Ymagis Acquires Christa Kistner Synchronproduktion

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Thu, 06/16/2016 - 11:32 -- Nick Dager

Christa Kistner, managing director of Christa Kistner Synchronproduktion, Berlin.Ymagis Group has acquired Berlin-based Christa Kistner Synchronproduktion, one of Germany’s leading dubbing companies for the cinema and television industries. Under the terms of the agreement, Ymagis SA, through one of its wholly owned German subsidiaries, becomes the sole shareholder of Christa Kistner Synchronproduktion. Christa Kistner remains in her functions as its managing director.

“We are privileged to have such a highly-respected professional as Christa Kistner bring her expertise to Eclair's creative versioning and accessibility services,” said Jean Mizrahi, chairman and chief executive officer of Ymagis Group. “Kistner’s reputation, production expertise and experience will expand Eclair’s services portfolio in Germany, which already includes post-production, theatrical delivery and versioning and accessibility solutions delivered from both Karlsruhe and Berlin locations. In addition, we are investing in Berlin with the upcoming opening of Eclair’s first sound studio facilities. Three new auditoriums – two recording studios and a Dolby Atmos mixing stage – are currently under construction just minutes from our offices in the city’s historic Gebauer Höfe district.”

This new venture with Christa Kistner allows the Group to offer German cinema and TV filmmakers a comprehensive portfolio of MPAA-compliant content services from a single location in Berlin: project management, picture and sound editing, color grading, versioning, voice-over, subtitling, audio description, closed captioning, ADR, content delivery and storage/content management.

“My long-term vision has been fulfilled by taking this step to become part of the Eclair family,” said Kistner. “These beautiful new, state-of-the-art sound facilities will allow us to keep delivering first-class narration and dubbing recordings, subtitles, and mix-downs to producers and distributors. It provides the opportunity to grow in a culture similar to ours, well known for quality, creativity and timeliness. Our immediate focus is on international and independent projects with a strong artistic approach toward the cinema and TV industries."

"For over twenty years, the Kistner name has been synonymous with sophisticated dubbing projects and highly-professional services,” said Michael Krauth, general manager of Eclair’s Content Services in Germany. “My background as a sound engineer allows me a full appreciation of her talent and incredible achievements over the years. Christa has gained the respect of every filmmaker she has ever worked with, and brings with her many loyal clients. We constantly aspire to deliver top quality coupled with best-in-class services. This move is another example of our continued commitment to excellence.”

Kistner began her career in the Nineties as technical manager for independent film distributor Jugendfilm-Verleih, before joining the world-renowned Studio Babelsberg as the head of their dubbing and technical facilities in 1995. In 2007, she founded her own company, Christa Kistner Synchronproduktion, and has since overseen the adaptation of over 500 feature films.

Ymagis Group http://www.ymagis.com