Who we are

Entrepreneur + Independent producer + Storyteller.

More than 25 years of experience in the international media industry. Former managing director of The History Channel Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Various senior positions in the following companies: Bertelsmann Music Group, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Fox, Disney, Pantaflix AG. Consulting to ServusTV, Swisscom and Telekom Austria. International award-winning producer. Member of the international Emmy Jury Germany. Expert in content aggregation, strategic marketing, PR and international program distribution. Lecturer at HFF (University of Television and Film) Munich and Macromedia (University of applied sciences) Munich. Author and Musician.  

Concept + Development Executive + Strategic Leader

Highly experienced professional with a track record spanning over two decades, specializing in the conceptualization, development, and execution of international projects and events. Proficiency in organizing and coordinating press trips for influential media, leading documentary productions, and delivering impactful presentations at international trade fairs. 
As a consultant, I have contributed significantly to the development of innovative tourism concepts, collaborating with highly- renowned international organizations such as the World Bank and various EU-Projects.
Since 2005, founder of Xenostours, a private tour agency committed to crafting bespoke travel arrangements for discerning clientele, including government delegations, investment funds, art clubs and collectors, orchestras, music enthusiasts, wine experts, and wildlife explorers.  

Business strategist + Content monetization consultant

Founded by Carlos Hertel, a media-industry veteran with 25+ years of experience, IMC Strategy provides consulting services to IP-creators, rights holders and service providers in the international content industry since 2017. Mandates at IMC Strategy include projects in the areas of strategy-development, distribution, financing, and coproduction for RED BULL Media, LOOKS Film, PANTAFLIX AG, KDMS and independent and television producers. In May 2023 Carlos joined independent production company K5 as Sales Partner across all genres. Prior to founding IMC Strategy, Carlos has held senior positions at leading media companies BAVARIA FILM, TELE MÜNCHEN and TELEPOOL. He holds a double degree in Business Administration from the International Partnership of Business Schools (IPBS) in Reutlingen (ESB) and Madrid (ICADE E-4).  

Creative Brand + Business Builder

More than 30 years of experience in the international media industry. Former managing director of The Disney Channel Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Various senior positions in the following companies: Warner, Playmobil, Universal, Paramount, Discovery, ProSiebenSat1. International award-winning creative. Boardmember of Eyes and Ears of Europe, international organization for Media Design, Marketing & Promotrion. Expert in brand-building, marketing s& sales trategy, animation, kids & family entertainment, licensing and merchandising and international program distribution.  

Director

Thom is a renowned director and creative director with over a decade of experience working with leading creative brands, driving their innovative vision forward. He transitioned into directing after obtaining a BFA in visual arts, architecture, and painting. His music videos, known for their strong visual and graphic elements, have earned him awards such as MTV Awards, Viva Comets, and VH1 Music Awards.
His work spans various disciplines, including live-action, animation, and motion graphics. Thom has been the visual architect behind award-winning advertising campaigns for brands like Citibank, Mercedes, Chrysler, BMW, Nissan, AT&T, Prada, and Armani, among others.
He has directed renowned talents such as Molly Sims, Jean Marc Barr, Oprah Winfrey, Juliette Binoche, Daniel Brühl, Christoph Waltz, Adriana Lima, Claudia Schiffer, Heidi Klum, and more. Thom's work has been recognized by prestigious awards including the Cannes Lions Awards, the Art Directors Club, the Clios, the D&AD, as well as the New York Film Festival, among others.
Based in New York City, Thom is currently developing feature film projects and TV series while sharing his expertise through workshops and lectures worldwide.  

Filmmaker+Independent Producer

Cati Weinek’s content is multi-award winning, selected for markets at Series Mania and Cannes as well as global festivals. She is an alumnus of the Erich Pommer Institute, founder of a South African gender-diverse collective of filmmakers; co-creator of the ground-breaking script programme, Sediba in South Africa. She has produced 9 feature films and has created more than 600 hours of television content with Kings of Joburg Series 2 on Netflix her latest production.  Her animation feature film, Headspace, released theatrically in Spain, Poland, Latvia, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the last half of 2023.

TV + Media Expert

30 years of experience in the media industry, having served as the CEO of the Georgian Public Broadcaster - First Channel, and founder of the first digital television "MZE" and PAY TV platform "GMG" in the Caucasus region. He has an impressive track record of producing international television projects and series for Georgian and regional stations, partnering with renowned companies such as BBC Studios, ITV Studios, All 3 Media, Freemantal, Armoza Formats, and HBO CE, among others. Additionally, Kubaneishvili is adept at planning and implementing strategic marketing campaigns for large Georgian companies.  

Filmmaker+Producer

Shalom Eisenbach, a filmmaker and producer, operates in Israel, Ukraine, and Georgia. In 2012, he established SE Film Production, achieving success through the production of award-winning feature films and TV series. Notably, "The Golem" (2019) earned a position among the "TOP 10 Best Horror Movies 2019" on Netflix and is available for streaming on Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon. Eisenbach's recent works include the post-WW2 thriller "PLAN A" (2021), featuring August Diehl and Sylvia Hoeks, the black comedy "Checkout" (2021) developed at the Sundance Institute and starring Josh Pais ("Joker," "New York, New York"), and the feature film "Home," which received 11 nominations at the Israeli Film Academy Awards. In 2023, Eisenbach co-produced the mini TV series "Stronghold" for the national broadcaster KAN. SE Film Production has provided production services in Ukraine and Georgia for numerous international productions.  

Tech Leader+ IT Architect + AI

Working in IT more than 15 years by specialising in software engineering, cloud computing, solution architecture and AI technologies. Had various senior, lead and architect positions in different international and global companies with variety of business areas such as e-commerce, media projects, electronic devices, social network etc. The main focuses were building large scale distributed, highly performable, available and reliable software systems and platforms. Also experienced in leadership roles, managing teams and driving initiatives in agile environment.  

Filmmaker

Nika is a cinematographer - born in Tbilisi, Georgia and raised in Toronto, Canada. He dived deep into the world of electronic music events, making films for industry giants like Live Nation, Insomniac, VICE and INK Entertainment. Simultaneously, he joined alongside some of the world's most renowned DJs on tour, creating music videos and after-movies and collaborated with the Director's Guild of Canada for several years, where he created their content and helped launch the DGC Round Table Discussion series. Transitioning to commercial productions, he partnered with agencies in Toronto and engaged in meaningful work with NGOs worldwide. He has worked on projects with renowned brands and agencies such as SONY, Aveda, WaterAid, War Child, Jameson, Stoneleigh, Gravity, ZINK and many more. In 2021, Nika returned to his roots, dedicating himself to writing and developing films in Georgia.  

Filmmaker + Independent Producer

Seda Grigoryan is a documentary filmmaker and media professional based in Yerevan. She holds an educational background from Florida State University (USA) and the University of West London (UK).
She is the former video production manager at CivilNet TV, a pioneering online media production in Armenia. Currently, Seda holds the position of the video producer at Hetq, a leading platform for investigative journalism. Additionally, she imparts her expertise as a video storytelling lecturer at Hetq Media Factory.
An active member of the Independent Filmmakers Community of Armenia, Seda took part in initiating the submission of the Law on Cinema, significantly contributing to the development of the film industry and fostered international co-productions in Armenia.