Coproduction Office, founded in 1987, is composed of four production divisions in Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen and London, and an international sales company, all specialised in Auteur Cinema. Coproduction Office’s founder Philippe Bober has produced forty films to date with twelve of these having been selected to screen in Competition in Cannes, winning two Golden Palms: Triangle of Sadness and The Square both by Ruben Östlund.
Over the last two decades, it has mainly produced and handled films by Ulrich Seidl, Jessica Hausner, Roy Andersson, Michelangelo Frammartino, Kornél Mundruczó, Ilya Khrzhanovsky, Carlos Reygadas, Ruben Östlund, and has also sold films by, among others, Gust Van den Berghe, Takashi Miike, Antonio Campos, Cristi Puiu, Corneliu Porumboiu, and Thomas Clay.
Coproduction Office handles the international distribution of its films as well as a selection of other films, such as the restored works of Roberto Rossellini.
History Founded in 1987 by Philippe Bober, the company was named after its efforts to raise funds for Europa by Lars von Trier (winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes in 1991). Europa was a four-country coproduction supported by Eurimages during its very first session in 1989 for which Bober acted as associate producer for Germany and France. For von Trier's following project, The Kingdom, Coproduction Office was involved both as German co-producer and international sales agent, closing deals in territories where the four-hour-long television series was distributed theatrically (by October Films in the U.S.; ICA Projects in the United Kingdom; Haut et Cour in France; Shochiku in Japan, Key Films in Italy; Essential Films in Germany - the then newly created, Berlin-based production arm of Coproduction Office). Coproduction Office then went on to produce Breaking The Waves for the joint production venture Libérator Productions with Zentropa in 1999, and has established ongoing relationships with Scandinavian directors; Roy Andersson, Dagur Kári, producing the film Nói Albinói together with Iceland's Zik Zak Filmworks, as well as Ruben Östlund.
Coproduction Office expanded its production activities adding production divisions in Paris in 2000, in Copenhagen in 2007, and in London in 2020. Coproduction Office and the Sarajevo Film Festival have cooperated since 1995 with Philippe Bober being artistic director and thereafter programmer of the new currents section. "Having freedom of choice has always been an obsession of mine," notes Bober, highlighting that he "also spent three months per year for over 15 years viewing films, going to festivals, looking for information about directors: focusing on a few films is a deliberate choice and the result of this work." It is thanks to his role at the Sarajevo Festival that Philippe Bober invited Roy Andersson’s short films Something Happened (1987) and World of Glory (1991), as well as Jessica Hausner’s graduation film Inter-View (1999), Ulrich Seidl’s film Models (1999) and Ruben Östlund’s short film Autobiographical Scene Number 6882 (2005), subsequently establishing long working relationships with all four directors. “In the end, I’m loyal to auteurs” comments Philippe Bober, “I’ve been working with Michelangelo Frammartino since 2003, with Jessica Hausner and Ulrich Seidl since 1999, and with Roy Andersson since 1996. The auteurs and the company grow together."
Film Library The films produced or sold by Coproduction Office mostly premiered in Cannes (with 12 nominations in the official Competition, 8 first features and 13 awards across sections), Venice (with 6 nominations in the official Competition, 5 first features and 8 awards across sections) and Berlin (4 nominations in Competition). 21 of these Competition titles were produced or co-produced by Philippe Bober.
