Company Profile
A leading independent Film & Television group, Beta Film produces, finances and distributes high-end content for the global market, nurturing extensive partnerships spanning from public to private broadcasters, streaming platforms to special interest channels, production companies and top international talent, theatrical and video distributors to major film and TV festivals.
Furthermore, the group focuses on strategic alignment in new business areas via acquisitions and joint ventures. Beta Film has stakes in production companies across Europe as well as renowned brands such as Beta Cinema (international sales and distribution of feature films) and Autentic (international sales, production and distribution of documentaries as well as factual channels), to name a few.
Founded by Leo Kirch in 1959 and owned by Jan Mojto since 2004, Beta Film is based in Munich, Germany, with offices in the US, Latin America, Asia and throughout Europe.
Our Story
When Leo Kirch travelled to Italy in 1956 to buy a print of – then unknown – Federico Fellini’s LA STRADA, he laid the foundation of what would become the Beta Media Empire with a film that would become an eternal classic. Three years later, Beta Film was founded. Ever since, Beta Film has reached thousands of clients all over the world with a vast, one-of-a-kind catalog that has been entertaining millions of viewers.
Beta Film’s rich heritage was carefully built over decades with hours of award-winning high-end dramas, timeless classics, and entertainment for all ages, originating from all corners of the world.
The enchanting story of the Austrian Empress, starring legendary Romy Schneider.
We at Beta Film are always excited to embark on new journeys, discovering and identifying the next thrilling content from A-list talents and producers, to new emerging voices. We pride ourselves in our ability to develop, produce and sell your projects with a personal, tailor-made plan for you to reach millions of viewers around the globe in the most effective ways.
We are offering a diversified portfolio to our clients through specialised labels:
BETA CINEMA, a subsidiary of Beta Film, is a world sales and co-financing company for quality feature films that combine great stories, commercial viability and artistic integrity. BETA CINEMA’s slate boasts classic hits ranging from Oscar®-winner THE LIVES OF OTHERS, IL DIVO, DOWNFALL and two time Oscar®-nominee NEVER LOOK AWAY to Netflix hit CALIBRE and multiple award-winning B.O. successes like WOMAN AT WAR and SYSTEM CRASHER. Current highlights include Venice Orizzonti entry NOWHERE SPECIAL, the psychological thriller KINDRED, the Oscar® submissions THE AUSCHWITZ REPORT and MY LITTLE SISTER, and the Berlinale sensation BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ.
Beta Film's boutique label BETA KIDS & FAMILY complements its vast and diverse library of content by addressing younger target groups. Long-lasting cooperations with established premium producers and channels guarantee a broad range of high-quality fictional, animated and reality content. BETA KIDS & FAMILY has been able to build up international brands like SKAM, ANNE WITH AN E, CAPTAIN NOVA, and ALL-ROUND CHAMPION, ready-mades and formats alike. This way, BETA KIDS & FAMILY is true to Beta Film’s mission of delivering quality content produced locally to a global market.
Based in Amsterdam but with a global reach, LINEUP INDUSTRIES is an independent international distributor representing a catalogue of high end factual and entertainment formats, finished Programs and derived IP. Working with a distinctive slate which includes long running global hit LONG LOST FAMILY and international Emmy® nominated TABOO. Lineup places content globally to all major platforms, broadcasters and collaborates with independent producers and multinationals alike. Lineup recently guided EMERGENCY CALL from a late night second channel program in Belgium to a prime time slot on US network ABC.
Founded in 2008, Munich-based Autentic is a joint venture between Patrick Hörl and Jan Mojto´s Beta Film. Autentic focuses on high-quality documentaries and factual series for the German and international market. The company covers the entire value chain of the factual genre, from development, production, co-financing and distribution to operation of its own channels and VOD services.
True to its motto "Music to Watch", UNITEL produces operas, concerts, operettas and ballets with acclaimed artists and in the highest technical quality. Currently boasting a film stock of more than 1500 productions, UNITEL was one of the first companies to produce music films in color and stereo, and records today exclusively in UHD and in surround sound quality. UNITEL arose from Cosmotel, the firm which Dr. Leo Kirch founded with Herbert von Karajan in 1964 to produce classical music for film and television. The company is part of the Beta-Group today.