International film platform Mubi has made a major acquisition of Germany-based sales and production firm The Match Factory.
The deal includes both sales firm The Match Factory and production arm Match Factory Productions.
The Match Factory will maintain its offices in Berlin and Cologne, and will expand its presence through Mubi’s headquarters in London and offices in New York and Los Angeles.
The Match Factory’s current management team will continue to lead the company’s operations, maintaining its current slate of sales titles and projects in development including new films from Lukas Dhont, Christian Petzold, Fatih Akin, Emin Alper, Andreas Dresen and Marco Bellochio; plus Amat Escalante and Joshua Oppenheimer through Match Factory Productions.
The acquisition is a major one for the international film business. Founded in 2006, The Match Factory has handled sales on numerous international hits including Waltz With Bashir, Toni Erdmann, Girl and Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
Managing director Michael Weber founded Match Factory Productions in 2013 with Viola Fugen, producing arthouse titles including Memoria, Never Gonna Snow Again, Martin Eden and The Traitor.
“As long time partners of The Match Factory we have gained tremendous admiration and respect for Michael and his team,” said Efe Cakarel, Mubi founder and CEO. “We could not be more excited for them to join us in pursuing the goal we clearly share: to bring beautiful cinema to film lovers around the world. Mubi and The Match Factory are highly complementary businesses and we look forward to joining together with our friends.”
“When I embarked on the The Match Factory journey together with my partners Reinhard Brundig, Viola Fügen, Thania Dimitrakopoulou, Jenny Walendy and the late Karl Baumgartner, I envisioned discovering filmmakers and their stories, working with them and bringing their finest work out to the world,” said Weber. “I have taken great pleasure and satisfaction throughout the years with the many encounters with truly gifted people, creative minds, generous souls. Cinema is a vibrant and living ecosystem, constantly altering and expanding.
“Efe and his team share the same vision and passion for cinema. We admire them for gaining new audiences and creating such an impressive, sustainable success story. Our combined strengths will open new opportunities to nourish the future for the cinema we love.”
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