UFA

Overview

UFA is one of the leading production companies for series, films, shows, and documentaries in the German-speaking world. Founded in 1917, it is Germany's oldest film and television production company. UFA is part of Fremantle, the global production arm of RTL Group, which belongs to Bertelsmann. The company produces more than 6,500 hours of programming broadcast annually, reaching 64.5 million viewers in 2024, and has won 2 International Emmy Awards.

UFA operates under four genre-specific units: UFA Fiction (high-end drama series, TV movies, and TV events), UFA Serial Drama (daily soaps and long-running series), UFA Show & Factual (entertainment shows, factual programming, and documentaries), and UFA Documentary (documentaries, documentary hybrids, and serial features). A fifth unit, UFA Mitte, continues established program brands and develops new content for broadcasters and streamers in Central Germany. The newest label, UFAGG, develops cross-platform entertainment concepts combining esports, gaming, and creator-industry talent with UFA's production expertise.

For filmmakers and producers working in the German market, UFA is the largest domestic production company, with more than 30 long-running serial formats currently on air. The company's programs reach an average of over 30 million viewers per week across nearly all German TV channels and streaming services. Visit the UFA website for current production information and contact details.

History

Founding and the Golden Age (1917 to 1945)

UFA (Universum Film AG) was founded on December 18, 1917, by the German government as a consolidation of private film companies to support German propaganda during World War I. After the war, UFA became a commercial enterprise and dominated European cinema throughout the 1920s. The studio produced films that defined German Expressionism, including Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927), M (1931), and Josef von Sternberg's The Blue Angel (1930) starring Marlene Dietrich. UFA pioneered sound film technology and developed vertically integrated studio systems encompassing production, distribution, and exhibition.

During the Nazi era, UFA was nationalized and used for propaganda film production under Joseph Goebbels. The studio's Babelsberg facilities became the production base for regime-approved cinema.

Postwar and Privatization (1945 to 1990)

After World War II, the Babelsberg studios fell within the Soviet occupation zone and became DEFA (Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft), the state film studio of East Germany. The UFA name and rights followed a separate path. In 1964, Bertelsmann acquired Universum-Film AG and all shares in Ufa-Theater AG. To preserve the film rights of the old UFA, the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation was established in Wiesbaden in 1966, acquiring and managing the rights to UFA and Bavaria films.

In 1972, the Riech Group acquired Ufa-Theater AG and continued operating it under the UFA rhombus under license from Bertelsmann, which retained naming rights. Under Werner Mietzner, UFA productions experienced a renaissance in television production. With the launch of private television in Germany in 1984, Bertelsmann established UFA Film und Fernseh GmbH in Hamburg with Gruner + Jahr, overseeing TV production activities for the Bertelsmann Group.

Modern Era (1990 to present)

From 1991, UFA's production companies operated under Wolf Bauer as Chairman of the Management Board. UFA Film & TV Produktion developed into Germany's largest production company, producing 2,000 hours of programming. In 2002, Phoenix-Film joined UFA. Following the takeover of Pearson TV by RTL Group, Grundy's show and entertainment business merged under UFA's umbrella, making UFA the holding company for all production activities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary.

In 2008, UFA Cinema was founded to return to feature film production, including Der Medicus (2013). In 2013, a strategic realignment under the "One UFA" strategy consolidated seven labels into three units. UFA Fiction was formed as a merger of teamWorx, UFA Fernsehproduktion, and Phoenix Film.

In 2017, UFA celebrated its 100th anniversary. Today, UFA operates as part of Fremantle, the global production arm of RTL Group.

Current Operations

Production Units

Key Metrics (2024)

• 6,500 hours of TV in broadcast annually
• 21 broadcasters and streamers carrying UFA content
• 64.5 million viewers reached in 2024
• 30+ serial program brands currently on the market (more than any other German producer)
• 2 International Emmy Awards
• 5 locations in Germany

Leadership

• Sascha Schwingel - CEO
• Natalie Clausen - COO

Relocation to Berlin (2026)

In July 2025, UFA announced it will move its headquarters from Potsdam-Babelsberg to Berlin in the first half of 2026. Approximately 130 employees will work from new premises at Schoneberger Ufer. CEO Sascha Schwingel and COO Natalie Clausen are driving the strategic realignment to position UFA closer to Berlin's creative and cultural pulse.

Despite the headquarters move, UFA remains connected to Potsdam and Brandenburg. Production and post-production of Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (GZSZ) will remain at Studio Babelsberg, including the exterior set Kolle-Kiez. This maintains UFA's production presence at the historic Babelsberg site.

Notable Productions

House Style / Genre Focus

UFA produces across four genre-specific units. UFA Fiction creates high-end drama series and TV movies with international distribution potential (Deutschland 83, Charite, Hackerville). UFA Serial Drama produces daily soaps and long-running series for German broadcasters. UFA Show & Factual handles entertainment shows and factual programming. UFA Documentary produces social and journalistic documentaries.

