Over the past few years film production has become entirely digitalized with everything from filming and post-production up to screenings having rendered analogue film material obsolete. Each step in the production process now takes place with the assistance of computers and this includes both image and sound. This confluence of digital data has enabled films to be made via network-based processes for the first time in the history of filmmaking.

The process of making a film digitally results in the accrual of large amounts of sensitive data. As yet, such types of data have not been managed in a central location, but have remained with the various partners involved in the respective steps of the filmmaking process. To ensure that data is both securely and reliably processed, a centralized data management system is imperative – from the floor of the film set all the way to the silver screen. The members of kinofreund eG want to implement this together.

kinofreund e.G. is a company that advances the interests of its members. Every member is both company owner and partner. This enables everyone to benefit from services rendered by the cooperative. Sustainable business practices are paramount to maximised profits, which helps secure the long-term existence of kinofreund members. The cooperative is founded on a democratic business model. Each member possesses one vote, regardless of the amount of capital invested. This model protects against dominance by individuals, ensures independence from external interests and eliminates the possibility of hostile takeovers.

The cooperative has three basic organs: the executive board, the supervisory board and the general assembly. The members of the executive board and the supervisory board must be members of the cooperative. The cooperative is a flexible legal form. The entry and exit of members is possible without a large administrative effort. To become a member you simply need a declaration of accession. The involvement of a notary is not required. The membership can be canceled with a simple letter of termination. Each member subscribes to one or more shares. The amount of these shares is 2,500 Euro. Each member is liable only to its equity participation. In the articles of association, a funding obligation is excluded. Additional capital can be obtained by new members or by subscribing for additional shares. On leaving the cooperative the member is entitled to the repayment of his or her credit. The search for a buyer is not required.

The cooperative is basically a tax equivalent to the corporation. But with the cooperative reimbursement (appropriation of earnings) it has an exclusive tax avoidance scheme. In the cooperative the reimbursement is entered tax deductible as a business expense. Due to the internal control by its members, the independent testing and the comprehensive consultation by the cooperative association, the cooperative is by far the insolvency safest legal form in Germany.

In the beginning is the word. The screenplay is also a digital item for a long time.

However, digitalization per se is not an advantage but only a possible way to deal with the data. To optimize, to network and to secure this handling of the data of film productions is the goal of the kinofreund cooperative. Data processing unfolds its full potential only in networking. But especially in the film industry networking always involves a security risk.

In addition to unlawful use, there is the risk of data loss on set, during shootings, in the post-production and even more in storage after evaluation. To cover these risks, the kinofreund eG develops concepts. But Kinofreund isn’t just about networking data. It’s also about setting up networks between the people who work with that data. Therefore structures and tools are developed which range from the uniform naming of the data on set over the exchange in post-production to the digital copy in the cinema.

So that people can concentrate more on the creative part of their work.

These tools are available for all members of the cooperative. At the same time, all members affect its development, because the cooperative is a fundamentally democratic society.

The analog film was beautiful. We believe the digital can be even better ...

"Friends of cinema, unite"

kinofreund pools the abundant potential of micro-businesses up to large enterprises. We develop solutions that help us act as a large unit on the market. Thus projects can be implemented which usually exceed the capabilities of the individual.

Each member subscribes to one or more shares. The amount of these shares is 2,500 Euro. Each member is liable only to its equity participation. In the articles of association, a funding obligation is excluded. Additional capital can be obtained by new members or by subscribing for additional shares. On leaving the cooperative the member is entitled to the repayment of its credit. The search for a buyer is not required