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Matthias Rosenberger, Bernadette Schramm, Nils-Claudio Sierck and Isobel Leigh are responsible for editorial content in accordance with Section 18 II of the German State Media Treaty (Medienstaatsvertrag – MStV).
Malao GmbH is a corporation under German law and it is entered in the commercial register of Munich under HRB 256899 and its VAT identification number is DE331164489.
The managing directors are Matthias Rosenberger, Bernadette Schramm, Nils-Claudio Sierck and Isobel Leigh.

Malao GmbH
‍
Speicherstraße 20
81671 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89 287 773 00
Email: future@malao.com

Malao was founded in 2012 as Malao Film. Its business, rights, assets and projects, including those of Malao Film Inc., have since been carried on by Malao GmbH.

This website is operated by Malao GmbH and presents the work, team and projects of the Malao companies: Malao GmbH, Malao Film GmbH, Baobab Pictures, Malao Film Pty Ltd, Sputo GmbH, Twinkle GmbH, and Malao Foundation gGmbH, trustee of the Jim Button Foundation.

(C) Copyright 2012–2026. The content published on this website is governed by German copyright and related rights law. Any use outside the scope of German copyright and related rights law requires the prior written approval of the provider or rights holder. This applies in particular to the duplication, editing, translation, saving, processing and reproduction of content in databases and other electronic media and systems. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of specific content or entire pages is not permitted and is punishable by law.

Some images on this website were created or edited with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Feature video: © Malao Film, RatPack Filmproduktion, Warner Bros. Deutschland

This Privacy Notice describes how Malao GmbH, Speicherstraße 20, 81671 Munich, Germany ("Malao ", "we" or "us"), as the controller within the meaning of the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), the Federal Data Protection Act ("BDSG") and other data protection regulations ("Applicable Data Protection Laws"), processes personal data and other information from users ("Users" or "you") of our Website https://malao.com ("Website").

1. CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA, PURPOSE OF PROCESSING, LEGAL BASIS AND ORIGIN

The use of the Website and its functions requires the following processing of certain personal data on a regular basis:

1.1 Informational use of the Website

If you access our Website and use it for purely informational purposes (i.e. without using additional functions such as the contact form), the Website may automatically collect, process and store certain personal data in a pseudonymized form. This is device and usage information that may include (i) specific information about the device used to access the Website (including model, operating system, IP address, language and similar information) and (ii) information about the use of features, functions or notifications on the device to recognize you and to analyze trends.

The legal basis for this is our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR) to monitor and maintain the performance of the Website and to analyze uses, activities and trends in connection with our Website.

1.2 Web analysis with Google Analytics

When you access our Website, the Google Analytics service is loaded for statistical evaluation of the use of our Website. This service is provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google"). By using the "anonymizeIp()" extension, we ensure that Google Analytics only transfers a shortened version of your IP address to Google.

By accessing the Website and loading the service, Google obtains knowledge that our Website was accessed via your IP address. Google Analytics uses cookies which are stored on your terminal device unless you have prohibited the use of cookies in your browser and allow for an analysis of your use of our Website. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the Website will be transferred to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Any data transfers to the US are carried out in accordance to the Model Contractual Clauses that we concluded with Google: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/processorterms/mccs/.

The use of Google Analytics is based on our legitimate interests (Article 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR), which consist in appropriately designing and optimizing our Website. In addition, we have concluded an agreement for data processing with Google in accordance with the requirements of the German data protection authorities for the use of Google Analytics.

We collect your IP address to enable its shortening and then transmission to Google. You are not obliged to provide this personal data, a use of our Website is possible without the provision. You can prevent the provision of this personal data by setting your browser software accordingly by installing the browser add-on available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

More information about Google Analytics can be found at http://www.google.com/intl/de_ALL/analytics. Google's privacy policy can be found at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

1.3 Contact form and newsletter distribution with Hubspot

When you use the contact form included on our Website or contact us by e-mail or other means, e.g. to request information or send us content for inspection, the information provided in the contact form will first be stored by our IT service provider, Hubspot, transmitted to us and processed for the purpose of dealing with the request. Hubspot is a service provider, Hubspot, 25 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 USA (“Hubspot”). We have concluded an agreement with Hubspot in which we oblige Hubspot to protect the data of our customers and not to pass them on to third parties. This contract can be viewed at the following link: https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

For our applicant process, we additionally use Typeform to collect specific information and responses from applicants. The data collected via Typeform are also integrated into our CRM system provided by Hubspot to enable efficient processing and evaluation of applications. Typeform acts as a data processor for us in the sense of Art. 28 GDPR and operates exclusively according to our instructions. The data processing is based on the legal basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, i.e., our legitimate interest in managing the application process as efficiently and effectively as possible.

With Hubspot we can organize and analyze our newsletter campaigns. If you enter your data in the contact form, it will be stored on Hubspot's servers in the United States. Any data transfers to the US are carried out in accordance to the Standard Contractual Clauses that we concluded with Hubspot: https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa#Annex4-Standard-Contractual-Clauses.

When you sign up for our newsletter on our website, the data entered will be processed also by Hubspot. We base these data processing operations on your consent given (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR). You can withdraw your consent to receive our newsletter at any time by clicking the link in each newsletter or by contacting us under the contact details provided in section 6. If you withdraw your consent, your data will be deleted from Hubspot.

When you open an e-mail sent with Hubspot, a file contained in the e-mail (so-called web beacon) connects to the servers of Hubspot in the USA. This allows us to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links have been clicked. In addition, technical information (e.g. time of retrieval, IP address, browser type and operating system) is collected. This information cannot be assigned to the respective newsletter recipient. It is used exclusively for the statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better adapt future newsletters to the interests of the recipients.

We process your data for the purpose of processing and answering your enquiry and any follow-up questions, to prevent misuse of the contact form, to ensure the security of our information technology systems and to analyze our newsletter campaigns. We base these data processing operations on our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR) which include processing your enquiry, protecting our information technology systems and enabling us to design and optimize our newsletters to meet your needs.

Hubspot privacy policy can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy. Detailed information about the cookies used by Hubspot can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/cookie-policy.

1.4 Customer relationship management

We process your contact data in order to maintain an effective customer relationship management (CRM). For this purpose, we are using the CRM system provided by Hubspot. Hubspot acts for us as a processor within the meaning of Art. 28 GDPR and exclusively according to our instructions. This is ensured by a contractual arrangement in which we have entered into with Hubspot. The data processing is carried out on the legal basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, i.e. our legitimate interest in designing, operating and maintaining our customer relationships as efficiently as possible.

2. PROVISIONS ON THE USE OF COOKIES

We use cookies to ensure the provision, protection and improvement of our services. Below we describe the cookies we use and explain why we use cookies and how we use the information we collect. We also explain how cookies enable the proper functioning of our Website and why you may not be able to use the full functionality of the Website if you disable the use of cookies. If you do not consent to the use of cookies, you may change your cookie setting at any time by following the instructions below.

2.1 What are cookies?

Cookies are text files that contain small amounts of information and are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. During subsequent website visits, cookies are sent back to the original website or another website that recognizes the cookie. Cookies are primarily used to ensure the proper or efficient functioning of a website and to provide information to the website operator. Cookies perform several functions. For example, they allow you to better navigate between different pages, store your preferences and generally improve your user experience. There are two main types of cookies:

• our own cookies, which we store directly on your computer or mobile device;
• third-party cookies that are stored for us and can be used by us for various purposes related to functionality, performance/analysis, contact/newsletter subscription, and payment processing.

