Berlin

It is fitting that 2024 when German Films is celebrating its 70th anniversary should also see another good piece of news: the supervisory board, chaired by Philipp Kreuzer, is pleased to announce that the contract with Managing Director Simone Baumann has been extended by another five years.

"Simone Baumann has successfully managed the fortunes of German Films since 2019, including during the pandemic, with wisdom, foresight and great commitment. Under her leadership, the German Films team has launched and overseen new initiatives, organised successful Oscar campaigns and bolstered the international networking activities. The focus has always been on the films, their makers and, in particular, on young talent“, says Philipp Kreuzer. "We would like to express our sincere thanks to her for all of this. We are delighted that Simone Baumann will be accompanying German Films for another five years to successfully master the upcoming challenges for German cinema abroad.“

Simone Baumann studied Philosophy in Rostov/Don and worked as a research assistant at the Humboldt University in Berlin. Her career in documentaries began in the early 1990s at MDR in Dresden. In 1997, she became a managing partner for LE Vision Film- und Fernsehproduktion. As a producer, Simone Baumann was responsible for all of LE Vision's documentary productions, ranging from news reports and TV documentaries through  docu-soaps to docu-dramas. LE Vision’s films also received such prestigious awards as the Bavarian Television Award, the CIVIS Media Prize, the Hans Klein Media Prize and a Grimme Prize nomination.

In 2003, Simone Baumann was appointed a member on the boards of AG DOK and MFFV (Mitteldeutscher Film- und Fernsehproduzentenverband) and became German Films’ representative for Eastern Europe in 2005. She had been responsible as Executive Producer Documentary for the documentary projects at Saxonia Entertainment GmbH since 2011.

Simone Baumann: "I’m really looking forward to another five years at the helm of German Films and would like to thank the supervisory board for the trust they have placed in me. Together with my team, I will continue to work to ensure that German cinema and German filmmakers are visible and successful abroad. These are turbulent times, but German cinema need not fear comparison. Apart from  internationally renowned filmmakers, we have many new talents who will be making a name for themselves in the coming years. Accompanying them on their journey to the world stage is a big challenge and an interesting task.“

As the successor organisation to the Export Union (founded in 1954), German Films is responsible for the promotion of German films worldwide. The activities of the Service und Marketing GmbH include close cooperation with major international festivals, the staging of Festivals of German Films in selected international territories, the promotion of young talent, distribution support and the organisation of the selection procedure for the German entry for the Oscar® for Best International Feature Film.

Simone Baumann has been Managing Director of German Films since 2019. Her contract has now been extended by a further five years as of 1 February, 2024.