11/02/2025 - The Munich-based sales agent is bringing a hefty slate to the imminent European Film Market, including the festival’s opening film

Beta Cinema, the Munich-based label of European film and television group Beta Film, is setting off for the European Film Market (13-19 February) at the 75th Berlinale with a stacked line-up that features the festival’s opening film in addition to two flashy Panorama titles by German creators. The Light [+see also:
film review
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film profile], the Lars Eidinger-led drama by Tom Tykwer playing as part of Berlinale Special, marks Tykwer’s return to the big screen after working on the acclaimed television series Babylon Berlin for nearly ten years, leaving off last with A Hologram for the King [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in terms of his features. In The Light, a new housekeeper – a Syrian immigrant – enters the lives of a Berlin family, changing the dynamics of the household as each member of the clan connects to her in different and unexpected ways. Produced by X Filme Creative Pool in co-production with Gold Rush Pictures, Gretchenfilm, B.A. Filmproduktion and ZDF, the film will enjoy its world premiere at the Berlinale Palast on 13 February and will be followed up by several market and festival screenings for interested buyers.

Beta Cinema also wields two Panorama entries, one feature and one series. Cicadas [+see also:
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interview: Ina Weisse
film profile], the next film by Ina Weisse, who also penned the screenplay, stars Nina Hoss and Saskia Rosendahl. The film unfolds as a stark drama between the two leading women, a single mother and a woman taking care of her ageing parents, who develop a strange relationship with each other. Cicadas, which was produced by Lupa Film in co-production with 10:15! Productions, ZDF and ARTE, also features lensing by The Teachers’ Lounge [+see also:
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interview: İlker Çatak
interview: Leonie Benesch
film profile] and Corsage [+see also:
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interview: Marie Kreutzer
interview: Marie Kreutzer
film profile] DoP Judith Kaufmann. Meanwhile, Other People’s Money [+see also:
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interview: Jan Schomburg, Dustin Loose
series profile] is a limited series premiering in the Panorama strand, led by showrunner Jan Schomburg, produced by X Filme Creative Pool and True Content Entertainment in co-production with EPO-Film, ZDF and DR, and with NRK, SVT, RÚV, YLE, NPO and VRT also on board. The series of eight one-hour episodes is inspired by true events, telling the story of the biggest tax fraud in European history and the two women who sought to stop it and bring those responsible to justice (see the news).

Beta Cinema will also bring three in-progress films to the EFM – most notably, Diamond Shitter by Antonia Campbell-Hughes, starring Raffey Cassidy, Eva Green and Ben Whishaw. The thriller-drama, which is currently in pre-production (see the news), follows a 22-year-old woman who begins to steal diamonds from an opulent family after securing an internship at the UN in Geneva and entering the lives of the wealthy. 500 Miles by Morgan Matthews, which is currently in post-production, follows two young brothers who run away from home in order to reach their beloved grandfather on the west coast of Ireland (see the news). Amrum by Fatih Akin, also currently in post-production (see the news), takes place during the late years of World War II on the titular island as a 12-year-old boy begins to learn of his family’s secrets.

Two other completed titles will also feature at the market as part of Beta Cinema's slate. Long Story Short [+see also:
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film profile] by David Dietl, making its market premiere after world-premiering as the opening film at Tallinn Black Nights, is a comedy about love and friendship that takes place over the course of seven parties and three years. Nick Hamm's William Tell, starring Claes Bang and Golshifteh Farahani in the historical-legendary epic, will also enjoy a market screening. Other upcoming titles include The Remnants of You [+see also:
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film profile] by Gala Gracia (in post-production), The Noise of Time by Jan Komasa (in pre-production), the Helena Bonham Carter-led drama The Offing by Jessica Hobbs (in pre-production – see the news), The Physician II by Philipp Stölzl (in post-production) and the Swedish-language comedy Let It Rain by Hannes Holm (in post-production – see the news).

Finally, the more series-focused Beta Film label will be heading to the EFM clutching the Spanish psychological thriller show Shades, starring Elsa Pataky (Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga), and the Bulgarian drama Shattered Bonds, starring Julian Kostov (The White Lotus).