In 1982 the two Frankfurt based cinema operators Karl Baumgartner and Reinhard Brundig established Pandora Film Distribution. The name was inspired by G.W Pabst's film "Pandora's Box". With the first films that came out under this label, the thematic focus was clear: Films such as YOL by Yilmaz Günay, NOSTALGHIA by Andrej Tarkovsky or FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE by Chen Kaige all stood for highly ambitious International Art house Cinema. Before long, close working relationships were formed between Pandora and directors such as Aki Kaurismäki and Jim Jarmusch. But it was with Jane Campion's THE PIANO, that Pandora made its first big commercial breakthrough. The concept of presenting excellent cinematographic masterpieces by internationally renowned filmmakers to a German audience paid off, and Pandora Film became one of the most distinguished Distributors within this segment of the market.

Alongside the distribution, Pandora Film soon undertook an increasing amount of the actual production work. Gradually many projects were acquired early in the development phase. Soon co-productions began to emerge out of what had originally been a licence and distribution company. With Emir Kusturica's film UNDERGROUND, the transition to production was fulfilled. In 1996 the production company was moved to Cologne. In 1998 the distribution department in Frankfurt was closed and the extensive library of distribution rights were sold to KINOWELT. The change in market conditions, especially the changed purchase policy of the television stations, and the massive structural changes that came about through the so called "New Market", were just two of many factors involved in this decision.

Since its founding in 1973, Ziegler Film (with branches in Berlin, Cologne and Munich) has produced nearly 400 movies, documentaries and TV features. Within Germany Ziegler Film ranks among the largest independent companies for film and television production. From the outset the company has focussed on cinematic productions: “Korczak” (Cannes Film Festival), “A Year of the Quiet Sun” (Golden Lion, Venice), “Kamikaze 1989” (Venice 1982), “Fabian” (Oscar and Golden Globe Nominations), and the “Erotic Tales” (Oscar Nomination for “The Dutch Master”). Recently TV features such as “The Publisher” and “In the Shadow of Power” have also merited particular attention and praise. At the end of 2008 Ziegler Film finished the shooting of “Henri IV”, a 19 million Euro co-production.

The company has received numerous awards – Golden Rose at Montreux, German Film Prize Golden Shell, Grimme Prize, etc – for a wide variety of productions. In 2006 Ziegler Film was honoured by a special retrospective tribute at the Museum of Modern Art.

The company strives to remain independent and to be present in the German as well as in the international film and television market, while growing and continuing to attract audiences with the highest standards of creativity and quality.

Ruth Waldburger is the owner and business manager of the production company Vega Film AG and the distribution company Vega Distribution AG. Vega Film (founded in 1988) is a film production company in Switzerland. It stands for international co-productions (films by Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais, Gianni Amelio, or the box office hit "The Chorus" by Christophe Barratier) but also produces numerous Swiss films, amongst which successful comedies such as "Komiker" or "Ernstfall in Havanna". Ruth Waldburger has also produced for television, for example the 26-episode TV-series “Die Direktorin“. Many of the films Ruth Waldburger has produced have been awarded; amongst them "Johnny Suede" starring Brad Pitt and directed by Tom DiCillo, that won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival in 1991 or "Same Old Song" by Alain Resnais (amongst other prizes, the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1998) or "Our Music" by Jean-Luc Godard (The San Sebastian Film Festival, The FIPRESCI Grand Prix "Best film of the year 2004").

In 2003 the Locarno Film Festival awarded Ruth Waldburger with the Raimondo Rezzonico life achievement award for the entirety of her production activities.

Future Films is a unique, integrated motion picture organisation that takes productions from pre-financing to post-production and beyond. Future Films focuses on delivering reduced cost funds and acting as a portal to the investment community. Our goal is to provide the most appropriate production and financing options to producers through innovative integration of new financing methods, co-production, distribution and development activity, post-production facilities and equity funding. Our financial strategies make the most of the incentives available worldwide.

Future Films USA seeks to help cashflow US productions by maximising the potential of available Cash Rebates or Tax Credits.

www.futurefilmgroup.com

MAIPO AS has since the start in 2000 proved to be a significant production company in the Norwegian film industry. The Oscar nominated feature film "Elling" is of course the company's pride, and a good reference to Maipo's vision: to produce quality film for a large audience.

Maipo is aiming at producing a minimum of two feature films for the Norwegian market each year. Maipo is working with development of projects and talents in a longterm perspective, and wishes to secure continuity for directors and screen writers.

Maipo AS will focus on the Norwegian market, but at the same time work actively to strengthen the Norwegian film's potential in a Nordic and international context.

Eyeworks Sweden is one of the largest production companies in the country. In 2009 the company expanded to become a total provider of TV and entertainment. Our new drama department strongly complements the firmly established departments of entertainment, game shows, reality and features. We possess one of Sweden’s strongest in-house studio complexes, including two large studios, which gives us full control of the production chain. This new breadth enables Eyeworks to be an even stronger partner to both Public Service and commercial channels.

Our emphasis on creativity has seen a wide range of productions vastly different in nature as well as in-house developments. Highlights 2009 is: Den stora resan-SVT (Ticket to the tribes) , Jag vet vad du gjorde förra fredan –TV3 (I know what you did…) Lotta på Liseberg–TV4 (Sing along summer show) På liv & död – SVT (A fight aginst death) Maria Wern-TV4 (TV drama Maria Wern) AP TV Zilla & Totte-TV4 (Children show) Teknikens Värld-K8 (Motormagazin) Drömmen om Italien-TV4 (The Italian Dream).

We also have the unique ability to work in large three-party collaborations which is a vital, visionary and complex part of the commercial TV industry today. At present this suits large popular productions such as The Postcode Millionaire (Postkodmiljonären)* and Bingolotto, Sweden’s two top lottery shows.

Bavaria Film International distributes German and international films on the global market. The portfolio ranges from German Academy Award winner Nowhere in Africa (2002), multiple European Film Award winner and B.O. hit Good Bye, Lenin! (2003) to Golden Berlin Bear winner Head-On (2004), double Silver Berlin Bear winner Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (2005) or creative documentary Into Great Silence (2005).

Recent hits were I Served the King of England and Silver Berlin Bear winner Beaufort (both 2007), Cherry Blossoms – Hanami (2008) by Doris Dörrie, Tribeca’s main award winner Let the right one in and Moscow, Belgium (2008, Critics’ Week Cannes).

UGC operates a European network of around 600 cinemas in France, Belgium, Spain and Italy and has performed more than 40 million admissions in 2009.

UGC is also present in the production and distribution French and European films in cinemas worldwide through the sales of its audiovisual rights.