Vuelta's Playtime to Merge Film Constellation and Global Screen to Form Global Constellation
Vuelta Group's international sales division, Playtime, has completed the full acquisition of sales house Film Constellation from Fabien Westerhoff, and integrated its operations with Global Screen, the German-based international sales outfit under Playtime. Together, these entities will form Global Constellation.
Global Constellation will be part of the Playtime Group, which includes sales companies Playtime, Film Boutique, and Be for Films.
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Westerhoff takes an executive role as managing director of the theatrical film division bringing together the strengths of both companies with a strategic market focus on animation, family entertainment, and genre cinema.
Ulrike Schroder will be managing director of the TV division, heading the hub for international TV distribution within Vuelta.
Global Constellation will collaborate closely with Vuelta Germany, Vuelta's German film distribution arm, born from the merger of Squareone and Telepool. This positions Global Constellation as the 'go-to partner for German and international filmmakers seeking pan-European collaborations and international reach,' said Vuelta. The first joint projects will be unveiled at next month's Cannes Film Market.
Global Constellation's film slate includes: 'Olmo' by Fernando Eimbcke and 'Welcome Home Baby' by Andreas Prochaska, which premiered in the Panorama section at the 2025 Berlinale; animated features 'The Last Dinosaur' by Ben Smith, 'The Last Whale Singer' by Reza Memari, 'The Growcodile' by Joost Van den Bosch and Erik Verkerk, and 'Carmen' by Sebastien Laudenbach; historical epic 'The Captive' by Alejandro Amenábar; and survival horror thriller 'Fear Is the Rider' by John Michael McDonagh; 'Call Me Queen,' the first foray into English-language by German-French director Emily Atef; and 'Paradise' by Academy Award nominated Jeremy Comte.
On the TV side, Global Constellation has a strong current lineup comprising among others: True crime miniseries 'Murder on the Inca Trail,' produced by Westside Filmproduktion/Constantin Television, directed by Nina Wolfrum; and the second season of hit TV show 'Recipes for Love and Murder,' a light crime series, directed by Jozua Malherbe and Karen Jeynes and produced by Thierry Cassuto in partnership with AMC Networks' Acorn TV, Multichoice and Both Worlds Pictures.
New projects will be unveiled at the upcoming Cannes Film Market and before NATPE for TV.
François Yon, Vuelta's CEO, said: 'When shaping the ambition of Vuelta, it appeared to us that a sales company, focused on a strong market segment and a dedicated TV sales arm was needed. Merging the expertise of the Film Constellation team with the footprint of German anchored Global Screen made a lot of sense.'
Westerhoff added: 'It is an exciting time to join Vuelta, tapping into the strength of the group's multi-territory distribution and production capacities. I am delighted to bring Constellation's strong filmmaker ties to curate a bold slate, bridging visionary storytelling with global market appeal. Global Constellation offers end-to-end expertise from early packaging to international sales, working closely with leading producers, emerging talent, and major distribution partners across all territories.'
Schroder said: 'Global Constellation will continue its proven tradition as an integrated house of cinema and TV world sales in the new set-up and, with the support of an assertive corporate network of local production, distribution and sales that makes up Vuelta, representing even stronger content and achieve even greater reach and weight.'
Chairman of Vuelta Media, Jerome Levy, commented: 'Global Constellation is an integral part of Vuelta's broader strategy – to create an ambitious, collaborative, and integrated European film studio, bringing together development, production, distribution, and international sales under one roof. I am excited about this talented and creative group of people we have brought together.'
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