Observed Signal · Oct 16, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: DWDL · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Oliver Berben calls for political resolve for German cinema
Oliver Berben, CEO of Constantin Film, penned a guest article for DWDL.de's "25 Wishes" series, highlighting strong cinema performance in H1 2026: 47.5 million tickets sold, €502.2 million revenue, the best since pre-pandemic. German productions sold 12.2 million tickets, up 61% year-over-year, achieving a 26.5% market share, the highest in a decade. He also notes the success of "Resident Evil," which grossed $108.3 million worldwide on its opening weekend. Berben urges political decisiveness, including a statutory investment obligation, to support the German film industry, warning of rising costs and shrinking margins. He advocates for reliable framework conditions to foster creativity and economic stability, aiming for a 30% German market share.
Oliver Berben's call for political decisiveness and a statutory investment obligation could shape German film industry regulation, impacting content investment and production dynamics.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- German cinemas sold 47.5 million tickets in H1 2026, generating €502.2 million revenue.
- German productions sold 12.2 million tickets, up 61% from H1 2025, reaching a 26.5% market share.
- Constantin Film's 'Resident Evil' grossed $108.3 million worldwide on its opening weekend.
- Oliver Berben calls for a statutory investment obligation to support German film production.
- Ticket sales in cities up to 50,000 inhabitants rose by 18% in H1 2026 compared to H1 2025.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Oliver Berben serves as the CEO of Constantin Film AG.”
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Constantin Film MD Calls for Better Failure Culture in TV Industry
Laura Machutta, Managing Director of Constantin Film Produktion GmbH and Deputy Chair of the TV Section of the Produktionsallianz, penned a guest article outlining her wishes for the German television industry. She calls for a fair and respectful collaboration between producers, filmmakers, and broadcasters, with transparent dialogue about budgets. Machutta criticizes current funding policies that favor international productions, threatening Germany's local value creation and forcing German producers to shoot abroad. She highlights a successful collaboration with ZDF on the historical film 'Zeit der Wunder' as a positive example. Additionally, she advocates for a better error culture, citing Constantin's internal 'Code of Conduct' and workshops as a model for the whole industry and politics.
Stefan Oelze: Seize Opportunities through Internationalization and AI
In a guest contribution for DWDL's 25th anniversary series, Stefan Oelze, CEO of Rosebank Entertainment AG, urges the German film and TV production industry to confront the biggest technological and economic upheaval in its history. He identifies key opportunities in internationalization, AI adoption, and the creation of investment incentives, such as a tax credit model similar to other European countries. Oelze highlights the UK's 31% growth in feature film production to $3.8 billion in 2025, attributing it to foreign investment and favorable conditions. He calls for defending public broadcasting values while adapting to AI-driven changes in the workforce and business models. He emphasizes the need for partnerships and bold action to shape the industry's future.
German Box Office Sales Rise Strongly in H1 2026
Germany's cinemas saw a strong first half of 2026 driven by blockbusters such as the new Spider-Man film and Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'. The Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) reported about 47.5 million tickets sold and €502.2 million in box office revenue in H1 2026—up 16.9% in tickets and 24.5% in revenue vs. the prior year. Average ticket price rose to €10.57. Industry groups and publishers note the momentum could lift total annual admissions to around 100 million, the strongest year since the pandemic period.
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