During the 1990s, some German producers preferred to license the local distribution rights for their films to German distributors at the expense of a potentially better deal with the local office of a US studio.

Talking points: reaction of local producers

They were apparently driven by a 'them against us' fear the Hollywood suits would plunder the industry of its talent and stories, and channel all the profits back to Los Angeles.

A decade on and a new generation of ambitious German film-makers and talent, keen to play to a global stage, are greeting Hollywood's renewed push into the international marketplace with open arms.

The German industry is teaming up with the US studios to make local films for the local market (and sometimes beyond), embracing the investment, commercial nous and marketing muscle Hollywood brings to town.

It is a scenario being played out in all the major international territories as the US studios ramp up their international activities.

More than ever, local-language films with local stars are playing well to local audiences - and the studios want a piece of the action. And as the US box office stutters, the studios need the international business as much as it needs Hollywood.

One of the most globally-minded studios is Universal Pictures, which has long-standing production ties in the UK (Working Title Films) and Hong Kong (Edko Films). Last year it announced partnerships with cha cha cha in Mexico, Fernando Meirelles' 02 Films in Brazil and Timur Bekmambetov's Bazelevs Productions in Russia.

Last year, Christian Grass was appointed head of Universal Pictures International's new 'international studio', signalling the next phase of the studio's global drive. The company is now understood to be exploring collaborations in Spain, Germany, Japan and India, among others, but was not ready to make any announcements at press time.

Similarly, under Deborah Schindler, Sony Pictures Entertainment's (SPE) new International Motion Picture Production Department has set up a joint venture in Russia which has already completed two films.

But what happens when one business model meets another'

Screen reports on the impact of this US expansion on the local territories.

We look at what Hollywood is bringing to the table and whether there is a perception its increased presence in individual territories is enriching the entire industry or creating a talent drain to the US.

Are Hollywood teams better equipped to release smaller local films than local indie specialists' Are profits being pumped back into the industry'

In Europe, we focus on Italy, France, Spain and Germany; in Asia we look at China and India; and in Latin America, we report on the territory's biggest film market, Mexico.

In Germany, attitudes towards Hollywood have been transformed. Sony has even moved its international production headquarters from Madrid to Berlin, while wunderkind German director Tom Tykwer has used a multinational cast to make an English-language film with SPE called The International. The walls are coming down. As the man once said, we're all Berliners now.