Coproduction Office

Coproduction Office

Company's logo
Industry	Motion Pictures (production and sales)
Founded	1987
Founder	Philippe Bober
Divisions	Production: Paris, Berlin, London, Copenhagen International Sales Paris, Berlin
Website	coproductionoffice.eu

Coproduction Office, founded in 1987, is composed of four production divisions in Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen and London, and an international sales company, all specialised in Auteur Cinema. Coproduction Office’s founder Philippe Bober has produced forty films to date with twelve of these having been selected to screen in Competition in Cannes, winning two Golden Palms: Triangle of Sadness and The Square both by Ruben Östlund.

Over the last two decades, it has mainly produced and handled films by Ulrich Seidl, Jessica Hausner, Roy Andersson, Michelangelo Frammartino, Kornél Mundruczó, Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Carlos Reygadas, Ruben Östlund, and has also sold films by, among others, Gust Van den Berghe, Takashi Miike, Antonio Campos, Cristi Puiu, Corneliu Porumboiu and Thomas Clay.

As one of Europe’s leading international sales agents, Coproduction Office handles the international distribution of its films as well as a selection of other exceptional films, such as the meticulously restored masterpieces of Roberto Rossellini.

History

Founded in 1987 by Philippe Bober, the company was named after its efforts to raise funds for Europa by Lars von Trier (winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes in 1991).[1] Europa was a four-country coproduction supported by Eurimages during its very first session in 1989[2] for which Bober acted as associate producer for Germany and France.[3] For von Trier's following project, The Kingdom, Coproduction Office was involved both as German co-producer and international sales agent, closing deals in territories where the four-hour-long television series was distributed theatrically[4] (by October Films in the U.S.; ICA Projects in the United Kingdom; Haut et Cour in France; Shochiku in Japan, Key Films in Italy; Essential Films in Germany - the then newly created, Berlin-based production arm of Coproduction Office).[5] Coproduction Office then went on to produce Breaking The Waves for the joint production venture Libérator Productions with Zentropa in 1999, and has established ongoing relationships with Scandinavian directors; Roy Andersson, Dagur Kári, producing the film Nói Albinóitogether with Iceland's Zik Zak Filmworks, as well as Ruben Östlund.[6]

Coproduction Office expanded its production activities adding production divisions in Paris[7] in 2000, in Copenhagen in 2007, and in London in 2020. Coproduction Office and the Sarajevo Film Festival have cooperated since 1995 with Philippe Bober being artistic director and thereafter programmer of the new currents section. "Having freedom of choice has always been an obsession of mine," notes Bober, highlighting that he "also spent three months per year for over 15 years viewing films, going to festivals, looking for information about directors: focusing on a few films is a deliberate choice and the result of this work."[8] It is thanks to his role at the Sarajevo Festival that Philippe Bober invited Roy Andersson’s short films Something Happened (1987) and World of Glory (1991), as well as Jessica Hausner’s graduation film Inter-View (1999), Ulrich Seidl’s film Models (1999) and Ruben Östlund’s short film Autobiographical Scene Number 6882 (2005), subsequently establishing long working relationships with all four directors. “In the end, I’m loyal to auteurs” comments Philippe Bober, “I’ve been working with Michelangelo Frammartino since 2003, with Jessica Hausner and Ulrich Seidl since 1999, and with Roy Andersson since 1996. The auteurs and the company grow together."[9]

Film Library

The films produced or sold by Coproduction Office mostly premiered in Cannes (with 12 nominations in the official Competition, 8 first features and 13 awards across sections), Venice (with 6 nominations in the official Competition, 5 first features and 8 awards across sections) and Berlin (4 nominations in Competition). 21 of these Competition titles were produced or co-produced by Philippe Bober.

