Sony Pictures Entertainment's German film and television production arms Deutsche Columbia Pictures Filmproduktion (DCPF) and Columbia TriStar Film und Fernsehproduktions (CTFF) have become the 21st and 22nd members of Germany's producer lobby group film20.

"I am very pleased that Deutsche Columbia Pictures was accepted as a member of film20 and am absolutely convinced that only a broad alliance of representation of interests is in the position to give the German cinema the social, cultural and economic significance which it has been demanding for some time", commented DCPF managing director Andrea Willson.

The Berlin-based film arm is currently in postproduction on Maria von Heland's Big Girls Don't Cry as well as preparing for the German theatrical release in January of Gregor von Schnitzler's Was Tun, Wenn's Brennt', starring Til Schweiger and Martin Feifel.

Among the projects planned for production in 2002 is Anatomie 2, the sequel to the top German film of 2000 which was produced with fellow film20 outfit Claussen + Woebke Filmproduktion. Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky will again direct.

Meanwhile, Cologne-based CTFF, which has produced more than 400 hours of programming since being set up in 1995, is behind several award-winning RTL comedy series as well as the daily SAT.1 chat show Peter Imhof and ARD's snowboarding series Powder Park.

Launched at this year's Berlinale, the lobby group has been campaigning for improved broadcasting rights as well as addressing the Ministry of Justice's copyright bill.

Film20's members include Senator Film, Bavaria Film, Constantin Film, Kinowelt, Claussen + Woebke Filmproduktion, Filmpool and X Filme Creative Pool.