Hollywood shock: Film studio Babelsberg: Many questions about US customs plans open

The announcement by US President Donald Trump to take films produced abroad with high tariffs also ensures uncertainty in Germany. “Many questions are still open and the consequences for our business and the production location Germany as a whole are currently not completely estimated,” said Jörg Bachmaier, CEO of the Filmschmiede Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam.

“As a long-standing partner for US productions that shoot in Germany and as part of the internationally active platform Cinespace Studios, we watch the situation to understand how the announced tariffs could have an impact on our company, our services and our customers,” said Bachmaier. Studio Babelsberg is not a lone fighter, but part of a global studion network and a global industry based on international cooperation and cultural exchange.

The Babelsberg studio is considered a cradle of German film. His program included the German -language series “Babylon Berlin” or internationally successful feature films such as “Inglourious Basterds” and “Bridge of Spies”. According to Studio Babelsberg, Cinespace Studios is a studio operator in the USA, Canada and Europe.

Trump announces talks with representatives of the film industry

Trump had previously claimed that the film industry in America was dying. According to him, the reason is that other countries attracted filmmakers and studios with various incentives from the USA. Trump’s solution: A custom of 100 percent on films “which come to our country and were produced abroad”. This could also hit the business model of the US studios, as they themselves turn a lot abroad to reduce the costs.

There were no further details at first. Trump announced talks with representatives of the film industry. It is unclear how such tariffs should work at all, since films are not imported like goods with a fixed price and are often cross -border productions. Among other things, the US government would have to find a way to evaluate films – and to determine when they are considered an import.