Tobis studios sold to Filmdrehtsich Unipessoal
by Vitor Pinto
- Angolan capital firm acquires Portugal’s historical film studios
Tobis, the historical Portuguese film studios founded in 1932, have been sold to Angolese capital firm Filmdrehtsich Unipessoal. The sale, for which exact figures are still unknown, was confirmed by José Pedro Ribeiro, director of the ICA, the state entity that until yesterday owned 96.48% of Tobis’ shares.
Tobis had been struggling over the last few months, with its 55 employees complaining that they were not paid and that they were not sure how they would survive after the Portuguese state announced that it would withdraw from the company.
According to ICA, the agreement will allow a majority of jobs within the company to be saved and the studios’ film heritage to be preserved. Tobis’ catalogue includes classics from Portuguese cinema’s golden age such as A Song of Lisbon by José Cottinelli Telmo, the first Portuguese film to be made with sound in 1933.
(Translated from Spanish)
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