Cookies may be stored on your computer or mobile device for different periods of time. Some cookies are session cookies; they only remain temporarily for the duration of a session and end when you close your browser. Other cookies are persistent cookies that remain on your computer or mobile device for a fixed period of time and are not deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies may be used by our Website to recognize your computer or mobile device when you reopen your browser and surf the Internet.

2.2 Why do we use cookies?

We use cookies for several purposes, including:
• to facilitate, simplify and improve your access to and operation of our Website;
• track data flows and usage behavior related to our Website;
• understand how many users regularly use our Website and which operating systems (e.g. Windows or Mac OS) and Internet browsers (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer) they use;
• monitor and continuously improve the performance of our Website;
• personalize and improve your online experience.

2.3 What types of cookies do we use?

The types of cookies we or our partners use in connection with our Website can be divided into three categories: "cookies required for basic purposes", "functionality cookies" and "performance and analysis cookies". Below we have collected additional information for each category, including information about the purpose of the cookies we or a third party store.

Type of cookie	What it does	How to block it
Cookies required for basic purposes	These cookies are necessary to provide you with our services and the services available through the Website and to enable you to use various website features. Without these cookies, services that you have requested could not be provided.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".
Functionality cookies	Functionality cookies save the settings you have made on the Website and allow us to tailor the Website for you. This means that when you stay on or return to the Website, we can offer you our services in exactly the way you want. We use the HubSpot service to contact you and send you our newsletter. To provide this service, HubSpot uses cookies over which Malao has no control. Further information on HubSpot can be found in section 1.3.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".
Performance and analysis cookies	We use these cookies to analyze how our Website is accessed, how it is used or what services the Website provides, to provide you with a better user experience and to maintain, operate and continually improve the Website. Performance and analysis cookies allow us, for example: - better understand the visitors to our Website to improve the presentation of our content; - determine the number of unique users of our Website; - improve our Website by tracking errors that occur; and - to conduct research and diagnostics to improve our offerings. We use Google Analytics and HubSpot to understand how users use our Website. For more information, see sections 1.3 and 1.4.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".

2.4 How to delete or manage cookies

You have the right to accept or decline the storage of cookies on your device. You can exercise this right at any time by changing the settings in your browser according to your wishes.

However, if you disable cookies, you may not be able to use all the interactive features of the website and its content.

Most browsers provide instructions on how to customize cookie settings. The cookie settings are usually located under the menu item "settings" of your browser. If you wish to limit the use of third-party cookies, you can do so using one of the following links:

• Your Online Choices (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/)
• Network Advertising Initiative (http://www.networkadvertising.org/)
• Digital Advertising Alliance (http://www.aboutads.info/consumers)

Please note that many companies are listed on these pages that do not set cookies via our Website.

3. DATA RECIPIENTS

3.1 External service providers

Malao may engage external service providers who act as our data processors to provide certain services to us, such as email, Website, marketing or other IT services. While providing these services, the external service providers may have access to or process your personal data.

Based on the data processing agreements concluded with them, the external service providers used are obligated to take appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect the personal data processed and to process the personal data only in accordance with the assignment.

3.2 Additional recipients

Malao may also disclose your personal data to law enforcement and government agencies, legal advisers and other external advisers in accordance with Applicable Data Protection Laws. The legal basis for this processing is compliance with legal obligations (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c) GDPR) to which Malao is subject or our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR), such as exercising or defense of legal claims.

4. YOUR RIGHTS AS A DATA SUBJECT AND HOW TO ASSERT THEM

According to Applicable Data Protection Laws, as a data subject you may have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), the right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR), the right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR), the right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR) and the right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR). The right to access and the right to erasure may be restricted under certain circumstances in accordance with applicable local data protection law. In addition, you are entitled to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR).

If you have declared your consent to the processing of your personal data, you can withdraw this consent at any time with future effect. Such withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of the processing prior to the consent withdrawal. If you withdraw your consent, we will no longer process your personal data unless any other (legal) basis permits this. However, if the consent is withdrawn and no other legal basis exists, we must delete the personal data immediately (Art. 17 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR).

Under certain circumstances, on grounds relating to your particular situation, you have the right to object at any time (Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR) to the processing of personal data concerning you processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR). Furthermore, if your personal data is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for these purposes, to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing (Art. 21 para. 2 GDPR). In this case, we will no longer process your personal data for these purposes.

In order to exercise your rights, please contact us under the contact details provided in section 6.

5. STORAGE PERIOD OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Your personal data will be stored as long as necessary for the purposes of the data processing described in section 1 above. If Malao no longer processes your personal data for the described purposes, we will remove it from our systems and records or make it completely anonymous so that you can no longer be identified from it. Your data will not be erased or made completely anonymous if and as long as we have to store your data in order to fulfill legal or regulatory obligations, e.g. legal retention requirements, which may arise from the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, HGB) or the German Tax Code (Abgabenordnung, AO), for example, which stipulate retention periods of 6 to 10 years, or if we need the data to preserve evidence within the limitation period, which is usually 3 years, but can be up to 30 years in individual cases.

6. CONTACT

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:

Malao GmbH
Speicherstraße 20
81671 Munich
Germany
Tel: +49 89 287 773 00
Email: future@malao.com

© 2012–2026, Malao GmbH. All rights reserved.

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Malao is an innovative development studio for film, themed entertainment and other story-based IP projects across Europe, America and Asia. Malao oversees projects end-to-end, from story development through pre-production, production and post-production to distribution, together with its production and distribution partners. With its platforms Sputo and Twinkle, Malao is building the tools for a vertically integrated approach to filmmaking, where creatives can develop and audiences can discover more Meaningful Entertainment.

MALAO

The Meaningful Entertainment Studio

Our Work

Malao is a tech-based IP studio. We develop concepts and projects across entertainment, live experience and technology products, and execute them with production, distribution and operating partners. Every project runs through our unique method and is tested against our Meaningful Entertainment standard, as we aim for every project to create positive change in our world.more

“Imagination is everything.
It is the preview of life's
coming attractions.”

— Albert Einstein

“Imagination is everything.
It is the preview of life's
coming attractions.”

— Albert Einstein

From Idea to Impact

Malao has designed a new approach to the early creative and commercial stages of a project, driven by proprietary development tools. From the first spark to a ready-to-launch package, we combine human intuition with artificial intelligence throughout our iterative process.more

Smart Sourcing

Discover Role Models

We have unique access to thousands of project ideas and creative talent from diverse content pools around the world.

Agile Development

Be Inspired by Role Models

We enhance the quality of every project through social prototyping, together with audiences, industry experts and AI.

Global Packaging

Become a Role Model

We place the most promising projects with leading partners as complete, holistic packages, primed for production and distribution.

Meaningful Entertainment
to Inspire & Empower

We believe a story only lasts when it both engages the audience and carries a deeper message.
Together, these two qualities form our Meaningful Entertainment standard,
optimizing for both economic endurance and positive impact.

