Iconic German film and TV executive Jan Mojto has announced an exciting new partnership with his longtime friend Nico Hofmann, the head of UFA, and producer Jan Wünschmann from Beta. The aim of this collaboration is to produce German and European series and films specifically tailored for the international market. The announcement was made on the eve of the annual Berlin Film Festival, adding to the anticipation surrounding this new venture.
Jan Mojto and Nico Hofmann share a rich history of producing together, spanning over half a lifetime. In the early 2000s, they revolutionized the German TV landscape by pioneering the TV event genre with their groundbreaking show, 'The Tunnel.' This paved the way for a string of successful collaborations and internationally acclaimed television and film productions, including the hits 'Generation War,' 'Dresden,' 'The Tower,' and 'The Same Sky.'
Mojto, the CEO of Beta Film, expressed his excitement about this much-desired partnership, stating that Nico Hofmann is one of the best producers in Germany, renowned for his exceptional storytelling abilities. With their shared professional and personal qualities cultivated over more than 25 years, Mojto envisions this partnership as the ideal foundation for numerous upcoming projects — stories for Europe from Germany.
Jan Wünschmann, a producer at Beta Film, joined Mojto and Hofmann in this new venture, emphasizing the challenges of the current production environment for fictional storytelling. Rising costs and complex financing structures pose significant barriers, but Wünschmann firmly believes that the combined efforts of Hofmann, Mojto, and Beta will result in outstanding projects.
Jan Mojto's unparalleled career, spanning back to his early days with Leo Kirch in the 1970s, led him to take over Beta Film in 2004. Beta Film now boasts an impressive yearly production, co-production, and distribution of approximately 1,000 hours of new programming across various genres, including feature films, series, documentaries, and classical music productions. Notable Beta Film titles include the critically acclaimed 'Babylon Berlin,' 'The Swarm,' 'Sisi,' 'The Sea Beyond,' and 'Gomorrah.'
Nico Hofmann has also achieved tremendous success with his company teamWorx. Together with Beta Film, they created global hits like 'The Tunnel' and continued to deliver exceptional limited series, including 'Dresden,' 'March of Millions,' 'Hindenburg,' 'The Tower,' and 'Generation War.' Hofmann's collaboration with UFA on 'The Physician,' featuring Sir Ben Kingsley, further solidifies his industry expertise. From 2017 to 2023, he served as CEO of UFA, further imprinting his mark on the German entertainment industry.
Jan Wünschmann, the executive VP for co-production and business affairs at Beta and MD of Intaglio Films, brings his wealth of experience to this partnership. His collaboration with multiple Emmy winner Frank Doelger led to the production of 'The Swarm,' which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, garnering critical acclaim and several awards.
With such a talented trio leading this new endeavor, the possibilities for innovative and captivating storytelling are seemingly endless. Fans of German and European cinema can eagerly anticipate the upcoming projects that will undoubtedly captivate international audiences. As the partnership between Jan Mojto, Nico Hofmann, and Jan Wünschmann unfolds, we can expect the German entertainment industry to reach new heights on the global stage.
