Federation Backs German Production Venture Glisk

Former RTL executive Philipp Steffens and Splendid Studios alum Julie Link have set up a new production and talent management company, Glisk, in partnership with Federation Entertainment.

Glisk will focus on the creation, production, financing and distribution of high-quality original productions via a stable of independent studios. It will work across scripted, unscripted and formats for the German domestic marketplace alongside international multi-genre co-productions with global appeal, as well as focus on bringing German content and brands to an international audience. The company will also act as a talent management company for actors, writers and directors.

Steffens is an award-winning fiction producer with experience at European broadcasters and production companies. He created and produced The Valley for TNT Germany, as well as the hit German TV series The Last Cop (Der Letzte Bulle). In 2014, he became head of fiction at RTL Television and was responsible for all drama and comedy productions.

Link is a producer and creative executive with over 20 years of experience at studios in the U.S. and Europe. Most recently, she was managing director at Splendid Studios. She previously held senior positions as international consultant for Critical Content and executive VP of development at Relativity Television.

Pascal Breton, founder and president of Federation Entertainment, said: “Germany was the last major European country where Federation had yet to establish a solid presence because we were waiting to meet the right partners. Julie Link and Philipp Steffens are those partners. Julie and Philipp perfectly embody the balance between artistic excellence and an ambition to engage our ever-growing audiences, particularly on digital platforms. We hope that our combined forces will attract even more talent for our management activities and also to develop and co-produce a large slate of independent productions. Federation’s contribution to the gaps in development, presales and distribution financing should allow Julie and Philipp and their partners to launch more productions in the coming years, and we look forward to working with them.”

Steffens and Link added: “As husband and wife, we have wanted to work together for a long time, and the last year has provided the perfect environment for us to make our dream a reality. Our aim is to build a company that offers great partnership opportunities to the creative community. We want to be an incubator for great ideas and bring them to light creating engaging and emotional content that travels globally. We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Federation Entertainment—they have a real understanding of our goals and will be incredible support as we are able to tap into the outstanding talent at the global network of independent studios. From our base in Cologne, we are thrilled to join Federation Entertainment’s growing team to develop content with real global outreach.”