Munich-based Bavaria Film has become a major shareholder in the publicly-listed Odeon Film by increasing its interest to 50.01%.

Bavaria Film had originally held a 32% stake in Odeon at the time of its IPO in spring 1999, but had gradually increased its shareholding in the intervening period.

An adhoc announcement released by Odeon declared that Bavaria's latest step "demonstrates its trust in the present strategy of Odeon Film and its continued commitment to Odeon Film as a partner".

Odeon Film has been involved as a production partner this year in Gregor Jordan's Buffalo Soldiers and Joseph Vilsmaier's Leo & Claire and will see its subsidiary Lunaris Film begin work with Bavaria Film on another Erich Kaestner adaptation Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer directed by Tomy Wigand at the end of this year.