Awards Cannes Film Festival 2022: Palme d'Or for Triangle of Sadness by Ruben Östlund 2019: Prix d'interprétation féminine – Best Actress for Little Joe by Jessica Hausner 2017: Palme d'Or for The Square by Ruben Östlund 2014: Jury Prize Un Certain Regard for Force Majeure by Ruben Östlund 2008: Fipresci Award for Delta by Kornél Mundruczó 2006: Camera d'Or and Prix Europa Cinema for 12:08 East of Bucharest by Corneliu Porumboiu 2005: Prize Un Certain Regard Award for The Death of Mr. Lazarescu by Cristi Puiu 2002: Camera d'Or Special Mention for Japón by Carlos Reygadas 2000: Jury Prize for Songs from the Second Floor by Roy Andersson 1999: Cinéfondation Award - Special Mention for Inter-view by Jessica Hausner 1996: Grand Prix for Breaking the Waves by Lars Von Trier 1992: Jury Prize for Europa by Lars von Trier Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Venezia 2019: Silver Lion for About Endlessness by Roy Andersson 2014: Golden Lion for A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence by Roy Andersson 2012: Jury Prize for Paradise: Faith by Ulrich Seidl 2009: Fipresci Award, Signis Award, Premio La Navicella and Brian Award for Lourdes by Jessica Hausner 2009: Silver Lion for Women Without Men by Shirin Neshat 2001: Grand Prix for Dog Days by Ulrich Seidl Berlin International Film Festival 2020: Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution for DAU.Natasha by Ilya Khrzhanovsky and Jekaterina Oertel Other main prizes: 2015: Special Jury Award at South by Southwest for Creative Control by Benjamin Dickinson 2010: Label Europa Cinemas for Le Quattro Volte by Michelangelo Frammartino 2005: Tiger Award for 4 by Ilya Khrzhanovsky 2002: Silver Leopard for Pleasant Days by Kornél Mundruczó 2000: Tiger Award for Suzhou River by Lou Ye 1999: Sarajevo Audience Award for Models by Ulrich Seidl 1996: 6 Robert Awards for The Kingdom by Lars von Trier 1990: Wiener Film Prize for Good News by Ulrich Seidl
The Rossellini Project In collaboration with Istituto Luce, Cineteca di Bologna and CSC Cineteca Nazionale, Coproduction Office undertakes the restoration and promotion of ten key films of Roberto Rossellini’s filmography: Rome, Open City (1945) Paisan (1946) Amore (1948) Germany, Year Zero (1948) Stromboli (1950) Machine to Kill Bad People (1952) Fear (1954) Journey to Italy (1954) India: Matri Bhumi (1959) Intervista a Salvador Allende: La forza e la ragione (1971) Anno Uno (1974)
Coproduction Office Classics and Restoration
Coproduction Office is active in restoring its films, and whenever possible, working closely with the directors.
In 2021, director Lou Ye supervised the Coproduction Office restoration of his film Suzhou River (2000), working from the original 16mm A-B negative of the image. The restored classic has been presented at Berlinale Classics 2022. Carlos Reygadas’ Battle in Heaven has been newly restored from the original negative, in full 4K resolution and with Dolby Atmos sound, this process was entirely supervised by the director. Of Reygadas’ titles Japòn, has been restored in 2K, as well as Post Tenebras Lux. Coproduction Office’s restoration efforts also extend to the Rossellini Collection.
Restoration of Dagur Kari and Jessica Hausner’s films is in process. Filmography YearFormatDirectorOriginal titleInternational titleActivityFestival2022FeatureJessica HausnerClub ZeroClub ZeroProducer (Germany, France), International SalesIn Post-Production2022FeatureUlrich SeidlBÖSE SPIELE Rimini SpartaWICKED GAMES Rimini SpartaProducer (Germany, France), International SalesInternational Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)2022FeatureUlrich SeidlSparta (film)SpartaProducer (Germany, France), International SalesSan Sebastián Film Festival - In Competition - European Premiere2022FeatureUlrich SeidlRimini (film)RiminiProducer (Germany, France), International SalesBerlinale 2022 - Competition2022FeatureRuben ÖstlundTriangle of SadnessTriangle of SadnessProducer (Germany, France), International SalesCannes 2022 - Competition, Palme d'Or2021FeatureMichelangelo FrammartinoIl BucoIl BucoProducer (Germany, France), International