Koelmel renames production house

Starhaus has several projects in pipeline

By ED MEZA

BERLIN — Former Kinowelt owner Rainer Koelmel has re-named his production shingle Starhaus Filmproduktion as it gears up for a slew of new projects.

Formerly known as Kinowelt Filmproduktion, the company used to be part of Koelmel’s Leipzig-based distribution group Kinowelt, which was bought by Gallic major StudioCanal in January.

While the Munich-based production division was not part of that deal, Kinowelt holds a first-look deal with Koelmel for new Starhaus productions.

Among the company’s upcoming projects are Julian Roman Poelsler’s “Die Wand” (The Wall), a co-production with Vienna-based Coop99; Michael Dreher’s “Zimmer” (Room), a co-production with Ruediger Heinze Filmproduktion; “Die schwarzen Brueder” (The Black Brothers) with Enigma Film; “Feuertanz” (Fire Dance), by Peter Probst; and Winfried Bonengel’s “Mauer des Schweigens” (Wall of Silence).

In addition, Starhaus is developing two documentaries, “Mama Africa,” a co-production with pubcaster Arte about South African singer and human rights activist Miriam Makeba, and a film by Andreas Goldstein about the late chess champion Bobby Fischer.