UFA does not produce arthouse cinema, experimental film, or festival-circuit short films. The company targets German-language broadcast and streaming audiences, with select series achieving international distribution through Fremantle's global network. Feature film production (UFA Cinema, founded 2008) has been limited, with Der Medicus (2013) as a notable example.

How They Typically Find Talent / Take Submissions

UFA develops content through established relationships with German writers, directors, and producers. The company does not accept unsolicited script submissions. Projects reach UFA through:

1. Broadcaster commissions: German networks (RTL, SAT.1, ProSieben, ZDF, ARD) commission UFA to produce specific formats.
2. Internal development: UFA's development team generates original concepts and commissions scripts from writers under contract.
3. Fremantle network: International co-productions flow through Fremantle's 22-territory production network.
4. Talent agencies: Established German directors and writers bring projects through their agents.

For international co-producers, UFA's position within Fremantle and RTL Group provides access to German DFFF/GMPF incentives alongside international financing structures.

Recent Output / Slate Year

UFA produced 6,500 hours of programming in 2024, reaching 64.5 million viewers across 21 broadcasters and streamers. The company maintains 30+ long-running serial formats on air, more than any other German producer. Key 2025-2026 output includes continued production of GZSZ, Alles was zahlt, Unter Uns, and SOKO Leipzig (UFA Serial Drama), plus Wer weiss denn sowas? and Bauer sucht Frau (UFA Show & Factual).

UFA Documentary produced the YouTube series GEO Kettenreaktion with Dirk Steffens (premiered March 2025 on RTL News YouTube channel) and Friedrichstadt-Palast: The World Behind the Curtain for VOX (August 2026).

Germany's federal cabinet approved a bill in May 2026 requiring streamers to invest at least 8% of annual net turnover in German and European productions, expected to increase production volume for UFA.

Studio Babelsberg Connection

UFA's historical production base is Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, the oldest large-scale film studio in the world (founded 1912). While UFA is a production company rather than a facility operator, its daily soap GZSZ continues to shoot at Babelsberg. Studio Babelsberg itself is now part of Cinespace Studios and operates 21 sound stages on a 42-acre lot with approximately 300,000 sq ft of floor space.

For productions shooting at Babelsberg, Germany's federal and regional film incentives apply:

DFFF (German Federal Film Fund)

• Up to 30% of eligible German production costs (increased from 25% in December 2024)
• DFFF I: For co-productions with German production costs of at least EUR 1 million (feature films)
• DFFF II: For production service providers with total production costs of EUR 20 million or more
• Annual combined budget for DFFF and GMPF: approximately EUR 390 million in 2025

GMPF (German Motion Picture Fund)

• Up to 30% of approved German production costs
• Series: up to EUR 20 million per series (caps doubled in 2024)
• Films (non-theatrical): up to EUR 5 million per film

Regional Funding (Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg)

• Additional regional funding for productions shooting in the Berlin-Brandenburg area
• Over EUR 170 million in regional support available annually across German federal states

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Writers and Directors in the German Market

UFA is the largest production company in Germany, with more long-running formats on the market than any other producer. The company develops and produces content for nearly all German TV channels (RTL, SAT.1, ProSieben, ZDF, ARD, etc.) and streaming services. UFA Fiction produces high-end drama series that have achieved international distribution, including Deutschland 83/86/89 (sold to Channel 4, SundanceTV) and Hackerville (HBO Europe).

For International Co-Producers

UFA's position within Fremantle and RTL Group provides access to a global production and distribution network. Fremantle operates in 22 territories worldwide, enabling co-production structures that can access German DFFF/GMPF incentives alongside international financing. The German financial contribution must be at least 20% of total production costs for DFFF I projects.

For Producers Considering Babelsberg

Productions shooting at Studio Babelsberg benefit from 21 sound stages, a 42-acre backlot, Germany's largest indoor water tank, experienced Berlin-based crews, and the 30% DFFF/GMPF rebate. UFA's continued production presence at Babelsberg (through GZSZ) maintains the site's operational activity, though UFA does not manage the facility itself.

Germany's Investment Obligation (2026)

Germany's federal cabinet approved a bill in May 2026 requiring national and international streamers and VoD services to invest at least 8% of their annual net turnover in German and European productions. Companies investing 12% or more receive exemptions. This is expected to increase production volume and create new opportunities for German production companies including UFA.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

See Also

For understanding how European production incentives affect budgeting, see Budget Breakdown for Independent Films. To model production costs across territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For calculating the impact of tax incentives on your production budget, see the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For more on Studio Babelsberg's facilities, see the Babelsberg Studio directory entry.