Three experienced film and television professionals have joined forces to start Story Garden, an independent production company based in Munich, Germany. Justyna Muesch and Sofie Scherz-Fleischer, both formerly executives at Wiedemann & Berg, have partnered with acclaimed director Alireza Golafshan to develop and produce movies and television shows.
The team brings decades of combined experience in the German entertainment industry. Muesch served as Managing Director and producer at Wiedemann & Berg Film until late 2023. Scherz-Fleischer has worked in production roles for over 15 years, most recently as executive producer on the comedy movie “Alles Fifty Fifty.” Golafshan co-founded Horse&Fruits Film Productions in Munich and Vienna a decade ago.
Story Garden aims to create high-quality films and series spanning all genres for German-speaking audiences. The company builds on the founders’ track records of success. Golafshan’s “Alles Fifty Fifty” won Best Director at the 2024 Bavarian Film Awards. Muesch’s recent credits include the hit TV series “Dark” and movie “Weekend Rebels,” which Apple acquired remake rights for.
The new venture also merges with Horse&Fruits Film Productions. While Horse&Fruits Munich operations join Story Garden, its Vienna office will continue independently. Horse&Fruits specializes in documentaries like the upcoming talking sheep series “Sheep” for ZDF and ORF. Story Garden anticipates collaborating across offices for German-Austrian co-productions.
Muesch aims to cultivate new talent beyond established directors. “We want to discover fresh voices in the industry,” she said. The founders bring extensive expertise from past award-winning projects and popular titles. Their collaboration forms a strong team committed to diversifying German entertainment. Industry observers will watch how Story Garden impacts the country’s film and television scene.
