INA BALINT-ECK &
OLIVER FUCHS
ABOUT
OLIVER:
I grew up in Tschiertschen-Praden, a quiet village in the Swiss Alps that taught me the value of perspective – and snowboarding. After graduating from the Bündner Kantonsschule in Chur, I studied photo engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. At least, that was the plan. But already in 1991, while still at university, I found myself drawn into the world of television – and never looked back.
From 1991 to 2004, I worked as an editor, production manager and head of production for both German and international companies, including Fremantle Germany, Pearson Television and RTL’s subsidiary Stormy Entertainment. It was the pre-streaming era – a time of faxes, flipcharts and figuring things out as you go.
In 2004, I became CEO of the Eyeworks Germany Group and spent the following years building it into one of the leading independent TV and film production companies in the German-speaking market. Productions like Hape Kerkeling Live, The Great IQ Test, Wilsberg, Rach – The Restaurant Tester (aka Kitchen Nightmares), The Lottery Kings or Who Wants to Marry My Son? (aka Schwiegertochter gesucht) reached millions and received accolades such as the German Television Award, the Bavarian Television Award and the Golden Camera.
In 2012, I switched sides – becoming Head of the Show Department at German public broadcaster ZDF. There, I developed formats like Bares für Rares (Cash or Trash), Die Anstalt and The Helene Fischer Show – all of which went on to become flagship programs for the network.
From 2015 to 2018, I served as Executive Director of Bavaria Entertainment GmbH – continuing my quest to create television that’s relevant, joyful, curious and not afraid to bite when necessary.
Today, I’m co-founder of Fabiola GmbH – where we develop cross-platform content that surprises, moves, and with any luck, is as successful as it is loved.
INA:
I started my career in the TV and film industry at the age of 15 with one of the leading roles in the youth film "Freundinnen & andere Monster". Further appearances as an actress in film and TV productions followed, such as "Sissis kleine Schwester", "Tatort", "Unser Charly" and "SK Kölsch". In 2000, I started working behind the camera as a material assistant at Bavaria Film in Munich, before joining Endemol in 2001 as an editor for productions such as "Nur die Liebe zählt" and "Rosen vom Ex".
In 2004, I worked as an assistant director for the ARD pre-evening series "Berlin, Berlin."
As a producer, I supervised a weekly ZDF-Wiso series with journalist Ulrich Kienzle for four years starting in 2004. This was followed by further positions as producer, director, executive producer and creative director at various German production companies.
In October 2018, together with Oliver, I founded the media company Fabiola GmbH, based in Potsdam Babaelberg and Cologn . In addition to Oliver and myself, the shareholders and founding members of Fabiola include the Belgian production companies CCAVIAR / Roses are Blue and Woestijnvis.
INA BALINT-ECK
OLIVER FUCHS