In 2025, we announced the Meaningful Entertainment Alliance,
now being established by the Malao Foundation.more

Stories in the Making

Malao creates fully developed premium packages for
captivating and thought-provoking IPs that reach global audiences.more

Upcoming Films

Jim Button & The City of Dragons

Fantasy Adventure

Film Rights Holder
Co-Production

Antara and the Seven Suns

Sci-Fi Romance

Original IP

Fantasy Adventure

IP Rights Holder

Breaking the Walls

Historical Documentary

Original IP

A Smart New World

Social Satire

Original IP via our Baobab Pictures

The Girl of the Hour

Drama

Co-Owned IP

Historical Drama

Co-Owned IP, Based on True Events

Jim Button & The City of Dragons

Fantasy Adventure

Film Rights Holder
Co-Production

Antara and the Seven Suns

Sci-Fi Romance

Original IP

Fantasy Adventure

IP Rights Holder

Breaking the Walls

Historical Documentary

Original IP

A Smart New World

Social Satire

Original IP via our Baobab Pictures

The Girl of the Hour

Drama

Co-Owned IP

Historical Drama

Co-Owned IP, Based on True Events

Upcoming Experiences

Immersive Music Experience

Co-Development

Universe of Imagination

Discovery Adventure

Original IP

Ghost of the Past

Historical Journey

Original IP

Flying Classroom

VR Adventure

Co-Owned IP

The Century Show

History Journey

Original IP

Immersive Music Experience

Co-Development

Universe of Imagination

Discovery Adventure

Original IP

Ghost of the Past

Historical Journey

Original IP

Flying Classroom

VR Adventure

Co-Owned IP

The Century Show

History Journey

Original IP

Past Projects

A selection of work we've brought to life.more

WinterWunderWERK

Winter Attraction

Experience Design

The Future of Werksviertel-Mitte

Urban Development

Field Research & Future Concept

The Evergreen Effect

Industry Report

Research & Analysis

Nawi: Dear Future Me

Social Drama

Co-Production via our company Baobab Pictures

Meaningful Entertainment Alliance

Industry Impact Organization

Co-Founding

The Golden Spirit

Cultural Attraction

Creative & Implementation Concept

Preserving History

Interview Documentary

Production

Social Film Discovery App

Concept, Creation & Development

Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production

Mut zur Phantasie

Charity Fundraising Campaign

Concept & Implementation

Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production & Equity Investment

Spaghetti for Two

Drama Comedy

Production & Distribution

WinterWunderWERK

Winter Attraction

Experience Design

The Future of Werksviertel-Mitte

Urban Development

Field Research & Future Concept

The Evergreen Effect

Industry Report

Research & Analysis

Nawi: Dear Future Me

Social Drama

Co-Production via our company Baobab Pictures

Meaningful Entertainment Alliance

Industry Impact Organization

Co-Founding

The Golden Spirit

Cultural Attraction

Creative & Implementation Concept

Preserving History

Interview Documentary

Production

Social Film Discovery App

Concept, Creation & Development

Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production

Mut zur Phantasie

Charity Fundraising Campaign

Concept & Implementation

Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production & Equity Investment

Spaghetti for Two

Drama Comedy

Production & Distribution

WinterWunderWERK is a concept proposal for a connected winter experience across Munich’s Werksviertel-Mitte. A looping route would bring the quarter’s spaces together, inviting visitors to explore, pause and spend time with one another. Warm light, coordinated music, seasonal scents and moments of fire form a shared sensory language. Local craft, creative workshops and winter activities would give each stop its own rhythm, while contributions from the quarter’s businesses and artists would connect the experience to its community. The proposal brings spatial planning, atmosphere and participation into one coherent vision: a winter world shaped by the character of Werksviertel-Mitte in Munich.

WinterWunderWERK

Winter Attraction

Experience Design

Proposal

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Germany

Werksviertel-Mitte is one of Munich's most ambitious urban developments: the former Pfanni factory site has grown into a district of cultural venues, restaurants, creative studios and offices. OTEC, the owner of the quarter, commissioned Malao to define what the site could become next. Over roughly six months, Malao combined field research on site, workshops with the owner and his team, and concept work for every part of the quarter, from the cultural program to the logic that connects the individual venues into a single destination. The result is a 500-page strategy that positions Werksviertel-Mitte as a district built around Meaningful Entertainment and sets the framework for everything that follows.

The Future of Werksviertel-Mitte

Urban Development

Field Research & Future Concept

Concept

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Munich

|

500 Pages

The Evergreen Effect is Malao's industry report on where long-term value in film actually comes from. Released in July 2026, it argues that a film's worth is not settled on its opening weekend: some works keep earning, and keep changing how people think, for decades. It defines that pattern as the evergreen, measured as economic longevity and positive empowerment, on two axes of Meaning and Entertainment. Drawing on 582 films, TMDB ratings and OpusData data, it finds only four percent clear both bars, and locates the decisive work in development.

The Evergreen Effect

Industry Report

Research & Analysis

Report

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English

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7 Acts

Nawi: Dear Future Me follows a young girl in rural Kenya whose family arranges her marriage just as her own plans for school and a life beyond the village are taking shape. The film tells that conflict from her perspective, without reducing the community around her to villains: the pressures she faces are economic, cultural and generational at once. Made with a largely Kenyan cast and crew, the film was selected as Kenya’s official entry for the Academy Awards, bringing a story about the cost of child marriage to an international audience.

Official Entry – Kenya, Academy Awards, Best International Feature Film

Nawi: Dear Future Me

Social Drama

Co-Production via our company Baobab Pictures

Feature

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English

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99 min

The Meaningful Entertainment Alliance (MEA), initiated and led by the non-profit Malao Foundation, sets a new standard uniting captivating stories with purpose, inspiring audiences to reflect, grow and act. MEA pairs thought leadership with practice: it partners with leading universities to research and teach the Meaningful Entertainment framework, and supports creatives with methodologies and impact measurement tools.

Meaningful Entertainment Alliance

Industry Impact Organization

Co-Founding

Initiative

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International

The Golden Spirit is a concept for a new year-round destination in Munich, developed into an investable proposal by Malao. It is designed as a place people travel for, and one Munich returns to: a journey that moves between learning, feeling, meeting and indulging, shaped for international guests and locals alike. The work spans the full visitor experience, the target-group and go-to-market strategy, the commercial model and a comparative assessment of potential sites across the city. What it is about remains under wraps for now. If you know Munich, you may already have a guess.

The Golden Spirit

Cultural Attraction

Creative & Implementation Concept

Concept

|

English & German

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18 Chapters

Preserving History is a documentary interview series built on two conditions: the people who take part are figures of public standing, and each conversation is released only after the person who gave it has passed away. Knowing that nothing they say will reach an audience in their lifetime, they speak with a candor an ordinary interview rarely reaches, about what they did, what they knew, and what they chose to leave unsaid at the time. The series is designed as an archive rather than a broadcast format: episodes are recorded now and held until their moment comes. The first episode has been filmed.

Preserving History

Interview Documentary

Production

Series Episode

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English

Choosing a film can take longer than watching one. Twinkle was built to end that. The question is not what is popular, but what someone is actually in the mood for – and Twinkle makes that discoverable. The beta is live in the App Store, with an AI search that understands a request in plain words and filters that get closer to a mood than any genre could. It also includes a collection of Meaningful Entertainment recommendations, for users who want to begin experiencing inspiring, curated suggestions on the app. It is a starting point, and far more is on the way.

Social Film Discovery App

Concept, Creation & Development

Mobile App

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Beta Release

The sequel picks up Michael Ende's story where the first film left off, sending Jim and Luke up against the Wild 13 and deeper into the question of where Jim actually comes from. The production kept the scale and craft of its predecessor, practical sets, large-format effects and a cast of well-known German actors, while shifting the story toward Jim's own origins, and closed the two-part adaptation of one of Germany's most widely read children's books.

Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production

Feature

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German

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105 min

Mut zur Phantasie is a donation campaign for the Jim Button Foundation, launched with the theatrical release of Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer. The idea is to turn the film's own message – courage, imagination, and standing up for others – into something audiences can act on the moment they leave the cinema. Commissioned by the foundation, Malao developed and implemented the campaign end to end: a dedicated website, physical and digital buttons as a recognizable token of support, and an image film carrying the message. Launched alongside the film, it reached people at the point where the story was most present for them.

Mut zur Phantasie

Charity Fundraising Campaign

Concept & Implementation

Campaign

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German

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Non-Profit

Michael Ende’s Jim Button comes to the screen in a family adventure that brings Lummerland, the dragon city and a talking locomotive to life. The adaptation combines an imaginative world with the craft and scale of a major German family film, introducing one of the best-loved German children’s books to a new cinema audience. Malao acquired the film rights and entered a partnership with Rat Pack Filmproduktion and Warner Bros., contributing the largest equity share in the film.

Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer

Family Fantasy Adventure

Co-Production & Equity Investment

Feature

|

German

|

105 min

Spaghetti for Two is a film about prejudice and how quickly it hardens into certainty. Based on Federica Kitamura-de Cesco's much-loved story, a fixture in German classrooms for decades, it marks the first time the author ever allowed her work to be brought to the screen. Produced by Malao and directed by Matthias Rosenberger and Betina Dubler, with Johannes Silberschneider in the lead, the film tells its story entirely without dialogue, relying on timing, performance and gesture alone. Over a two-year festival run from 2010 to 2012, it traveled to every continent, from the Americas and Europe to Asia and Australia, earning more than 100 international selections and over 40 awards, and received top honors from the German Film Rating Board.

Spaghetti for Two

Drama Comedy

Production & Distribution

Film

|

English & German

1 of 4

Back

Immersive Music Experience

Co-Development

Live Show

In Development

1 of 4

Back

Jim Button & The City of Dragons

Fantasy Adventure

Film Rights Holder Co-Production

Feature

|

English

In Development

1 of 4

Back

Antara and the Seven Suns

Sci-Fi Romance

Original IP

Feature

|

English

In Development

1 of 4

Back

Universe of Imagination

Discovery Adventure

Original IP

Immersive Retreat

In Development

1 of 4

Back

Ghost of the Past

Historical Journey

Original IP

Show

In Conception

1 of 4

Back

Fantasy Adventure

IP Rights Holder

Feature

|

English

In Development

1 of 4

Back

Breaking the Walls

Historical Documentary

Original IP

Feature

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German

In Production

1 of 4

Back

Flying Classroom

VR Adventure

Co-Owned IP

VR Experience

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English

In Development

1 of 4

Back

The Century Show

History Journey

Original IP

Immersive Show

In Conception

1 of 4

Back

A Smart New World

Social Satire

Original IP via our Baobab Pictures

Feature

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English

In Development

1 of 4

Back

The Girl of the Hour

Drama

Co-Owned IP

Feature

|

English

Announced

1 of 4

Back

Historical Drama

Co-Owned IP, Based on True Events

Feature

|

English

Announced

Spaghetti for Two

Drama Comedy · Production & Distribution · 2010–2012

Film | English & German | Released

Spaghetti for Two is a film about prejudice and how quickly it hardens into certainty. Based on Federica Kitamura-de Cesco's much-loved story, a fixture in German classrooms for decades, it marks the first time the author ever allowed her work to be brought to the screen. Produced by Malao and directed by Matthias Rosenberger and Betina Dubler, with Johannes Silberschneider in the lead, the film tells its story entirely without dialogue, relying on timing, performance and gesture alone. Over a two-year festival run from 2010 to 2012, it traveled to every continent, from the Americas and Europe to Asia and Australia, earning more than 100 international selections and over 40 awards, and received top honors from the German Film Rating Board.

Back to all projects

“I want you to go out believing
you can change the world.”

— Desmond Tutu (1931-2021)

Democratizing Storytelling
with Scalable Platforms

Our apps for creatives and audiences work together to make Meaningful Entertainment accessible throughout the value chain.more

An Interdisciplinary Team Driven by
a Shared Mission & Passion

Malao's companies have cross-continental teams working on our diverse products.more

Bernadette Schramm

Bernadette Schramm

Content & Talent Sourcing

Representation in content advocate, Bernadette brings a wealth of experience in discovering new talent and building filmmaking capacity in emerging economies. She has been juror, keynote speaker and coordinator of several humanitarian programs at the biggest international film festivals, and produced one of the world’s largest student film festivals. Bernadette is a graduate of the University of Cambridge.

Matthias Rosenberger

Matthias Rosenberger

Innovation & Product Development

Founder of Malao, Matthias has over 20 years of experience in innovation and entertainment and holds an MBA from TU Munich and UC Berkeley. He executively produced Germany’s most successful movie in 2018 and has been nominated and won awards at over 100 international film festivals. Open to bold ideas and new partnerships, he works on ventures with the shared goal of leaving the world a little better.

Nils-Claudio Sierck

Nils-Claudio Sierck

Investor & Partner Relations

Born in South Africa, Nils-Claudio has over a decade of experience building investor and partner relations and fundraising across the globe. Having previously founded impact-focused companies and initiatives, he continues to work to connect extraordinary people who can innovate together and drive positive change.

Isobel Leigh

Operations & Human Resources

Chief of Operations, Isobel brings experience from directing Watersprite International Film Festival, managing a team of over fifty people, growing its social media presence and expanding its mentorship program offering. Isobel’s international outlook was shaped by her upbringing in Beijing and furthered by her work in the UK, Peru, Germany and Spain.

Seline Neumärker

Seline Neumärker

Product Management

Product manager Seline brings a background in interactive media and a love of film, music and gaming. Her Media and Communication degree combined digital content production with research and business management, and her thesis explored the gamification of education. In the past she worked in marketing and project management at Sony PlayStation in Copenhagen.

Max Jetzinger

Production

Film producer and award-winning composer Max has been making music since the age of six. His belief in the power of music and politics to inspire change is rooted in his degree in Political Science and his master's studies in International Relations. He is dedicated to world-class storytelling combined with wide reach in the projects he works on.

Dr. Robert Leiner

Dr. Robert Leiner

Values & Sustainability

Sustainability expert, Robert draws on past business experience in value-driven development. He is an economic geographer and was an executive partner of a local and regional planning company. As part of a planning team, he created strategic masterplans for the sustainable development of local communities, cities and regions. He also lectures at the Department of Geography at the University of Munich.

Magda Urban

Creative Project Management

Research and project manager Magda brings together studies in film and scriptwriting with a degree in Tourism Economics. She spent several years traveling the world as a sales manager before following her passion into the film industry, and that breadth shapes how she coordinates products, people and process.

Tim Podkopayev

Data Science

Minerva University graduate, Tim wrote his thesis on a natural language processing analysis of 2,000 academic abstracts. He set up and led TEDxYouth@MaiKhao in Phuket and went on to plan the first-ever global online TEDxYouth event. Tim also co-founded a vertical farming venture built around a more sustainable future.

Amelia Plewa

Communications

Communications and events specialist Amelia followed a lifelong love of cinema into a Media and Communications degree at the University of Passau, broadened by a semester at Sejong University in Seoul. She trained in event and media management at Ensider.net and previously coordinated Europe-wide PR campaigns and steered social media strategy at HARMAN.

