on the supply side is the principal structural feature of the business rather than any end-customer concentration.

Name

X Verleih Ag

Legal name

X Verleih AG

Website

https://x-verleih.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

X Verleih AG is a Berlin-based German film distributor founded in 2000 that acquires theatrical rights and releases German and international arthouse films in German cinemas, with a long-tail catalog and a directly operated DVD/Blu-ray online shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Catalog / Library Distribution & Re-Release (MPADAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Home Entertainment Distribution (Digital: TVOD/EST) (MPADAJAE), International Sales & Licensing (Territory Pre-Sales) (MPADAJAC)

Keywords

• Film distribution
• Theatrical distribution
• Home entertainment
• Arthouse cinema
• DVD Blu-ray retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Distribution: Revenue from cinema releases of German and international films in Germany. The company acquires distribution rights and releases films in German theaters, generating revenue through box office sales.
2. Home Entertainment Sales: Sales of DVDs and Blu-rays through the company's online shop (shop.x-verleih.de). Products available include film catalog titles at various price points (e.g., 12.90 EUR for DVDs).
3. Distribution Services: X Verleih distributes films produced by partner production companies including X Filme Creative Pool, in some cases in co-production with broadcasters like ZDF and ARTE.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

X Verleih AG acquires distribution rights for German and international films and releases them theatrically across German cinemas through coordinated release campaigns. The company supplements theatrical income by selling DVDs, Blu-rays, and related catalog merchandise through its own online shop at shop.x-verleih.de, and provides press, marketing, and educational materials for select films. Its catalog includes award-winning German and European arthouse titles such as "Lola rennt", "Good Bye, Lenin!", "Das Licht", and recent releases.

