Major Penzing Studios complex opens in Munich, Germany

A brand-new major studio facility, Penzing Studios, has opened at a former airbase in Penzing, 30 miles west of Munich where productions are already underway.

The site includes refurbished airplane hangars and a full-scale virtual production stage, with further sound stages set to open in June.

The developers plan to invest an additional €100m in the next three years to expand the facility to 12 sound stages with 25,000 square meters (sq m) of production space and 15,000 sq m of workshop and office spaces. The site is expected to create more than 1000 jobs by 2025.

Penzing Studios  is working In partnership with the architecture firm Snohetta to make the site the world’s first zero-emission film studio where all structures added to the existing facilities will use rammed earth and timber to create a sustainable working environment.

“Supply continues to outstrip demand for studio facilities and there are transformative shifts underway in the way in which film and television is created. We are at the forefront of these changes and aim to create a sustainable hub in which creative people can thrive and do their best work.” said Penzing Studios managing partner Jörn Siegele and producer and partner Joe Neurauter.

“Productions that want to shoot in the region often have to switch to other locations because of a lack of available state-of-the-art and scalable studio facilities. We are thrilled about the launch of Penzing Studios and its forward-thinking approach to the future of production. It allows us to offer incoming productions a compelling package with advanced digital studio facilities, an established crew base, attractive incentives, and a desirable shooting destination in the heart of Europe,” added Bavarian film commissioner Anja Metzger.