Studio Babelsberg and FABW collaborate on Virtual Production research

Strategic Partnership

Potsdam/Ludwigsburg, January 19, 2026 – Studio Babelsberg AG and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW) have entered into a cooperation agreement to establish and expand their collaboration in the field of research and development, with a focus on virtual productions. The aim of the partnership is to advance innovative technologies for film and media and to link the training of the next generation of filmmakers even more closely to current market and technology requirements.

The first joint project of the cooperation is a comprehensive “backlot scan.” A research and development team from FABW, led by Prof. Volker Helzle (head of the Research & Development department at the Filmakademie's Animationsinstitut), will digitally capture parts of Studio Babelsberg's large outdoor set area using camera and drone footage. The data obtained can be used for the digital analysis of film locations and can be used in both research and student teaching in the field of virtual production. The aim is to evaluate the fundamentals for new technical possibilities in virtual film production and to make these available for future developments of open platforms for digital film location analysis.

“The cooperation with Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg provides us with valuable impetus from applied research and at the same time strengthens the practical training of the next generation of filmmakers – a cause that we at Studio Babelsberg are particularly committed to,” explains Jörg Bachmaier, CEO of Studio Babelsberg AG.

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Managing Director and Artistic Director of FABW, adds: “We are getting ready for the future – and we are doing so with strong partners! Together with Studio Babelsberg, we want to test and further develop pioneering technologies in the field of virtual production in order to be able to apply them to artistically demanding projects – an enormous gain for our research, teaching, and cinematic practice.”

Photo: Dr. Andreas Bareiß (Managing Director and Artistic Director, FABW, left) and Jörg Bachmaier (CEO, Studio Babelsberg, right)

About Studio Babelsberg, part of Cinespace Studios:

Studio Babelsberg, founded in 1912, is the oldest large-scale film studio in the world and the cradle of German cinema. Today, Studio Babelsberg is one of Europe's leading production locations for film, television, and streaming. With 21 state-of-the-art studios, various outdoor sets, and production areas covering over 173,000 m², Europe's largest prop collection, first-class set construction, unique production services, and internationally experienced crews, Studio Babelsberg offers ideal conditions for every production need. Its references include renowned international film and series productions such as THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, THE HUNGER GAMES series, and most recently JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4.

Since 2022, Studio Babelsberg has been part of Cinespace Studios, a world-class global platform of production facilities that supports content producers and creatives. With 109 studio halls in Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Wilmington, and Studio Babelsberg in Germany, the platform is one of the largest studio operators worldwide.