Six independent production companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have joined forces to create a joint development and co-production group called Das Dach. This collaboration aims to provide financial support for high-end drama series and feature films in the German-language market. The companies involved in this partnership are Germany’s Claussen + Putz, Hamburg-based Wüste Film, Austria’s Die Film AG and Lotus Film, and Hugofilm Features and Zodiac Pictures from Switzerland.
The creation of Das Dach is a response to the significant changes in the independent production market, mainly caused by the rise of streaming giants like Netflix. These platforms have disrupted the traditional territorial boundaries and restrictions in the industry. The participating producers recognize the challenges faced by medium-sized independent companies, such as the domination of big players in the market and the rising costs of development and production.
However, Das Dach also sees this disruptive age as an opportunity. Streaming giants are increasingly focused on international language markets, including the German-speaking market. This is partly due to regulatory requirements that mandate investments in local production. With over 100 million inhabitants, the German-speaking market is one of the largest exploitation areas worldwide. Das Dach aims to leverage this demand by offering attractive, cross-border, and culturally identity-creating content to streamers, TV broadcasters, and cinema distributors operating in this market.
To support the early development of high-end projects, Das Dach will establish a joint, revolving development fund. This fund will allow its members to finance projects at a very early stage, which is particularly crucial for high-end series projects. Finding financing partners for these projects is often a challenging task, especially when they require six-digit Euro investments. By sharing the risk and pooling their resources, Das Dach can provide a key advantage, gaining momentum and boosting the quality of productions.
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Das Dach follows the footsteps of other collaborations between indie producers in response to digital disruption. Two years ago, The Creatives, an association of 10 film and TV indies, was launched with the backing of global production giant Fremantle. This initiative aimed to co-develop high-end drama series for the international market. The success of collaborations like The Creatives demonstrates the growing trend of independent producers working together to navigate the changing landscape of the industry.
In conclusion, Das Dach is a joint development and co-production group formed by six independent production companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This collaboration aims to address the challenges faced by medium-sized independent companies in the face of the disruption caused by streaming giants. By pooling their resources and expertise, Das Dach seeks to support the development and production of high-end drama series and feature films in the German-language market. This initiative provides an opportunity to meet the growing demand for German-language content in the international market while also creating a competitive advantage for the participating companies.