Awards

• Cannes Film Festival

• • 2022: Palme d'Or for Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund
  • 2019: Prix d'interprétation féminine – Best Actress for Little Joe by Jessica Hausner
  • 2017: Palme d'Or for The Square by Ruben Östlund
  • 2014: Jury Prize Un Certain Regard for Force Majeure by Ruben Östlund
  • 2008: Fipresci Award for Delta by Kornél Mundruczó
  • 2006: Camera d'Or and Prix Europa Cinema for 12:08 East of Bucharest by Corneliu Porumboiu
  • 2005: Prize Un Certain Regard Award for The Death of Mr. Lazarescu by Cristi Puiu
  • 2002: Camera d'Or Special Mention for Japón by Carlos Reygadas
  • 2000: Jury Prize for Songs from the Second Floor by Roy Andersson
  • 1999: Cinéfondation Award - Special Mention for Inter-view by Jessica Hausner
  • 1996: Grand Prix for Breaking the Waves by Lars Von Trier
  • 1992: Jury Prize for Europa by Lars von Trier
• Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Venezia
  • 2019: Silver Lion for About Endlessness by Roy Andersson
  • 2014: Golden Lion for A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence by Roy Andersson
  • 2012: Jury Prize for Paradise: Faith by Ulrich Seidl
  • 2009: Fipresci Award, Signis Award, Premio La Navicella and Brian Award for Lourdes by Jessica Hausner
  • 2009: Silver Lion for Women Without Men by Shirin Neshat
  • 2001: Grand Prix for Dog Days by Ulrich Seidl
• Berlin International Film Festival
  • 2020: Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution for DAU.Natasha by Ilya Khrzhanovsky and Jekaterina Oertel
• Other main prizes:
  • 2015: Special Jury Award at South by Southwest for Creative Control by Benjamin Dickinson
  • 2010: Label Europa Cinemas for Le Quattro Volte by Michelangelo Frammartino
  • 2005: Tiger Award for 4 by Ilya Khrzhanovsky
  • 2002: Silver Leopard for Pleasant Days by Kornél Mundruczó
  • 2000: Tiger Award for Suzhou River by Lou Ye
  • 1999: Sarajevo Audience Award for Models by Ulrich Seidl
  • 1996: 6 Robert Awards for The Kingdom by Lars von Trier
  • 1990: Wiener Film Prize for Good News by Ulrich Seidl

The Rossellini Project

In collaboration with Istituto Luce, Cineteca di Bologna and CSC Cineteca Nazionale, Coproduction Office undertakes the restoration and promotion of ten key films of Roberto Rossellini’s filmography:[10]

• 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)

Coproduction Office Classics and Restoration

Coproduction Office is active in restoring its films, and whenever possible, working closely with the directors.

In 2021, director Lou Ye supervised the Coproduction Office restoration of his film Suzhou River (2000), working from the original 16mm A-B negative of the image. The restored classic has been presented at Berlinale Classics 2022. [1] Carlos Reygadas’ Battle in Heaven has been newly restored from the original negative, in full 4K resolution and with Dolby Atmos sound, this process was entirely supervised by the director. Of Reygadas’ titles Japòn, has been restored in 2K, as well as Post Tenebras Lux. Coproduction Office’s restoration efforts also extend to the Rossellini Collection.

Restoration of Dagur Kari and Jessica Hausner’s films is in process.

