Game of Thrones producer creates prodco with Beta & ZDF

Germany’s Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) have joined forces with Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger to create a new drama business for the international market.

Intaglio Films will operate as a joint venture out of Berlin, and will aim to develop, finance and produce English-language programming.

Doelger (left), who is known for executive producing HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones, will lead development and oversee the production slate as bureau chief.

Beta managing director Moritz von Kruedener and ZDFE.drama’s Robert Franke will oversee the JV’s business affairs. Beta and ZDFE will handle coproduction and distribution.

“Of all the opportunities presented to me upon completion of Game of Thrones, the new joint venture proposed by Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises was by far the most interesting and creatively challenging,” said Doelger.

“Backed by the formidable resources of Beta and ZDF Enterprises, and their shared vision for Intaglio, I am looking forward to continuing to work with the established creative community, as well as emerging talent, on both sides of the Atlantic.”

For Beta, Intaglio’s creation comes just under three months after it bought Austrian producer MR Films. It’s also producing big budget drama Atlantic Crossing with Norway’s NRK and Cinenord.

ZDFE, the commercial arm of German pubcaster ZDF, recently bought rights to package The Incorruptibles, an English-language drama that also has LA’s Rosa Entertainment attached.

It also comes after the retirement of president and CEO Alexander Coridass at the end of 2017.