Beta Film has joined forces with production companies X Filme Creative Pool (Michael Polle, Babylon Berlin), True Content Entertainment (Ole Søndberg, Millennium trilogy), and EPO-Film, as well as broadcasters ZDF, DR, and New8 on "Other People’s Money." The fictional series, inspired by true events, will premiere in February in Berlinale’s prestigious Panorama section in attendance of cast and crew. Official Berlinale entry "Other People’s Money," tells how a criminal network of megarich investors, bankers, and lawyers stole 146 billion Euros from European taxpayers.
"Other People’s Money" is produced by X Filme Creative Pool and True Content Entertainment in co-production with EPO-Film. Commissioning broadcasters are ZDF and DR in co-production with New8; New8 is a cooperation of the public broadcasters NRK, SVT, RUV, YLE, NPO, VRT, DR, and ZDF. The series is co-funded by Fisa+, GMPF, the European Union, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, The Nordvisions Fund, and the Croatian Audiovisual Center. As an international partner, Beta Film handles worldwide sales. "Other People’s Money" showrunner/creator is Jan Schomburg (I’m Your Man; Above Us Only Sky) and is inspired by the “CumEx-Files” investigation by European news media outlets that uncovered a global finance network which defrauded European state treasuries, and thus every European citizen, of almost 150 billion Euros.
The eight-hour series follows the culprits and two women from two countries trying to stop it, but the states and the banks seem to prevent their efforts at all costs. The series stars Lisa Wagner (From Hilde, With Love; The Pool), Karen-Lise Mynster (Madame Ida), Justus von Dohnanyi (Downfall), Niels Strunk, David Dencik (No Time to Die; Chernobyl), and Fabian Hinrichs (Divided We Stand), among others. Dustin Loose (Divided We Stand) and Kaspar Munk (The Rain; Kamikaze) share directing credits. Directors of Photography are Clemens Baumeister (Divided We Stand) and Laust Trier Mørk (The Responder).
"Other People’s Money" is the latest addition to Beta’s exceptional Berlinale line-up, which is headed by the official Berlinale opening film "The Light by Tom Tykwer" (Babylon Berlin; Run Lola Run), starring Lars Eidinger (Babylon Berlin; Dying) and the Panorama world premiere "Cicadas by Ina Weisse" (The Audition), starring Nina Hoss (Yella; Barbara; Tár). Beta Cinema will also handle international sales for "Cicadas," a German-French production set to the world premiere in the Berlinale Panorama section. "Cicadas" marks the highly anticipated reunion of writer-director Ina Weisse and renowned actress Nina Hoss following their critically acclaimed collaboration on "The Audition." "Cicadas" tells the story of Isabell (Nina Hoss), whose life takes a turn when the enigmatic Anja (Saskia Rosendahl), a single mother, and her young daughter, Greta, weave themselves into her life.
"Cicadas" is produced by Lupa Film (producer Felix von Boehm and Katrin Jochimsen) in co-production with 10:15! Productions and ZDF, with the support of Arte. MBB, FFA, CNC Mini Traité, and DFFF funded the production. "Cicadas" is lensed by Judith Kaufmann (The Teacher’s Lounge, Four Minutes, 13 Minutes) and edited by Hansjörg Weissbrich (September 5, I’m Your Man, Unorthodox). DCM will release the highly atmospheric drama to the German-speaking territories in the summer of 2025. Beta Cinema, which also handles world sales for this year’s Berlinale Opening Film, Tom Tykwer’s The Light, will kick off sales on "Cicadas" at EFM.