Eikon (production company)

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The Eikon is a German television and film production company whose largest shareholder, the Evangelical Church in Germany is.

Founded in Munich in 1960 and based in Berlin since 2003 , EIKON is today the parent company of a group of ten companies that produce cinema and television films, documentaries and children's programs at different locations across Germany.

Company history

1960-1980

In 1960, EIKON emerged from the film sales company Matthias-Film in Stuttgart , which was organized by the Protestant church . It was founded by Robert Geisendörfer in Munich in 1960 and quickly developed into an independent, growing film and television production company. Eikon gGmbH primarily produces children's programs, ecclesiastical series, entertainment series and feature films - mainly on behalf of public broadcasters .

1980s

The start of the privately organized television stations RTL and Sat.1 in 1984 marked the beginning of a crisis for EIKON. The company fails to take advantage of the new market. After the reunification of Germany, EIKON does not offer itself as a partner to the new ARD broadcasters in East Germany. Together with a structurally-related decline in orders from public broadcasters, these own failures lead to journalistic, but especially economic, difficulties.

1990s

In 1992 a relaunch is decided. EIKON moves from Munich to the former DEFA film studios of the GDR in Potsdam-Babelsberg , which French investors are currently handing over to German director Volker Schlöndorff for renovation.

In 1993 the modern era of EIKON began in a prominent place in the unified Germany . Reputation will be regained, the order situation will improve and investments will be made in growth again. In 1995 EIKON acquired the majority of the shares in Studio.TV.Film GmbH, a company mainly engaged in the production of children's programs. Well-known and award-winning series are u. a. " Löwenzahn " with Peter Lustig , as well as " Siebenstein " with the raven Rudi.

The development and production of television games at Eikon reached a climax at the end of the last century with the four-part literary film adaptation " Anniversaries ". Realized for ARD under the direction of Margarethe von Trotta , an EIKON production was nominated for the international Emmy Award in New York City for the first time.

1999 until today

In 1999, a recommendation for the overall journalistic plan of the Evangelical Church in Germany led to EIKON and a number of regional Evangelical-Church television production facilities being merged into a holding company under the leadership of EIKON GmbH.

EIKON and Tellux found the joint company "CROSS MEDIA" and for the first time jointly produce an entertainment series for ZDF .

In 2003 EIKON GmbH moved its headquarters from Potsdam to Berlin.

Productions

Feature films and TV films (selection)

(Productions, co-productions, participations)

Documentary formats (selection)

  • The Forecaster (2014, directed by Marcus Vetter )
  • Secrets of Asia - The Most Beautiful National Parks (2014, directed by Ruth Berry, Enrico Demurray )
  • Crescent Truths (2013, written and directed by Bettina Blümner )
  • Paths through the labyrinth - the composer Krzysztof Penderecki (2013, written and directed by Anna Schmidt)
  • Bottled Life - Nestlé's Business with Water (2012, written and directed by Urs Schnell)
  • Piano Encounters (2009, written and directed by Enrique Sánchez Lansch)
  • The Heart of Jenin (2008, written and directed by Lior Geller and Marcus Vetter )
  • The Final Battle - Christian Fundamentalists in the US (2008, directed by Claudia Wilke)
  • The Reichsorchester - The Berlin Philharmonic under National Socialism (2007, directed by Enrique Sánchez Lansch )
  • With sword and cross - Charlemagne and the Christianization of the Saxons (2007, directed by Gerold Hofmann)
  • I sing you with heart and mouth - the poet Paul Gerhardt (2007, directed by Gerold Hofmann)
  • The Burden of Forgiveness (2006, directed by Claudia Wilke)
  • Play your own thing - The history of jazz in Europe (2006, Julian Benedikt )
  • Love is as strong as death - the world of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2006, Gerold Hofmann)
  • Cirkus Krönchen (2005, directed by Andreas Kölmel)
  • Jailbirds - Closed Society (2005, Andrei Schwartz)
  • Maison de France (2004, directed by Stefan Zuchalla)
  • The Blood Knights - Swabians Think Different (2004, directed by Douglas Wolfsperger )
  • Field Diary - Alone Among Men (2002, directed by Aelrun Goette )

Series (selection)

  • Under suspicion
  • Hidden in ice and snow ( Memento from February 8, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) - Winterers in the Antarctic (2007, directed by Jens Dücker)
  • Fashion, Girls and a Man (2007, directed by Andrea Hauner)
  • Deployment in the crisis area (2006, directed by Stefan Eberlein)
  • The East revives - Ikea in Erfurt (2006, Jeannette Eggert and Uli Gaulke)
  • The Cheeky - Winter Season on the Zugspitze (2004, directed by Susanne Fiedler / Birgit Meißner)

Current programs (selection)

  • Monday morning
  • Justice
  • Treasures of the land
  • Go there
  • For God's sake - N24 ethics
  • Movie tips Pro7
  • Anschi, Karl-Heinz & co.
  • Seen that way
  • Focus on people

Affiliated companies (selection)

  • EIKON Media GmbH
  • EIKON Nord GmbH
  • EIKON West GmbH
  • EIKON Südwest GmbH
  • EIKON Süd GmbH
  • EIKON Mitte GmbH
  • studio.tv.film GmbH
  • Cross Media GmbH
  • Kinderfilm GmbH

Prizes and awards (selection)

Web links