Fachry Nurdiansyah

Fachry Nurdiansyah

Product Design

Product Designer Fachry brings experience in shaping digital products and experiences for startups, founders and international clients across multiple industries and markets. His work covers product concepts, SaaS platforms, branding and consumer-facing experiences, with a focus on making complex ideas clear and useful. He is interested in the intersection of technology, design and storytelling.

Bernhard Holzer

Bernhard Holzer

Creative Development

Filmmaker since the age of thirteen, Bernhard has written, acted, directed, edited and scored his own shorts. His science-fiction short Collapsing Timelines won the Oberbayerischer Jugendfilmpreis at the Jufinale in 2021, praised by the jury for its camerawork, lighting and hand-built visual effects. He is now developing his first feature, and his creativity also runs through music, on drums, piano and violin.

Jana Sierck

Executive Assistance

Trained nursery school teacher turned executive assistant, Jana completed her vocational baccalaureate at an academy for social pedagogy in Munich in 2019. The same instinct for looking after people and keeping things running carried her from the classroom into finance, project coordination and founder support.

Cliff Ruwizhi

Office Management

Born in Zimbabwe, Cliff made the leap to Germany in 2023 in pursuit of higher education and work he could put his heart into. He trained as a human resources generalist at Tannerhof in Bavaria, learning the craft of looking after people and the systems around them, a grounding that shaped how he runs the office in Munich today.

Markus Vogelbacher

Markus Vogelbacher

Impact

Founder of International Film Partners, Markus provides production, financing and marketing services for global companies. His current primary focus is on economic, social and governance policy and certification in the film industry. Markus previously worked with Bavaria Film Group to acquire international productions and facilitate producers, financiers and technical service providers.

Dr. Francis Quinn

Dr. Francis Quinn

Strategy

Globally experienced corporate strategist, Francis is the former Global Director of Sustainable Development at L'Oréal. He has an extensive history in successfully leading transformative, large-scale projects in complex organizations. He is also the author of numerous books and white papers on sustainability strategies including disruptive innovation.

Bernadette Schramm

Bernadette Schramm

Content & Talent Sourcing

Representation in content advocate, Bernadette brings a wealth of experience in discovering new talent and building filmmaking capacity in emerging economies. She has been juror, keynote speaker and coordinator of several humanitarian programs at the biggest international film festivals, and produced one of the world’s largest student film festivals. Bernadette is a graduate of the University of Cambridge.

Matthias Rosenberger

Matthias Rosenberger

Innovation & Product Development

Founder of Malao, Matthias has over 20 years of experience in innovation and entertainment and holds an MBA from TU Munich and UC Berkeley. He executively produced Germany’s most successful movie in 2018 and has been nominated and won awards at over 100 international film festivals. Open to bold ideas and new partnerships, he works on ventures with the shared goal of leaving the world a little better.

Nils-Claudio Sierck

Nils-Claudio Sierck

Investor & Partner Relations

Born in South Africa, Nils-Claudio has over a decade of experience building investor and partner relations and fundraising across the globe. Having previously founded impact-focused companies and initiatives, he continues to work to connect extraordinary people who can innovate together and drive positive change.

Isobel Leigh

Operations & Human Resources

Chief of Operations, Isobel brings experience from directing Watersprite International Film Festival, managing a team of over fifty people, growing its social media presence and expanding its mentorship program offering. Isobel’s international outlook was shaped by her upbringing in Beijing and furthered by her work in the UK, Peru, Germany and Spain.

Seline Neumärker

Seline Neumärker

Product Management

Product manager Seline brings a background in interactive media and a love of film, music and gaming. Her Media and Communication degree combined digital content production with research and business management, and her thesis explored the gamification of education. In the past she worked in marketing and project management at Sony PlayStation in Copenhagen.

Max Jetzinger

Production

Film producer and award-winning composer Max has been making music since the age of six. His belief in the power of music and politics to inspire change is rooted in his degree in Political Science and his master's studies in International Relations. He is dedicated to world-class storytelling combined with wide reach in the projects he works on.

Dr. Robert Leiner

Dr. Robert Leiner

Values & Sustainability

Sustainability expert, Robert draws on past business experience in value-driven development. He is an economic geographer and was an executive partner of a local and regional planning company. As part of a planning team, he created strategic masterplans for the sustainable development of local communities, cities and regions. He also lectures at the Department of Geography at the University of Munich.

Magda Urban

Creative Project Management

Research and project manager Magda brings together studies in film and scriptwriting with a degree in Tourism Economics. She spent several years traveling the world as a sales manager before following her passion into the film industry, and that breadth shapes how she coordinates products, people and process.

Tim Podkopayev

Data Science

Minerva University graduate, Tim wrote his thesis on a natural language processing analysis of 2,000 academic abstracts. He set up and led TEDxYouth@MaiKhao in Phuket and went on to plan the first-ever global online TEDxYouth event. Tim also co-founded a vertical farming venture built around a more sustainable future.

Amelia Plewa

Communications

Communications and events specialist Amelia followed a lifelong love of cinema into a Media and Communications degree at the University of Passau, broadened by a semester at Sejong University in Seoul. She trained in event and media management at Ensider.net and previously coordinated Europe-wide PR campaigns and steered social media strategy at HARMAN.

Fachry Nurdiansyah

Fachry Nurdiansyah

Product Design

Product Designer Fachry brings experience in shaping digital products and experiences for startups, founders and international clients across multiple industries and markets. His work covers product concepts, SaaS platforms, branding and consumer-facing experiences, with a focus on making complex ideas clear and useful. He is interested in the intersection of technology, design and storytelling.

Bernhard Holzer

Bernhard Holzer

Creative Development

Filmmaker since the age of thirteen, Bernhard has written, acted, directed, edited and scored his own shorts. His science-fiction short Collapsing Timelines won the Oberbayerischer Jugendfilmpreis at the Jufinale in 2021, praised by the jury for its camerawork, lighting and hand-built visual effects. He is now developing his first feature, and his creativity also runs through music, on drums, piano and violin.

Jana Sierck

Executive Assistance

Trained nursery school teacher turned executive assistant, Jana completed her vocational baccalaureate at an academy for social pedagogy in Munich in 2019. The same instinct for looking after people and keeping things running carried her from the classroom into finance, project coordination and founder support.

Cliff Ruwizhi

Office Management

Born in Zimbabwe, Cliff made the leap to Germany in 2023 in pursuit of higher education and work he could put his heart into. He trained as a human resources generalist at Tannerhof in Bavaria, learning the craft of looking after people and the systems around them, a grounding that shaped how he runs the office in Munich today.

Markus Vogelbacher

Markus Vogelbacher

Impact

Founder of International Film Partners, Markus provides production, financing and marketing services for global companies. His current primary focus is on economic, social and governance policy and certification in the film industry. Markus previously worked with Bavaria Film Group to acquire international productions and facilitate producers, financiers and technical service providers.

Dr. Francis Quinn

Dr. Francis Quinn

Strategy

Globally experienced corporate strategist, Francis is the former Global Director of Sustainable Development at L'Oréal. He has an extensive history in successfully leading transformative, large-scale projects in complex organizations. He is also the author of numerous books and white papers on sustainability strategies including disruptive innovation.

Advisors

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang M. Heckl

Former General Director
Deutsches Museum

Former General Director of the Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest museum of science and technology, Wolfgang also held the Oskar von Miller Chair for Science Communication at TU Munich from 2009 to 2025, where he is now Professor emeritus. He is a member of the steering committee of the ESOF, largest biennial interdisciplinary meeting on science and innovation in Europe, and of the jury of the German Future Prize.

