Variety Makes Key Investment in One of the Leading European Entertainment Territories

Variety, the leading global publication for entertainment business news, has today announced that it will be opening an office in Munich. Variety’s presence in and coverage of Germany has increased significantly over recent years with several annual specials in the paper, including Berlin, Munich Film Fest, Oldenburg Film Fest and also special territory reports in Toronto and anniversary issues for RTL and Bavaria film. The brand has also developed relationships with many of the key film festivals and markets in the region. This year Variety will again produce Daily’s at Berlinale, and they have also developed a media partnership with Germany’s largest summer film festival, Film Fest Munchen.

"Germany has a long tradition of producing high quality national cinema and television that appeal to an international audience. Its various film schools and funding schemes are recognised throughout the industry and nearly all its media players do business on a global scale. Over the years Variety has grown its coverage of this increasingly relevant marketplace and in turn we have seen support for Variety from local television networks and film companies grow significantly,” says Alberto Lopez, International Director, Variety. "We are taking this step to ensure the German industry understands and relies further on our ability to help develop and nurture their international business relationships.”

With 2 of the last 3 foreign language Oscars going to German speaking films, and the world famous Babelsburg Studio still producing mainstream product such as The Reader, Valkyrie and the upcoming Inglorious Basterds, it’s easy to see why Germany is one of the forerunners of the European entertainment market.

"We are thrilled to have James Davies heading up the new office in Germany, under Alberto Lopez, our International Director in London. The International market is without question more critical now to the entertainment industry than even before, so integrating ourselves into the key European countries that are leading the way is crucial,” says Brian Gott, Publisher, Variety.

Contact James Davies in the Munich office on:

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Variety is the leading publication for entertainment news, recognized and respected throughout the world of show business. The Variety Group – Daily Variety, Daily Variety Gotham, Variety, Variety.com, Video Business, Tradeshow Week, LA 411, Variety 411 – are all owned by Reed Business Information (RBI), the largest business publisher in the U.S. RBI is a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE: RUK and ENL).