Coproduction Office
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production, International sales |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Philippe Bober |
| Headquarters | Berlin , Germany |
Area served | International |
Key people | Philippe Bober (Founder) |
| Products | Auteur cinema films, international film sales |
Coproduction Office, established in 1987 by Philippe Bober, consists of four production branches located in Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, and London, as well as an international sales entity. The company focuses exclusively on Auteur Cinema. Bober has produced a total of forty films, with twelve competing at Cannes, including two Palme d'Or recipients: Triangle of Sadness and The Square, both directed by Ruben Östlund.
Throughout more than twenty years, Coproduction Office has developed and managed films by directors such as Ulrich Seidl, Jessica Hausner, Roy Andersson, Michelangelo Frammartino, Kornél Mundruczó, Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Carlos Reygadas, and Östlund. Additionally, it has distributed works by Gust Van den Berghe, Takashi Miike, Antonio Campos, Cristi Puiu, Corneliu Porumboiu, and Thomas Clay. Recognized as a premier European international sales agent, the firm oversees distribution not only for its productions but also for select titles including restored classics by Roberto Rossellini.
History
Coproduction Office was originally created to support Lars von Trier's Europa (1991), serving as associate producer for the German and French segments of this four-nation coproduction financed by Eurimages. For von Trier's The Kingdom, the company took on roles as German co-producer and international sales agent, successfully securing theatrical releases in several territories through its then-new Berlin production office.
In 1999, Coproduction Office co-produced Breaking The Waves alongside Zentropa and began enduring partnerships with Scandinavian filmmakers including Roy Andersson and Dagur Kári—most notably producing Nói Albinói with Iceland's Zik Zak Filmworks—and Ruben Östlund.
The company's footprint expanded with new production offices opening in Paris (2000), Copenhagen (2007), and London (2020). Since 1995, it has maintained a collaboration with the Sarajevo Film Festival; Philippe Bober acted as artistic director and programmer for the New Currents section. This involvement fostered sustained relationships with auteurs such as Andersson, Hausner, Seidl, and Östlund.
Bober underscores his commitment to auteurs: "My collaborations date back to Michelangelo Frammartino in 2003, Jessica Hausner and Ulrich Seidl since 1999, and Roy Andersson from 1996 onward. The growth of the auteurs and the company is intertwined."
Film Library
Films associated with Coproduction Office have predominantly premiered at Cannes—with twelve official Competition selections, eight debuts, and thirteen awards—Venice—with six official Competition selections, five debuts, and eight awards—and Berlin—with four Competition nominations. Philippe Bober produced or co-produced twenty-one of these Competition entries.
Awards
- Cannes Film Festival
- 2022: Palme d'Or awarded to Triangle of Sadness directed by Ruben Östlund
- 2019: Best Actress awarded for Little Joe directed by Jessica Hausner
- 2017: Palme d'Or awarded to The Square by Ruben Östlund
- 2014: Jury Prize Un Certain Regard received by Force Majeure directed by Ruben Östlund
- 2008: Fipresci Award granted to Delta by Kornél Mundruczó
- 2006: Camera d'Or and Prix Europa Cinema awarded to 12:08 East of Bucharest by Corneliu Porumboiu
- 2005: Un Certain Regard Award won by The Death of Mr. Lazarescu directed by Cristi Puiu
- 2002: Camera d'Or Special Mention for Japón by Carlos Reygadas
- 2000: Jury Prize earned by Songs from the Second Floor directed by Roy Andersson
- 1999: Cinéfondation Award - Special Mention for Inter-view directed by Jessica Hausner
- 1996: Grand Prix awarded to Breaking the Waves directed by Lars von Trier
- 1992: Jury Prize received for Europa by Lars von Trier
- Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Venezia
- 2019: Silver Lion awarded to About Endlessness directed by Roy Andersson
- 2014: Golden Lion won by A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence directed by Roy Andersson
- 2012: Jury Prize granted to Paradise: Faith by Ulrich Seidl
- 2009: Fipresci, Signis, Premio La Navicella, and Brian Award received for Lourdes directed by Jessica Hausner
- 2009: Silver Lion awarded to Women Without Men directed by Shirin Neshat
- 2001: Grand Prix earned by Dog Days directed by Ulrich Seidl
- Berlin International Film Festival
- 2020: Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution awarded to DAU.Natasha by Ilya Khrzhanovsky and Jekaterina Oertel
- Additional major honors:
- 2015: Special Jury Award at South by Southwest for Creative Control directed by Benjamin Dickinson
- 2010: Label Europa Cinemas awarded to Le Quattro Volte directed by Michelangelo Frammartino
- 2005: Tiger Award won for 4 directed by Ilya Khrzhanovsky
- 2002: Silver Leopard granted to Pleasant Days directed by Kornél Mundruczó
- 2000: Tiger Award received for Suzhou River directed by Lou Ye
- 1999: Sarajevo Audience Award won for Models directed by Ulrich Seidl
- 1996: Six Robert Awards earned for The Kingdom directed by Lars von Trier
- 1990: Wiener Film Prize awarded to Good News directed by Ulrich Seidl
The Rossellini Initiative
Together with Istituto Luce, Cineteca di Bologna, and CSC Cineteca Nazionale, Coproduction Office is engaged in the restoration and promotion of ten significant films from Roberto Rossellini’s oeuvre:
- Rome, Open City (1945)
- Paisan (1946)
- Amore (1948)
- Germany, Year Zero (1948)
- Stromboli (1950)
- Machine to Kill Bad People (1952)
- Fear (1954)
- Journey to Italy (1954)
- India: Matri Bhumi (1959)
- Intervista a Salvador Allende: La forza e la ragione (1971)
- Anno Uno (1974)
Restoration and Classics by Coproduction Office
Coproduction Office is committed to restoring its film catalog, frequently working in close collaboration with the original directors when feasible.
In 2021, Lou Ye personally oversaw the restoration of his 2000 film Suzhou River, utilizing the original 16mm A-B negative. This restored version had its debut at Berlinale Classics 2022. Additionally, Carlos Reygadas supervised a complete 4K restoration with Dolby Atmos sound for his film Battle in Heaven. His works Japón and Post Tenebras Lux also underwent 2K restoration. Restoration projects continue to include the Rossellini Collection as well as ongoing efforts for films by Dagur Kari and Jessica Hausner.
Filmography
| Year | Format | Director | Original Title | International Title | Role | Festival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Feature | Jessica Hausner | Club Zero | Club Zero | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | In Post-Production |
| 2022 | Feature | Ulrich Seidl | BÖSE SPIELE Rimini Sparta | WICKED GAMES Rimini Sparta | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) |
| 2022 | Feature | Ulrich Seidl | Sparta (film) | Sparta | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | San Sebastián Film Festival - In Competition - European Premiere |
| 2022 | Feature | Ulrich Seidl | Rimini (film) | Rimini | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | Berlinale 2022 - Competition |
| 2022 | Feature | Ruben Östlund | Triangle of Sadness | Triangle of Sadness | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | Cannes 2022 - Competition, Palme d'Or |
| 2021 | Feature | Michelangelo Frammartino | Il Buco | Il Buco | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | Venice 2021 - Competition - Special Jury Prize |
| 2020 | Feature | Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, Jekaterina Oertel | DAU. Degeneratsia | DAU. Degeneration | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | Berlinale 2020 - Berlinale Special |
| 2020 | Feature | Ilya Khrzhanovskiy, Jekaterina Oertel | DAU. Natasha | DAU. Natasha | Producer (Germany, France), International Sales | Berlinale 2020 - Official Competition |