Suzanne Jurva

Producer & Former Executive
DreamWorks

An award-winning filmmaker, producer and executive, Suzanne is known for her impactful work in documentary and narrative storytelling. A former feature film development executive at DreamWorks, she supervised and led story development and the research department on Amistad, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, The Prince of Egypt and The Lookout, among others. She also worked in development at Harpo and on episodic series.

Werner Eckart

Managing Director
OTEC

Werner continues the story of a family of entrepreneurs that has grown over centuries. On the former Pfanni site at Munich’s Ostbahnhof, he is developing the Werksviertel-Mitte, a quarter built to serve generations to come, where work, culture and social engagement belong together. He chairs the Board of Trustees of the Otto Eckart Foundation.

Dr. Nicolas Blanchard

Managing Director
White Mountain

Lawyer and financier, Nicolas spent more than 25 years in financial services, including on the management board of Hamburg Commercial Bank and as a personally liable partner at the private bank Bankhaus Lampe. He now runs the advisory firm White Mountain and sits on the advisory board of the pension specialist Vedra, working with German family businesses and financial institutions on how they raise and structure capital.

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria

Founder and CEO
Learning Lions

Direct descendent of the last Bavarian King, Ludwig III, Ludwig is the Founder of Learning Lions and Startup Lions. These two social initiatives have been operating in Kenya since 2015 and provide young adults with free IT training and a way into the global professional IT market. Ludwig studied political science and law.

Amber Bobin

Director of Outreach
KPJR Films

Producer of global impact campaigns, Amber has worked on numerous feature films and was formerly the Director of Outreach at KPJR Films, which transforms complex issues into inspirational documentaries. She trained as a lecture agent, spearheading numerous successful PR and corporate social responsibility campaigns and has worked with the world’s most exciting speakers.

Dr. Carl L. Woebcken

Producer & Former CEO
Studio Babelsberg

Producer and Former CEO of Studio Babelsberg, Charlie acquired the studio with his business partner Christoph Fisser in July 2004. Studio Babelsberg is the oldest film studio in the world, producing films since 1912, and it is Europe’s largest film studio. Charlie’s production credits are far-reaching and include Beauty & the Beast, Grand Budapest Hotel, Captain America and The Matrix Resurrections, to name just a few.

Peter Kerckhoff

Senior Business Advisor
Various Media & Tech Startups

Former VP of Content at Deutsche Telekom, Peter brought films and series to viewers across Germany through MagentaTV, Deutsche Telekom’s television platform, and before that worked at Bertelsmann and the Boston Consulting Group. He now advises media companies independently, with a focus on how AI and new technology are reshaping the way stories reach an audience.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang M. Heckl

Former General Director
Deutsches Museum

Former General Director of the Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest museum of science and technology, Wolfgang also held the Oskar von Miller Chair for Science Communication at TU Munich from 2009 to 2025, where he is now Professor emeritus. He is a member of the steering committee of the ESOF, largest biennial interdisciplinary meeting on science and innovation in Europe, and of the jury of the German Future Prize.

Suzanne Jurva

Producer & Former Executive
DreamWorks

An award-winning filmmaker, producer and executive, Suzanne is known for her impactful work in documentary and narrative storytelling. A former feature film development executive at DreamWorks, she supervised and led story development and the research department on Amistad, Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, Minority Report, The Prince of Egypt and The Lookout, among others. She also worked in development at Harpo and on episodic series.

Werner Eckart

Managing Director
OTEC

Werner continues the story of a family of entrepreneurs that has grown over centuries. On the former Pfanni site at Munich’s Ostbahnhof, he is developing the Werksviertel-Mitte, a quarter built to serve generations to come, where work, culture and social engagement belong together. He chairs the Board of Trustees of the Otto Eckart Foundation.

Dr. Nicolas Blanchard

Managing Director
White Mountain

Lawyer and financier, Nicolas spent more than 25 years in financial services, including on the management board of Hamburg Commercial Bank and as a personally liable partner at the private bank Bankhaus Lampe. He now runs the advisory firm White Mountain and sits on the advisory board of the pension specialist Vedra, working with German family businesses and financial institutions on how they raise and structure capital.

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria

Founder and CEO
Learning Lions

Direct descendent of the last Bavarian King, Ludwig III, Ludwig is the Founder of Learning Lions and Startup Lions. These two social initiatives have been operating in Kenya since 2015 and provide young adults with free IT training and a way into the global professional IT market. Ludwig studied political science and law.

Amber Bobin

Director of Outreach
KPJR Films

Producer of global impact campaigns, Amber has worked on numerous feature films and was formerly the Director of Outreach at KPJR Films, which transforms complex issues into inspirational documentaries. She trained as a lecture agent, spearheading numerous successful PR and corporate social responsibility campaigns and has worked with the world’s most exciting speakers.

Dr. Carl L. Woebcken

Producer & Former CEO
Studio Babelsberg

Producer and Former CEO of Studio Babelsberg, Charlie acquired the studio with his business partner Christoph Fisser in July 2004. Studio Babelsberg is the oldest film studio in the world, producing films since 1912, and it is Europe’s largest film studio. Charlie’s production credits are far-reaching and include Beauty & the Beast, Grand Budapest Hotel, Captain America and The Matrix Resurrections, to name just a few.

Peter Kerckhoff

Senior Business Advisor
Various Media & Tech Startups

Former VP of Content at Deutsche Telekom, Peter brought films and series to viewers across Germany through MagentaTV, Deutsche Telekom’s television platform, and before that worked at Bertelsmann and the Boston Consulting Group. He now advises media companies independently, with a focus on how AI and new technology are reshaping the way stories reach an audience.

Open Positions

Malao is always looking for people who share our vision to bring the world more Meaningful Entertainment. If you don't see a role which fits, but you feel drawn to work with us, please submit an open application.more

Full Stack Engineer

Full time

Backend & Cloud Engineer

Full time

Flutter Engineer

Full time

Flutter Full Stack Developer

Full time

Full time

Founder's Associate – Operations & Strategy

Working Student

Founder's Associate – Legal & Business Development

Full time

Open Application

Full-time/Part-time

Full Stack Engineer

Full time

Backend & Cloud Engineer

Full time

Flutter Engineer

Full time

Flutter Full Stack Developer

Full time

Full time

Founder's Associate – Operations & Strategy

Working Student

Founder's Associate – Legal & Business Development

Full time

Open Application

Full-time/Part-time

A compass whose points read Truth, Gratitude, Justice and Courage, with Joy at its center

The Values that Guide us

We hold ourselves to them in how we choose our projects, how we treat the people we work with, and how we grow as a team.more

Progress

Insights from our journey so far, showing a timeline of the ideas, milestones and partnerships that have shaped Malao since its founding.more

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Coming shortly ...

Malao’s announcements since 2012 are being moved to this page right now. Check back soon.

Coming shortly ...

Coming shortly ...

Malao’s announcements since 2012 are being moved to this page right now. Check back soon.

