In a letter to colleagues and friends, German filmmaker and producer Arne Birkenstock, has announced to close down his production company Fruitmarket:

“Unfortunately, I have to announce that I will be closing my production company Fruitmarket for health reasons. I will continue to do my job, which I love very much, but in my current situation I cannot and will not hire any more employees or sign financing and co-production contracts as a company for projects that are planned over several years.”

Birkenstock thanked his “outstanding” team and pointed out that all of his former staff members have found new jobs at prestigious production companies like Leonine or Beetz Brothers, in film funds or film schools all over the country. He also thanked his Directors and crews and emphasized his gratefulness “for the privilege of working with all these wonderful people, artists, technicians and creatives, in all these years”:

“Of course, that also makes me wistful, but above all, I look back with great gratitude on two decades that were exciting and eventful and in which I was able to work with wonderful people, artists and specialists, who gave me so much of their intelligence, their ideas and their talent by passionately working with me on our projects. I am extremely grateful for that!”

Founded by Birkenstock in 2004, Fruitmarket has become one of the most prestigious company of documentary film production in Germany and beyond. Fruitmarket produced more than two dozen theatrical documentaries like “Beltracchi – The Art Of Forgery”, “The Congo Tribunal”, “Goldhammer”, “Stasi FC” and high end series like “Capital B” or “Till Murder Do us Part – Soering vs. Haysom”.

Fruitmarket productions have been screened at Festivals all around the globe and have been awarded with numerous national and international film awards.