SalesVenice 2021 - Competition - Special Jury Prize2020FeatureIlya Khrzhanovskiy, Jekaterina OertelDAU. DegeneratsiaDAU. DegenerationProducer (Germany, France), International SalesBerlinale 2020 - Berlinale Special2020FeatureIlya Khrzhanovskiy, Jekaterina OertelDAU. NatashaDAU. NatashaProducer (Germany, France), International SalesBerlinale 2020 - Official Competition2019FeatureThomas ClayFanny Lye Deliver'dFanny Lye Deliver'dProducer (Germany), International SalesLondon Film Festival - Official Competition2019FeatureRoy AnderssonOm det oändligaAbout EndlessnessProducer (Germany), International salesVenice 2019 - Competition - Silver Lion for Best Director2019FeatureJessica HausnerLittle JoeLittle JoeProducer (Germany), International salesCannes 2019 - Competition - Prix d'interprétation féminine – Best Actress2019FeatureSusanne HeinrichDas Melancholisches MädchenAren't You Happy?Producer (Germany), International SalesMax Ophüls Preis 2019 - Best Film, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury2017FeatureRuben ÖstlundThe SquareThe SquareProducer (France, Germany, Denmark), International salesCannes 2017 - Competition - Palme d'Or2016FeatureUlrich SeidlSafariSafariInternational salesVenice 2016 - Out of Competition2015FeatureBenjamin DickinsonCreative ControlCreative ControlInternational salesSouth by Southwest 2015 - Special Jury Award2014FeatureRoy AnderssonEn duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaronA Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on the ExistenceProducer (France, Germany), International salesVenice 2014 - Competition - Golden Lion2014FeatureJessica HausnerAmour FouAmour FouProducer (Germany), International salesCannes 2014 - Un certain regard2014FeatureJonathan NossiterRésistance naturelleNatural ResistanceInternational SalesBerlin 2014 - Panorama2014FeatureRuben ÖstlundTuristForce MajeureProducer (France, Denmark), International salesCannes 2014 - Un certain regard Jury Prize 2014FeatureUlrich SeidlIm KellerIn the BasementInternational salesVenice 2014 - Out of Competition2014FeatureShin’ya TsukamotoNobiFires on the PlainInternational salesVenice 2014 - Competition2013SeriesStéphane Aubier Vincent PatarLa Bûche de NoëlA Town Called Panic: The Christmas LogInternational salesNew York International's Children Film Festival - Grand Prix and Audience Award2013InstallationMichelangelo FrammartinoAlberiAlberiProducer (Germany), International salesMoMA PS1 20132013FeatureUlrich SeidlParadies: HoffnungParadise: HopeProducer (France), International salesBerlin 2013 - Competition2012FeatureUlrich SeidlParadies: GlaubeParadise: FaithProducer (France), International salesVenice 2012 - Competition - Jury Award2012FeatureUlrich SeidlParadies: LiebeParadise: LoveProducer (France), International salesCannes 2012 - Competition2012FeatureSpiros StathoulopoulosMeteoraMeteoraProducer (Germany), International salesBerlin 2012 - Competition2011FeatureGust Van den BergheBlue BirdBlue BirdInternational salesCannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs2011FeatureRuben ÖstlundPlayPlayProducer (France, Denmark), International salesCannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs2011ShortBertrand MandicoBoro in the BoxBoro in the BoxProducer (France), International salesCannes 2011 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs2010ShortBertrand MandicoLíf og dauði Henrys DargerThe Life and Death of Henry DargerProducer (France), International SalesVenice 2010 - Orizzonti2010FeatureGust Van den Berghe En waar de sterre bleef stille staanLittle Baby Jesus of FlandrInternational salesCannes 2010 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs2010FeatureKornél MundruczóSzelíd teremtés: A Frankenstein-tervTender Son - The Frankenstein ProjectProducer (Germany), International salesCannes 2010 - Competition2010FeatureMichelangelo FrammartinoLe Quattro VolteLe Quattro VolteProducer (Germany), International salesCannes 2010 - Quinzaine des réalisateurs - Label Europa Cinemas2010FeatureCristi PuiuAuroraAuroraProducer (France, Germany), International salesCannes 2010 - Un certain regard2009FeatureStéphane Aubier