Germany’s Augenschein Filmproduktion Launches Financing, Sales Arm With Former Telepool Senior Executive
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Leading German production banner Augenschein Filmproduktion, is launching an in-house worldwide sales and financing division that will be spearheaded by former Telepool executive Jonathan Saubach (pictured).
The new division will be called Augenschein Sales and will focus on financing the company’s production slate through access to equity, market pre-sales and film funds in order to retain creative and financial control over projects.
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In this new role, Saubach will report to Augenschein Filmproduktion founders Maximilian Leo and Jonas Katzenstein, and will be in charge of financing, packaging and worldwide sales of its film titles. He will also serve as an executive producer on Augenschein’s upcoming productions.
Saubach previously held senior sales, acquisitions and content executive roles for Telepool Gmbh, the German licensing, production and distribution company owned by actor Will Smith and Swiss investor Elysian Fields.
Augenschein Filmproduktion specializes in director-driven movies with global appeal and boasts more than 25 feature films on its track record, including “Ana, Mon Amour,” which was awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlinale; “Hunting Season,” winner of Venice Critic’s Week; “My Happy Family,” which debuted at Sundance and was sold to Netflix; “Los Perros” which premiered at Cannes Critic’s Week; and “Apprentice,” which was selected for Un Certain Regard in Cannes.
The banner is also behind “Home,” the directorial debut of German actor-turned-helmer Franka Potente (“The Bourne Identity”), starring Kathy Bates. “Home” recently premiered at the Rome Film Festival and will debut at the Munich Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release in Germany on July 29. The company also produced Joe Penna’s science-fiction thriller “Stowaway,” which will be released theatrically in Germany by Wild Bunch and has been acquired by Netflix for the rest of the world.
“The launch of our own financing and sales arm is the logical next step for us to continue to produce superb auteur films with worldwide appeal from Germany,” said Leo.
“Under this expansion, we will maintain creative and financial control over our films so we can make bold, edgy choices working with new and established filmmakers such as Patrick Vollrath, Franka Potente, Jan-Ole Gerster, Lars Kraume and Wolfgang Fischer,” added Leo.
Katzenstein said the company is “thrilled that Jonathan is joining our team and bringing his expertise, great instincts with a seasoned perspective as we extend our reach into the global sales arena.”
Saubach said “in Germany, they are the best option to make quality films that can impact the global market because they recognize that controlling your own sales and financing is integral to producing stand-out movies.”
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