Filmography

Year	Format	Director	Original Title	International Title	Activity	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
2019	Feature	Thomas Clay	Fanny Lye Deliver'd	Fanny Lye Deliver'd	Producer (Germany), International Sales	London Film Festival - Official Competition
2019	Feature	Roy Andersson	Om det oändliga	About Endlessness	Producer (Germany), International sales	Venice 2019 - Competition - Silver Lion for Best Director
2019	Feature	Jessica Hausner	Little Joe	Little Joe	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2019 - Competition - Prix d'interprétation féminine – Best Actress
2019	Feature	Susanne Heinrich	Das Melancholisches Mädchen	Aren't You Happy?	Producer (Germany), International Sales	Max Ophüls Preis 2019 - Best Film, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
2017	Feature	Ruben Östlund	The Square	The Square	Producer (France, Germany, Denmark), International sales	Cannes 2017 - Competition - Palme d'Or
2016	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Safari	Safari	International sales	Venice 2016 - Out of Competition
2015	Feature	Benjamin Dickinson	Creative Control	Creative Control	International sales	South by Southwest 2015 - Special Jury Award
2014	Feature	Roy Andersson	En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron	A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on the Existence	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Venice 2014 - Competition - Golden Lion
2014	Feature	Jessica Hausner	Amour Fou	Amour Fou	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2014 - Un certain regard
2014	Feature	Jonathan Nossiter	Résistance naturelle	Natural Resistance	International Sales	Berlin 2014 - Panorama
2014	Feature	Ruben Östlund	Turist	Force Majeure	Producer (France, Denmark), International sales	Cannes 2014 - Un certain regard Jury Prize
2014	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Im Keller	In the Basement	International sales	Venice 2014 - Out of Competition
2014	Feature	Shin’ya Tsukamoto	Nobi	Fires on the Plain	International sales	Venice 2014 - Competition
2013	Series	Stéphane Aubier Vincent Patar	La Bûche de Noël	A Town Called Panic: The Christmas Log	International sales	New York International's Children Film Festival - Grand Prix and Audience Award
2013	Installation	Michelangelo Frammartino	Alberi	Alberi	Producer (Germany), International sales	MoMA PS1 2013
2013	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Paradies: Hoffnung	Paradise: Hope	Producer (France), International sales	Berlin 2013 - Competition
2012	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Paradies: Glaube	Paradise: Faith	Producer (France), International sales	Venice 2012 - Competition - Jury Award
2012	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Paradies: Liebe	Paradise: Love	Producer (France), International sales	Cannes 2012 - Competition
2012	Feature	Spiros Stathoulopoulos	Meteora	Meteora	Producer (Germany), International sales	Berlin 2012 - Competition
2011	Feature	Gust Van den Berghe	Blue Bird	Blue Bird	International sales	Cannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2011	Feature	Ruben Östlund	Play	Play	Producer (France, Denmark), International sales	Cannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2011	Short	Bertrand Mandico	Boro in the Box	Boro in the Box	Producer (France), International sales	Cannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2010	Short	Bertrand Mandico	Líf og dauði Henrys Darger	The Life and Death of Henry Darger	Producer (France), International Sales	Venice 2010 - Orizzonti
2010	Feature	Gust Van den Berghe	En waar de sterre bleef stille staan	Little Baby Jesus of Flandr	International sales	Cannes 2010 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2010	Feature	Kornél Mundruczó	Szelíd teremtés: A Frankenstein-terv	Tender Son - The Frankenstein Project	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2010 - Competition
2010	Feature	Michelangelo Frammartino	Le Quattro Volte	Le Quattro Volte	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2010 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs - Label Europa Cinemas
2010	Feature	Cristi Puiu	Aurora	Aurora	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Cannes 2010 - Un certain regard
2009	Feature	Stéphane Aubier Vincent Patar	A Town Called Panic	Panique au village	International sales	Cannes 2009 - Out of Competition
2009	Feature	Jessica Hausner	Lourdes	Lourdes	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Venice 2009 - Competition - Fipresci Award
2009	Feature	Shirin Neshat	Zanan-e bedun-e mardan	Women Without Men	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Venice 2009 - Competition - Silver Lion
2009	Shorts collection	Various artists	Dirty Diaries	Dirty Diaries	International sales	Thessaloniki 2011 - Open Horizons
2009	Feature	Shin’ya Tsukamoto	Tetsuo: The Bullet Man	Tetsuo: The Bullet Man	International sales	Venice 2009 - Competition
2009	Feature	Gaspar Noé	Enter the Void	Enter the Void	Co-Producer (Germany)	Cannes 2009 - Competition
2008	Feature	Thomas Clay	Soi Cowboy	Soi Cowboy	International sales	Cannes 2008 - Un certain regard
2008	Feature	Kornél Mundruczó	Delta	Delta	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Cannes 2008 - Competition - Fipresci Award
2008	Feature	Ruben Östlund	De ofrivilliga	Involuntary	Associate producer (France), International sales	Cannes 2008 - Un certain regard
2008	Installation	Shirin Neshat	Fazeh	Fazeh	Producer (France, Germany)	ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum 2008
2008	Installation	Shirin Neshat	Munis	Munis	Producer (France, Germany	ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum 2008
2008	Installation	Shirin Neshat	Farokh Legha	Farokh Legha	Producer (France, Germany)	ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum 2008
2007	Feature	Roy Andersson	Du levande	You, the Living	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Cannes 2007 - Un certain regard
2007	Feature	Antonio Campos	Afterschool	Afterschool	International sales	Cannes 2007 - Un certain regard