Co-Funding Partners

In addition to private funding from investors, Malao has been selected and supported by public funding grants, subsidies and initiatives. Sputo, Malao's agile development platform, is co-funded by Creative Europe MEDIA, as part of its Innovative Tools & Business Models program. Twinkle, Malao's entertainment discovery app, is co-funded by EIT Culture & Creativity, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, as well as by Creative Europe MEDIA, as part of its Innovation Lab program. Malao GmbH was selected, through a multi-stage application and pitch process, for residency at WERK1 in Munich's Werksviertel-Mitte, Bavaria's flagship digital startup center, funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs as part of Gründerland Bayern.more

Our Home

Every location-based experience starts with a question: what does a place feel like where the usual rules no longer apply? We are asking that question, for the first time, about our own home. In Munich’s Werksviertel-Mitte, we are turning Malao’s headquarters, piece by piece, into a walk-in experience world. Not for an audience somewhere out there, but for the people who work on new worlds here every day, and for the partners and guests we welcome through our doors.more

The Imaginarium: a concrete wall with the lettering The Imaginarium and an open wooden door

Malao consists of the following companies:
Malao GmbH · Malao Film GmbH · Malao Film Pty Ltd · Baobab Pictures GmbH · JB Ventures Inc. · Sputo GmbH · Twinkle GmbH · Malao Foundation gGmbHmore

Global Network

Los Angeles

Lodwar

Sydney

Munich

Babelsberg

Fremantle

Thursday, 7 August

Los Angeles, USA

9663 Santa Monica Blvd. 247
Beverly Hills CA 90210

US representation

Thursday, 7 August

Munich, Germany

Werksviertel-Mitte
Speicherstraße 20
81671 Munich

Headquarters

Thursday, 7 August

Potsdam, Germany

Studio Babelsberg
August-Bebel-Straße 26-53
14482 Potsdam

Office · Studio Babelsberg, Berlin area

Thursday, 7 August

Lodwar, Kenya

PO Box 344
30500 Lodwar

Partner location · Learning Lions

Thursday, 7 August

Fremantle, Australia

243 High Street
Fremantle 6160, WA

Office · Australia

Thursday, 7 August

Sydney, Australia

GPO Box 1430
Sydney NSW 2001

East Coast representation

Be part of a New Era of Storytelling.
Be Inspired to Dream.

Imagination needs somewhere to happen,
and someone to carry it forward.
We encourage you to join us in supporting two of our partners: one that gives children the courage to picture a better world, and one that protects the living systems that our world depends on.

Who we are and how we work

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© 2010–2026 Malao GmbH

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Matthias Rosenberger, Bernadette Schramm, Nils-Claudio Sierck and Isobel Leigh are responsible for editorial content in accordance with Section 18 II of the German State Media Treaty (Medienstaatsvertrag – MStV).
Malao GmbH is a corporation under German law and it is entered in the commercial register of Munich under HRB 256899 and its VAT identification number is DE331164489.
The managing directors are Matthias Rosenberger, Bernadette Schramm, Nils-Claudio Sierck and Isobel Leigh.

Malao GmbH
‍
Speicherstraße 20
81671 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89 287 773 00
Email: future@malao.com

Malao was founded in 2012 as Malao Film. Its business, rights, assets and projects, including those of Malao Film Inc., have since been carried on by Malao GmbH.

This website is operated by Malao GmbH and presents the work, team and projects of the Malao companies: Malao GmbH, Malao Film GmbH, Baobab Pictures, Malao Film Pty Ltd, Sputo GmbH, Twinkle GmbH, and Malao Foundation gGmbH, trustee of the Jim Button Foundation.

(C) Copyright 2012–2026. The content published on this website is governed by German copyright and related rights law. Any use outside the scope of German copyright and related rights law requires the prior written approval of the provider or rights holder. This applies in particular to the duplication, editing, translation, saving, processing and reproduction of content in databases and other electronic media and systems. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of specific content or entire pages is not permitted and is punishable by law.

Some images on this website were created or edited with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Feature video: © Malao Film, RatPack Filmproduktion, Warner Bros. Deutschland

Privacy notice

This Privacy Notice describes how Malao GmbH, Speicherstraße 20, 81671 Munich, Germany ("Malao ", "we" or "us"), as the controller within the meaning of the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), the Federal Data Protection Act ("BDSG") and other data protection regulations ("Applicable Data Protection Laws"), processes personal data and other information from users ("Users" or "you") of our Website https://malao.com ("Website").

1. CATEGORIES OF PERSONAL DATA, PURPOSE OF PROCESSING, LEGAL BASIS AND ORIGIN

The use of the Website and its functions requires the following processing of certain personal data on a regular basis:

1.1 Informational use of the Website

If you access our Website and use it for purely informational purposes (i.e. without using additional functions such as the contact form), the Website may automatically collect, process and store certain personal data in a pseudonymized form. This is device and usage information that may include (i) specific information about the device used to access the Website (including model, operating system, IP address, language and similar information) and (ii) information about the use of features, functions or notifications on the device to recognize you and to analyze trends.

The legal basis for this is our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR) to monitor and maintain the performance of the Website and to analyze uses, activities and trends in connection with our Website.

1.2 Web analysis with Google Analytics

When you access our Website, the Google Analytics service is loaded for statistical evaluation of the use of our Website. This service is provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland ("Google"). By using the "anonymizeIp()" extension, we ensure that Google Analytics only transfers a shortened version of your IP address to Google.

By accessing the Website and loading the service, Google obtains knowledge that our Website was accessed via your IP address. Google Analytics uses cookies which are stored on your terminal device unless you have prohibited the use of cookies in your browser and allow for an analysis of your use of our Website. The information generated by the cookies about your use of the Website will be transferred to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Any data transfers to the US are carried out in accordance to the Model Contractual Clauses that we concluded with Google: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/processorterms/mccs/.

The use of Google Analytics is based on our legitimate interests (Article 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR), which consist in appropriately designing and optimizing our Website. In addition, we have concluded an agreement for data processing with Google in accordance with the requirements of the German data protection authorities for the use of Google Analytics.

We collect your IP address to enable its shortening and then transmission to Google. You are not obliged to provide this personal data, a use of our Website is possible without the provision. You can prevent the provision of this personal data by setting your browser software accordingly by installing the browser add-on available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

More information about Google Analytics can be found at http://www.google.com/intl/de_ALL/analytics. Google's privacy policy can be found at https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

1.3 Contact form and newsletter distribution with Hubspot

When you use the contact form included on our Website or contact us by e-mail or other means, e.g. to request information or send us content for inspection, the information provided in the contact form will first be stored by our IT service provider, Hubspot, transmitted to us and processed for the purpose of dealing with the request. Hubspot is a service provider, Hubspot, 25 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 USA (“Hubspot”). We have concluded an agreement with Hubspot in which we oblige Hubspot to protect the data of our customers and not to pass them on to third parties. This contract can be viewed at the following link: https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa.

For our applicant process, we additionally use Typeform to collect specific information and responses from applicants. The data collected via Typeform are also integrated into our CRM system provided by Hubspot to enable efficient processing and evaluation of applications. Typeform acts as a data processor for us in the sense of Art. 28 GDPR and operates exclusively according to our instructions. The data processing is based on the legal basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, i.e., our legitimate interest in managing the application process as efficiently and effectively as possible.

With Hubspot we can organize and analyze our newsletter campaigns. If you enter your data in the contact form, it will be stored on Hubspot's servers in the United States. Any data transfers to the US are carried out in accordance to the Standard Contractual Clauses that we concluded with Hubspot: https://legal.hubspot.com/dpa#Annex4-Standard-Contractual-Clauses.

When you sign up for our newsletter on our website, the data entered will be processed also by Hubspot. We base these data processing operations on your consent given (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR). You can withdraw your consent to receive our newsletter at any time by clicking the link in each newsletter or by contacting us under the contact details provided in section 6. If you withdraw your consent, your data will be deleted from Hubspot.

