Henning Molfenter

Henning Molfenter’s path through the film world isn’t just a typical “climb the ladder” story. The guy’s had his hands in a bunch of Hollywood projects—like, we’re talking legit blockbusters—before he even landed at Babelsberg. Ten years grinding it out in the U.S. film industry? That’s no joke. He picked up credits on films like Man on the Moon, which, if you know your cinema, is kind of a big deal. Then, he rolls into Babelsberg and jumps right in as Executive Producer for Roman Polanski’s The Pianist. Not exactly easing into things, huh? That film racked up awards left and right, so it’s safe to say he knows how to spot a winner—or maybe he just makes things win. Now, as the Managing Director of both Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures and Babelsberg Film, Molfenter’s basically steering the ship at one of Europe’s oldest and most legendary studios. You’ve got to wonder if his MFA from Columbia University in New York gave him that extra edge, or if it was just years of getting his hands dirty on set. Either way, he’s not the kind of exec who hides in an office all day. His background screams “been there, done that, got the passport stamps.” German cinema, Hollywood, indie projects—he’s seen it all. And honestly, that mix is pretty rare, especially at the top. Molfenter’s story is about bridging worlds: American hustle meets European legacy. No boring boardroom type here.