Babelsberg, Berlin Studios That Hosted Shoots for ‘Hunger Games,’ ‘John Wick’ and ‘Matrix’ Franchises, Bids Farewell to Former Chiefs
Berlin’s Studio Babelsberg, one of Europe’s largest studio complexes, has revealed that its senior management has been rejigged. Recent movies to shoot at the studios include “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “The Matrix Resurrections.”
Founded in 1912, Babelsberg is one of the oldest studios in the world. Among the films it has hosted are “Metropolis,” “The Blue Angel,” “The Pianist,” “The Bourne Supremacy” and “Bridge of Spies.” Babelsberg comprises 21 studios and sound stages, various backlots and exterior sets across more than 42 acres.
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Babelsberg revealed Tuesday that Carl “Charlie” Woebcken and Christoph Fisser, who have run the studios since 2004, have stepped down from their positions on the board of directors at their own request and in mutual agreement.
At the end of 2021, they sold their majority stake in Babelsberg to TPG Real Estate Partners. Last year, Babelsberg was integrated into the production facilities company Cinespace Studios, also owned by TPG. Cinespace is one largest production facility operators in the world, with 109 stages in Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta, Wilmington and Berlin.
The Babelsberg board will now consist of Andy Weltman as CEO, Andre Bleeker as chief financial officer, and Ashley Rice, president and co-managing partner at Cinespace.
Weltman said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to Charlie Woebcken and Christoph Fisser for their many years of dedicated leadership and their significant contribution to the success of Studio Babelsberg. In the almost two decades of their work, they have guided the studio through good times and bad, and significantly expanded Babelsberg’s position as one of the world’s leading film production hubs.”
Rice added, “We are grateful for their professional support during the transition towards integration with Cinespace Studios. We are confident that with the current management team we will continue the success story of Studio Babelsberg. As part of the global Cinespace family with a total of five locations – Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Wilmington, in addition to Studio Babelsberg – we are very well positioned to meet the demand for high-quality local and international content.”
Woebcken and Fisser will continue to work in the industry as independent producers. Woebcken will continue his political work at the Association of Technical Companies for Film and Television (VTFF) and Fisser will operate Traumfabrik Babelsberg as an independent production company.
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