Product overview

X Verleih AG is a German film distribution company offering theatrical film distribution, an online shop for DVDs/Blu-rays/digital purchases, newsletter services, press services, educational school materials, special screenings, and script submission services. The portfolio includes recent releases such as 'Lieblingsmenschen' (feel-good comedy), 'Die andere Seite' (drama), 'Vivaldi und Ich' (historical drama), 'Good Boy' (thriller), 'Das Licht' (family drama), and 'Franz K.' (biographical drama), alongside classic titles like 'Lola rennt' and 'Good Bye Lenin!'. The company operates primarily in German-speaking territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Film Distribution Acquires German theatrical distribution rights for domestic and international arthouse films and releases them in German cinemas with coordinated press and marketing campaigns.
• X Verleih Online Shop Company-operated online shop at shop.x-verleih.de selling DVDs, Blu-rays, and merchandise from the X Verleih catalog films, with standard shipping within Germany.
• Das Licht German theatrical release of the drama 'Das Licht' directed by Tom Tykwer, starring Lars Eidinger, Nicolette Krebitz, and Tala Al-Deen; opened the 75th Berlinale.
• Franz K. German theatrical release of the biographical drama about Franz Kafka directed by Agnieszka Holland, starring Idan Weiss as Kafka; Czech-German-Polish co-production.
• Good Boy – Wir wollen nur dein Bestes German theatrical release of the society thriller directed by Jan Komasa, starring Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Anson Boon; compared to Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.
• Die andere Seite German theatrical release of the drama starring Nina Hoss as Hanna, a doctor who flees to the mountains; second feature by Mariko Minoguchi.
• Lieblingsmenschen (Agnes und Amir) German theatrical release of the feel-good comedy about 101-year-old Agnes and 31-year-old Iranian refugee Amir, directed by Helena Hufnagel; world premiere at Filmfest München with Audience Award National.
• Vivaldi und Ich (Primavera) German theatrical release of the historical drama about violinist Cecilia growing up at Ospedale della Pietà in 18th century Venice, mentored by Antonio Vivaldi; directorial debut of Damiano Michieletto.
• The Inspection (German theatrical release) German theatrical release of 'The Inspection' directed by Elegance Bratton, an A24 production about a gay Black man who joins the US Marines.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• X Filme Creative PoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing production partnership with X Filme Creative Pool, a major German production company behind films including 'Good Bye, Lenin!', 'Cloud Atlas', 'Das weisse Band', and 'Das Licht'. X Verleih distributes X Filme productions in German cinemas.
• ZDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for various films including 'Lieblingsmenschen' and 'Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage'. ZDF serves as broadcaster co-producer.
• ARTEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cultural channel co-producer for films including 'Lieblingsmenschen', 'Die andere Seite', and 'Alter und Schönheit'. ARTE provides broadcast and co-production support.
• The PlaymakerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent that acquired international sales rights for 'Don't Kill Loretta'. X Verleih distributes the film in Germany while The Playmaker handles international sales.
• FilmladenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustrian distribution partner for select films. Filmladen handles Austrian theatrical distribution for 'Don't Kill Loretta'.
• NordpolariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company behind 'Lieblingsmenschen' (Liebesmenschen - Agnes und Amir). Nordpolaris produced the film with producers Fabian Halbig and Florian Kamhuber. X Verleih distributes in Germany.
• TrimafilmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company of director Mariko Minoguchi. Trimafilm produced 'Die andere Seite' with producers Trini Götze and David Armati Lechner. X Verleih distributes in Germany.
• Warner Bros.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for certain releases. Warner Bros. handles theatrical distribution for 'Franz K.' and home entertainment distribution for 'Das Licht' on behalf of X Verleih.
• X Filme Creative PoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company behind 'Don't Kill Loretta' alongside Dor Film. X Filme Creative Pool is known for 'Babylon Berlin'. X Verleih distributes in Germany.
• Warner Bros. Entertainment ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for 'Vivaldi und Ich' (Primavera). Italian production company that co-produced the film with Indigo Film. X Verleih distributes in Germany.
• Beta CinemacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational/world sales agent for 'Das Licht'. Beta Cinema handles worldwide distribution outside German theatrical release by X Verleih.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pandora Film GmbH: Berlin-based German arthouse film distributor with a comparable portfolio of theatrical releases, home entertainment and curated independent titles, directly competing for screens and acquisition deals with X Verleih.
• Wild Bunch Germany: German arm of European sales and distribution group Wild Bunch, handling theatrical and home entertainment for arthouse and European titles with a comparable focus to X Verleih's portfolio.
• Beta Film GmbH: Major German distribution and worldwide sales company that already partners with X Verleih (handling international sales for 'Das Licht'); operates in the same German/European arthouse distribution space with overlapping producer relationships.
• Piffl Medien GmbH: Berlin-based German distributor of arthouse, European and international films with theatrical and home entertainment operations, directly comparable to X Verleih in business model and slate profile.
• MFA+ FilmDistribution: German film distribution company handling theatrical and home entertainment releases of European and arthouse titles, with a similar portfolio profile and target customer as X Verleih AG.
• Neue Visionen Filmverleih: Berlin-based German distributor focused on quality arthouse and documentary cinema, with theatrical and home entertainment distribution; comparable in size, catalog strategy and target audience to X Verleih.
• Alamode Filmverleih: Munich-based German distributor specializing in arthouse, European and international cinema with theatrical and home entertainment distribution, closely comparable to X Verleih in catalog breadth and target audience.
• Koch Films GmbH: German independent distributor handling theatrical releases, DVD/Blu-ray and digital sales for a comparable mix of European and international arthouse titles, competing directly with X Verleih in the German market.

Emerging players

• The Match Factory: Cologne-based German international sales and distribution company with a strong arthouse portfolio; comparable in that it represents European auteur titles for theatrical and festival distribution, with partial overlap in producer relationships and target festivals.

Broad incumbents

• Studiocanal Germany: German subsidiary of European major Studiocanal (Canal+ group), distributing a broad slate of theatrical, home entertainment and library titles in Germany; overlaps with X Verleih on arthouse and catalog distribution but operates at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/x-verleih

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 X Verleih Ag