25/01/2013 - The German sales and production outfit Picture Tree International kicks off in Berlin

The German sales agent Andreas Rothbauer (photo) and production expert Alec Schulmann have joined forces and launched the film distribution and production company Picture Tree International in Berlin. The core business of the new company is worldwide licensing of film rights and the co-production of international feature films in an integrated business model. Picture Tree International is currently in negotiations with production companies from Scandinavia, Canada and South Africa as strategic partners.

Rothbauer and Schulmann have already worked together on the Oscar-nominated film Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in 2008. As the long-time head of sales and acquisitions at Beta Cinema, Rothbauer was responsible for the distribution of Oscar winners and nominees, such as Downfall [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bernd Eichinger
interview: Joachim Fest
interview: Oliver Hirschbiegel
film profile], The Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile], The Counterfeiters [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Il Divo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicola Giuliano
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
interview: Philippe Desandre
film profile]. As executive producer, Schulman has been working on several international co-productions. His projects include  A Yakuza’s Daughter Never Cries, Native Dancer [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Nomad: The Warrior and Fifty-fifty.

Thanks to their approach, successful reputation in the film business and the promising economic growth perspectives of Picture Tree International the founders got the VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft from Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and private investors as finance partners on board. The VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft Berlin has a total volume of €30 million and is financed by the Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) and the European Regional Development Fund. The Picture Tree team will use the cash injection to acquire projects at the European Film Market (EFM) and the Berlinale Co-Production Market in Berlin. Rothbauer and Schulmann are planning to present their first line-up at the Cannes Film Market in May.