New Boss at Constantin Film Shakes Things Up

Oliver Berben, the new head of Constantin Film, is taking on the fast-changing German media scene with a new strategy. He's all for the government's plan to tweak production incentives and make broadcasters invest more in European shows. Berben thinks it's time for producers to find new ways to make and finance shows. Streaming is a big part of this, with Constantin's thriller "Dear Child" getting 51 million views on Netflix. They're keeping some rights to adapt the book into a movie. Another show, "Murder Mindfully," is coming up on Netflix, based on a hit novel. Berben is partnering with Netflix and other platforms to create these shows.

He's not making exclusive deals with actors but is investing in filmmakers and writers. A big upcoming show is "Smilla's Sense of Snow," with Amma Asante directing. They're finding partners in different countries and keeping many rights for themselves. Another huge project is the fantasy drama "Hagen," based on a medieval saga, with a massive budget. They're also working on a big-budget gladiator drama called "Those About to Die." Alongside these shows, Constantin is making a strong lineup of feature films too.

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