Newen Studios buys ‘Gryphon’ prodco Dog Haus & consolidates operations in Germany

The Gryphon (Source: Gordon Timpen/SMPSP/Amazon/W&B)

France’s Newen Studios is expanding its activities in Germany by acquiring a majority stake in The Gryphon producer Dog Haus and consolidating its operations in the country under a new outfit named Spark Films.

Spark Films is being led by Martin Heisler and Eva Kemme, founders of Flare Film, which Newen acquired in 2021.

It will become home to Newen’s German operations, which now include Berlin- and Munich-based Dog Haus, which was launched in July 2021 by producer André Zoch, scriptwriter Erol Yesilkaya and director Sebastian Marka.

The trio have worked on shows including Exit and long-running crime drama Tatort for German public broadcaster ARD, as well as The Gryphon for Amazon Prime Video.

The three founders, who are the company’s managing and creative directors, said: “Dog Haus stands for ‘elevated genre’, consciously positioned between art-house and suspenseful entertainment. We are proud and very happy to pursue these creative goals in the Newen and Spark family.”

Heisler, who is CEO of Spark Studios alongside Kemme, added: “We want to work with exceptional talents on exciting projects and, as part of a strong European producers network, help them to turn their visions for outstanding films and series into a reality.”

The German expansion marks a new front for Newen Studios, which is owned by TF1 Group and owns more than 50 production companies and labels across Spain, the UK and France.

It has most recently been focusing on expanding its interests in Spanish-language countries and late last year increased its stake in Kubik Films, the producer behind La Zona and Crematario, to a majority position.

Newen also owns Izen Group, which it bought in 2021. Izen produces more than 2,000 hours each year, hosting labels including Zebra Producciones, BocaBoca, EuroTV Producciones, Hill Valley and Proima Zebrastur, IndaloYMedia, Capa Espana and Newco.