When you open an e-mail sent with Hubspot, a file contained in the e-mail (so-called web beacon) connects to the servers of Hubspot in the USA. This allows us to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links have been clicked. In addition, technical information (e.g. time of retrieval, IP address, browser type and operating system) is collected. This information cannot be assigned to the respective newsletter recipient. It is used exclusively for the statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better adapt future newsletters to the interests of the recipients.

We process your data for the purpose of processing and answering your enquiry and any follow-up questions, to prevent misuse of the contact form, to ensure the security of our information technology systems and to analyze our newsletter campaigns. We base these data processing operations on our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR) which include processing your enquiry, protecting our information technology systems and enabling us to design and optimize our newsletters to meet your needs.

Hubspot privacy policy can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy. Detailed information about the cookies used by Hubspot can be found at https://legal.hubspot.com/de/cookie-policy.

1.4 Customer relationship management

We process your contact data in order to maintain an effective customer relationship management (CRM). For this purpose, we are using the CRM system provided by Hubspot. Hubspot acts for us as a processor within the meaning of Art. 28 GDPR and exclusively according to our instructions. This is ensured by a contractual arrangement in which we have entered into with Hubspot. The data processing is carried out on the legal basis of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, i.e. our legitimate interest in designing, operating and maintaining our customer relationships as efficiently as possible.

2. PROVISIONS ON THE USE OF COOKIES

We use cookies to ensure the provision, protection and improvement of our services. Below we describe the cookies we use and explain why we use cookies and how we use the information we collect. We also explain how cookies enable the proper functioning of our Website and why you may not be able to use the full functionality of the Website if you disable the use of cookies. If you do not consent to the use of cookies, you may change your cookie setting at any time by following the instructions below.

2.1 What are cookies?

Cookies are text files that contain small amounts of information and are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. During subsequent website visits, cookies are sent back to the original website or another website that recognizes the cookie. Cookies are primarily used to ensure the proper or efficient functioning of a website and to provide information to the website operator. Cookies perform several functions. For example, they allow you to better navigate between different pages, store your preferences and generally improve your user experience. There are two main types of cookies:

• our own cookies, which we store directly on your computer or mobile device;
• third-party cookies that are stored for us and can be used by us for various purposes related to functionality, performance/analysis, contact/newsletter subscription, and payment processing.

Cookies may be stored on your computer or mobile device for different periods of time. Some cookies are session cookies; they only remain temporarily for the duration of a session and end when you close your browser. Other cookies are persistent cookies that remain on your computer or mobile device for a fixed period of time and are not deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies may be used by our Website to recognize your computer or mobile device when you reopen your browser and surf the Internet.

2.2 Why do we use cookies?

We use cookies for several purposes, including:
• to facilitate, simplify and improve your access to and operation of our Website;
• track data flows and usage behavior related to our Website;
• understand how many users regularly use our Website and which operating systems (e.g. Windows or Mac OS) and Internet browsers (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer) they use;
• monitor and continuously improve the performance of our Website;
• personalize and improve your online experience.

2.3 What types of cookies do we use?

The types of cookies we or our partners use in connection with our Website can be divided into three categories: "cookies required for basic purposes", "functionality cookies" and "performance and analysis cookies". Below we have collected additional information for each category, including information about the purpose of the cookies we or a third party store.

Type of cookie	What it does	How to block it
Cookies required for basic purposes	These cookies are necessary to provide you with our services and the services available through the Website and to enable you to use various website features. Without these cookies, services that you have requested could not be provided.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".
Functionality cookies	Functionality cookies save the settings you have made on the Website and allow us to tailor the Website for you. This means that when you stay on or return to the Website, we can offer you our services in exactly the way you want. We use the HubSpot service to contact you and send you our newsletter. To provide this service, HubSpot uses cookies over which Malao has no control. Further information on HubSpot can be found in section 1.3.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".
Performance and analysis cookies	We use these cookies to analyze how our Website is accessed, how it is used or what services the Website provides, to provide you with a better user experience and to maintain, operate and continually improve the Website. Performance and analysis cookies allow us, for example: - better understand the visitors to our Website to improve the presentation of our content; - determine the number of unique users of our Website; - improve our Website by tracking errors that occur; and - to conduct research and diagnostics to improve our offerings. We use Google Analytics and HubSpot to understand how users use our Website. For more information, see sections 1.3 and 1.4.	Please read the instructions below under "How to delete or manage cookies".

2.4 How to delete or manage cookies

You have the right to accept or decline the storage of cookies on your device. You can exercise this right at any time by changing the settings in your browser according to your wishes.

However, if you disable cookies, you may not be able to use all the interactive features of the website and its content.

Most browsers provide instructions on how to customize cookie settings. The cookie settings are usually located under the menu item "settings" of your browser. If you wish to limit the use of third-party cookies, you can do so using one of the following links:

• Your Online Choices (http://www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/)
• Network Advertising Initiative (http://www.networkadvertising.org/)
• Digital Advertising Alliance (http://www.aboutads.info/consumers)

Please note that many companies are listed on these pages that do not set cookies via our Website.

3. DATA RECIPIENTS

3.1 External service providers

Malao may engage external service providers who act as our data processors to provide certain services to us, such as email, Website, marketing or other IT services. While providing these services, the external service providers may have access to or process your personal data.

Based on the data processing agreements concluded with them, the external service providers used are obligated to take appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect the personal data processed and to process the personal data only in accordance with the assignment.

3.2 Additional recipients

Malao may also disclose your personal data to law enforcement and government agencies, legal advisers and other external advisers in accordance with Applicable Data Protection Laws. The legal basis for this processing is compliance with legal obligations (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c) GDPR) to which Malao is subject or our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR), such as exercising or defense of legal claims.

4. YOUR RIGHTS AS A DATA SUBJECT AND HOW TO ASSERT THEM

According to Applicable Data Protection Laws, as a data subject you may have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), the right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR), the right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR), the right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR) and the right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR). The right to access and the right to erasure may be restricted under certain circumstances in accordance with applicable local data protection law. In addition, you are entitled to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR).

If you have declared your consent to the processing of your personal data, you can withdraw this consent at any time with future effect. Such withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of the processing prior to the consent withdrawal. If you withdraw your consent, we will no longer process your personal data unless any other (legal) basis permits this. However, if the consent is withdrawn and no other legal basis exists, we must delete the personal data immediately (Art. 17 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR).

Under certain circumstances, on grounds relating to your particular situation, you have the right to object at any time (Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR) to the processing of personal data concerning you processed on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR). Furthermore, if your personal data is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for these purposes, to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing (Art. 21 para. 2 GDPR). In this case, we will no longer process your personal data for these purposes.

In order to exercise your rights, please contact us under the contact details provided in section 6.

5. STORAGE PERIOD OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA

Your personal data will be stored as long as necessary for the purposes of the data processing described in section 1 above. If Malao no longer processes your personal data for the described purposes, we will remove it from our systems and records or make it completely anonymous so that you can no longer be identified from it. Your data will not be erased or made completely anonymous if and as long as we have to store your data in order to fulfill legal or regulatory obligations, e.g. legal retention requirements, which may arise from the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch, HGB) or the German Tax Code (Abgabenordnung, AO), for example, which stipulate retention periods of 6 to 10 years, or if we need the data to preserve evidence within the limitation period, which is usually 3 years, but can be up to 30 years in individual cases.

6. CONTACT

If you have any questions about this Privacy Notice or the processing of your personal data, please contact us at:

Malao GmbH
Speicherstraße 20
81671 Munich
Germany
Tel: +49 89 287 773 00
Email: future@malao.com