Constantin’s Heinlein joins SEO

German prodco SEO Entertainment has appointed Sebastian Heinlein as head of development and creative director, following the company’s acquisition by Leonine at the start of this year.

Sebastian Heinlein

Heinlein will join SEO on April 1 to oversee development and creation of formats, as well as co-development with Leonine Studios’ other non-fiction prodcos.

He will report to Gillad Osterer, MD of SEO Entertainment, and to Nina Etspüler, head of entertainment development at Leonine Studios.

Heinlein most recently worked for Constantin Entertainment as head of development, before which he was executive producer on Catch! – Der Grosse Sat.1 Fang-Freitag.

From 2011 to 2018, he was programme manager at ProSieben Entertainment, where his responsibilities included the format Die Beste Show Der Welt and late-night show Circus Halligalli.

Leonine Studios CEO Fred Kogel said: “We are very happy that we could win Sebastian Heinlein, one of the most respected and distinguished creatives in the industry, for SEO Entertainment and Leonine Studios. He has made a name for himself as a particularly innovative and talented creative developer in the entertainment field.

“With him, Nina Etspüler and our recent acquisition of SEO Entertainment, we are strengthening our production location in Munich as well as our competence in comedy and have established a perfect starting point for further sustainable growth in the non-fiction production sector.”

Leonine was formed in 2019 through the merger of Tele München Group, Universum Film, i&u TV and Wiedemann & Berg Film.