Company Profile
Maze pictures is an independent production house based in Munich and Berlin, with maze pictures Swiss in Lucerne as an affiliate and a share in Red Balloon Film in Hamburg. Based on its founders’ longstanding experience, maze pictures has successfully developed and (co-) produced artistically ambitious fictional ideas for movies and high end series for the national and international market.
The portfolio comprises many national and international film projects, among them Rupert Everett´s directorial debut THE HAPPY PRINCE (2018, Sundance, Berlinale) and GUNS AKIMBO starring Daniel Radcliffe (2019, TIFF). Following up with the drama SIBERIA by Abel Ferrara starring Willem Dafoe (2020, Berlinale) and also Ferrara’s ZEROS AND ONES starring Ethan Hawke (2021, Locarno). maze pictures contributed Julia von Heinz’ MY FATHERS to the anthology feature ISOLATION which premiered in Venice 2021. The action-comedy KUNG FURY 2 starring Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzenegger is currently in post-production.
The first TV drama series MALTESE, in co-production with the Italian Palomar was followed by TV series adaptation of THE CRIMSON RIVERS in co-production with Storia TV, France2, ZDF and ZDF Studios, the 4th season is currently in production. maze pictures also co-developed and co-produced German-Dutch-Norwegian Fantasy TV series HEIRS OF THE NIGHT, new season is currently in development. SUNSHINE EYES, a TV series by Maria von Heland shot during C19 lockdown, premiered at 2022’s Series Mania Festival and won the special jury prize. The local TV series HIMMEL HERGOTT SAKRAMENT for BR and ORF is in production.
maze pictures is represented by the CEO’s Jörg Schulze in Berlin and Philipp Kreuzer in Munich.
Philipp Kreuzer
Company Highlights
ZEROS AND ONES 2021
Genre: Drama/War
Director: Abel Ferrara
Screenplay: Abel Ferrara
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Cristina Chiriac, Phil Neilson, Valerio Mastandrea, Dounia Sichov, Korlan Madi, Mahmut Sifa
Erkaya & Anna Ferrara.
In the aftermath of an apocalyptic siege, ZEROS AND ONES follows the American military operative JJ (Ethan Hawke) as he navigates a locked-down, murky world of fear, paranoia and eventual hope in the shadow of the Vatican. A war between history and the future plays out until dawn breaks.
Festival Selection: Locarno International Film Festival / Award for Best Director Abel Ferrara
THE HAPPY PRINCE 2018
Genre: Drama, Biopic
Director: Rupert Everett
Screenplay: Rupert Everett
Cast: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Edwin Thomas, Emily Watson, Tom Wilkinson
The last days of Oscar Wilde and the ghosts that haunted them are vividly evoked in Rupert Everett's directorial debut, The Happy Prince. Everett gives a career-best performance as Wilde, physically and emotionally embodying the literary genius as he lives out his last days in exile in Europe. His body ailing and heavy, his mind spinning, he survives by falling back to flamboyant irony and brilliant wit that defined him. As the film travels through Wilde's final act and journeys through England, France, and Italy, desire and loyalty face off, the transience of lust is laid bare, and the true riches of love are revealed.
Sundance Film Festival
Berlinale 2018
Nomination London Critics Circle Film Awards 2019
Satellite Awards 2018 for Best First Feature
Nomination British Independent Film Awards 2018 for Best Actor Nomination European Film Awards 2018 for Best Actor
Bavarian Film Award 2018 for Best Production
L.A FF 2018
Hamptons IFF 2018
FdF de Britannique du Dinard Istanbul FF
GUNS AKIMBO 2019
Genre: Feature Film, Action, Comedy
Director: Jason Lei Howden
Screenplay: Jason Lei Howden
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ned Dennehy
MILES trolls a dark net website that forces strangers to fight each other to the death. As payback, guns are bolted onto his hands, before he’s pitted against a seemingly unstoppable killing machine, NIX. When the love of his life is then kidnapped, he must stop running and overcome his fear to fight for the girl he loves.
Festival Selection: Toronto International Film Festival
SIBERIA 2020
Genre: Feature Film, Action, Comedy
Director: Abel Ferrara
Screenplay: Abel Ferrara, Chris Zoist
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Dounia Sichov, Simon McBurney, Cristina Chiriac, Anna Ferrara
Siberia is a voyage into the abysses of a man’s imagination, into his own self.
Festival Selection: Berlin International Film Festival, Seville European Film Festival
Awards and Nominations: Nomination Golden Berlin Bear for Best Film 2020, Nomination Golden Giraldillo for Best Film 2020
ERBEN DER NACHT / HEIRS OF THE NIGHT SEASON 1 & 2 2019-2020
Genre: TV Series 13 x 25min, Fantasy, Horror
Director: Diederik van Rooijen
Screenplay: Diederik van Rooijen, Maria von Heland
Cast: Anastasia Martin, Ulrik William Graesli, Aisling Sharkey, Charlie Banks, Liam Nicolosi, Scarlett Rousset
Set in 1889, the story about the five remaining vampire clans in Europe who are training to survive. In their midst is Alisa, who has the power to choose between eternal life as a vampire or for all vampires to live as humans.
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