Longtime Beta Cinema executive Thorsten Ritter, who oversaw international sales at the Munich-based company for more than a decade before stepping down last year, is joining German production outfit Weydemann Bros.
Ritter will establish and head a new Munich office for Weydemann Bros., expanding the company’s footprint beyond its existing bases in Berlin and Cologne. In his new role, he will focus on building and strengthening the company’s international production and co-production slate.
The hire comes as Germany moves to bolster its appeal as an international production hub, following the culture ministry’s announcement last week of new streamer obligations and increased funding aimed at boosting local production.
Founded in 2012 by brothers Jakob D. Weydemann and Jonas Weydemann, Weydemann Bros. has built a strong reputation on the international indie circuit. Recent titles include Chile’s Academy Award submission The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (2025), Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun (2024) and Amanda Nell Eu’s Cannes Critics’ Week winner Tiger Stripes (2023).
Ritter previously worked with the company while at Beta Cinema, handling international sales on Fingscheidt’s debut feature System Crasher (2019), which Weydemann Bros. produced. During his tenure at Beta, where he served as executive vice president from 2012 to 2025, Ritter’s sales credits also included Amrum, From Hilde, With Love, The Happy Prince, Nowhere Special, Calibre and Woman at War.
Beyond Beta Cinema, Ritter was the co-founder of the Oldenburg International Film Festival and a former head of sales group Bavaria Film International, where he helped bring internationally acclaimed titles such as Good Bye, Lenin!, Sophie Scholl, The Man Without a Past, Head-On and Let the Right One In to global audiences.
“Thorsten Ritter and we have a long history together, not just since his successful international marketing of System Crasher,” said Jonas Weydemann. “His vast experience, creativity and commitment to film convinced us to bring him on board as a producer, especially to further develop our international production and co-production activities, with a focus on the UK and English-language films in general.”
Ritter said he plans to draw on his international sales background and network in his new position. “Working with Jonas, Jakob and the team at Weydemann Bros is a dream come true,” he said. “They are as passionate as they are sharp, always finding opportunity in every challenge. I’m excited to contribute my UK contacts and sales perspective and to collaborate with both emerging talent and established filmmakers across a wide range of projects.”
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