2007	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Import/Export	Import/Export	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Cannes 2007 - Competition
2007	Feature	Spiros Stathoupoulos	PVC-1	PVC-1	International sales	Cannes 2007 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2006	Feature	Corneliu Porumboiu	A fost sau n-a fost?	12:08 East of Bucharest	International sales	Cannes 2006 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs - Camera d'Or & Prix Europa Cinema
2006	Shorts collection	Various artists	Destricted	Destricted	International sales	Sundance 2006, Cannes Critics' Week 2006, Locarno 2006
2005	Feature	Ilya Khrzhanovsky	4	4	International sales	Rotterdam 2005 - Tiger Award
2005	Feature	Kornél Mundruczó	Johanna	Johanna	International sales	Cannes 2005 - Un certain regard
2005	Short	Ruben Östlund	Scen nr: 6882 ur mitt liv	Autobiographical Scene Number 6882	International sales	Edinburgh 2005 - Best European Short
2005	Feature	Cristi Puiu	Moartea domnului Lăzărescu	Death of Mr. Lazarescu	International sales	Cannes 2005 - Prize Un certain regard
2005	Feature	Carlos Reygadas	Batalla en el cielo	Battle in Heaven	Producer (France), International sales	Cannes 2005 - Competition
2005	Installation	Shirin Neshat	Zarin	Zarin	Producer (Germany)	Gladstone Gallery New York 2005
2004	Feature	Jessica Hausner	Hotel	Hotel	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2004 - Un certain regard
2004	Short	Kornél Mundruczó	Little Apochrypha No.	Kis apokrif no. 2	International sales	Cannes 2004 - Cinèfondation
2004	Installation	Shirin Neshat	Mahdokht	Mahdokht	Producer (France, Germany	Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin 2005
2003	Feature	Michelangelo Frammartino	Il dono	Il Dono	International sales	Locarno 2003 - Jury's Choice
2003	Feature	Alain Guiraudie	Pas de repos pour les braves	Pas de repos pour les braves	International sales	Cannes 2003 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2003	Short	Kornél Mundruczó	Joan of Arc of the Night Bus	Joan of Arc of the Night Bus	International sales	Cannes 2003 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs
2003	Feature	Dagur Kári	Nói Albinói	Nói Albinói	Producer (Germany), International sales	Göteborg 2003 - Fipresci Award
2003	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Jesus, Du weisst	Jesus, You Know	International sales	Viennale 2003 - Competition - Grand Prix
2003	Short	Cristi Puiu	Cigarettes and Coffee	Cigarettes and Coffee	International sales	Berlinale 2004 - Golden Bear and European Short Film
2002	Feature	Kornél Mundruczó	Szép napok	Pleasant Days	Producer (Germany), International sales	Locarno 2002 - Silver Leopard
2002	Short	Kornél Mundruczó	Little Apochrypha No.1	Kis apokrif no. 1	International Sales	Oberhausen 2002 - Ecumenical Jury Prize
2001	Series	Stéphane Aubier Vincent Patar	Panique au village - Série télévisée	A Town Called Panic - Series	International sales	Annecy 2001 - Grand Prix
2001	Feature	Jessica Hausner	Lovely Rita	Lovely Rita	Producer (Germany), International sales	Cannes 2001 - Un certain regard
2001	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Hundstage	Dog Days	Producer (Germany), International sales	Venice 2001 - Competition - Grand Prix
2001	Short	Kornél Mundruczó	Afta	Afta	International sales	Kraków 200 - Silver Dragon
2000	Feature	Roy Andersson	Sånger från andra våningen	Songs from the Second Floor	Producer (France, Germany), International sales	Cannes 2000 - Competition - Jury Prize
2000	Feature	Lou Ye	Suzhou he	Suzhou River	Producer (Germany), International sales	Rotterdam 2000 - Tiger Award
1999	Short	Jessica Hausner	Inter-view	Inter-view	International sales	Cannes 1999 - Cinéfondation Award - Special Mention
1999	Feature	Takashi Miike	Ōdishon	Audition	International sales	Rotterdam 2000 - Fipresci Award
1999	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Models	Models	International sales	Sarajevo 1999 - Audience Award
1996	Feature	Lars Von Trier	Breaking the Waves	Breaking the Waves	Producer (France, Germany)	Cannes 1996 - Competition - Grand Prix
1995	Short	Jessica Hausner	Flora	Flora	International sales	Locarno 1996 - Leopard of Tomorrw
1995	Feature	Lars Von Trier	Riget	The Kingdom	Producer (Germany), International sales	Venice 1996 - Out of Competition
1991	Feature	Lars Von Trier	Europa	Europa	Associate producer (Germany)	Cannes 1991 - Competition - Jury Prize
1990	Feature	Ulrich Seidl	Good News: Von Kolporteuren, toten Hunden und anderen Wienern	Good News	International sales	Viennale 1990 - Wiener Film Prize
1987	Short	Roy Andersson	Någonting har hänt	Something Happened	International sales	Clermond-Ferrand 1993 - Press and Special Jury Prize
1987	Series	Stéphane Aubier Vincent Patar	Pic Pic André	Pic Pic André	International sales	Bruxelles 1989 - Animation Award
1982	Short	Ulrich Seidl	Der Ball	The Prom	International sales
1970	Feature	Roy Andersson	En kärlekshistoria	A Swedish Love Story	International sales	Berlin 1970 - IWG Golden Plaque, Interfilm Award and Journalists' Special Award

References

1. Levine, Sydney. "ISA of the Day: Coproduction Office: 3 Festival Films | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
2. "Council of Europe – Eurimages – co-production history". www.coe.int. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
3. Variety Staff (2001-05-04). "Philippe Bober". Variety. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
4. "Blickpunkt:Film | News | Coproduction Office als Weltvertrieb und Finanzier". www.mediabiz.de (in German). Retrieved 2017-08-23.
5. "Sarajevo Talent Campus #3 / 15thSFF". issuu. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
6. "Coproduction Office - Katapult Sell Together". www.nordiskfilmogtvfond.com. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
7. Bobeau, Anthony (18 May 2012). "Coproduction Office célèbre 25 ans d'audace".
8. "Philippe Bober • Seller/Producer". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
9. "Philippe Bober • Seller/Producer". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
10. "Rossellini Project | Il Cinema Ritrovato". festival.ilcinemaritrovato.it. Retrieved 2017-08-22.

External links

• Official website