Black Sail Pictures
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2010
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 1
About Black Sail Pictures
Black Sail Pictures is an independent German visual effects and digital animation studio based in Grünwald, south of Munich. Founded in July 2010, the studio works across feature films, television series, streaming productions and commercial media. Its work combines on-set visual effects supervision with digital production and post-production.
The studio’s capabilities span CGI, character and creature animation, digital compositing, matte painting and environment creation. Its simulation work includes particles, fluids, fire and destruction, alongside modeling, texturing, rigging and character effects. Technical consulting, VFX production management and pipeline consulting support these production services.
Film and television work
Black Sail Pictures has contributed visual effects to international cinema and German film and television productions. Feature credits include Return to Silent Hill (2026), Fall for Me (2025), The Crow (2024) and Get Up (2023). Its episodic work includes contributions to Der Schwarm / The Swarm and longstanding work on German television franchises such as Der Bergdoktor and Die Bergretter.
Additional television and streaming credits include Die Liebeskümmerer, Hammerharte Jungs, So weit das Meer and In aller Freundschaft - Die jungen Ärzte: Ganz in Weiß. These projects reflect a portfolio spanning horror, thrillers, comedy and television drama.
Beyond film and episodic visual effects, the company offers planning and production services for documentaries, commercials, corporate productions and educational media. Its broader technical offering includes custom software and pipeline development for film, television and web projects, complementing its animation, compositing and post-production work.
More about Black Sail Pictures
Leadership and company history
- Founder Markus Strehl remains a managing director. Katja Müller was appointed managing director on 18 March 2026; both have individual representation authority.
- Co-founder Phillipp Sauermann served as a managing director from July 2010 until September 2017.
- Manuel Hufschmid held commercial proxy authority from February 2021 until 18 March 2026 and continues as an in-house VFX supervisor.
Technology and operating model
- The studio develops bespoke proprietary hardware and software tools to streamline high-throughput visual effects pipelines.
- It operates with a permanent technical and supervisory core, adding project-based contract artists during peak film post-production periods.
Notable credits
11 creditsOffices
Where Black Sail Pictures is based
- Bavariafilmplatz 3, 82031 Grünwald, Bavaria, GermanyGrünwald, Bavaria, Germany
Grünwald office
HeadquartersThe company's sole operational facility and overall headquarters, within the Bavaria Film Studios complex in Geiselgasteig.
Open roles
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