Olaf Jacobs

Olaf Jacobs started his career at Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk as an editor, presenter, and managing editor. At the same time, he studied law, economics, and American film dramaturgy.

In 1996, he founded the production company Hoferichter & Jacobs GmbH. With his company, Jacobs produces journalistic primetime programs for German public broadcasters, often in international collaboration. The television documentary series “DDR ahoi!” was awarded the Grimme Prize in 2011. With series such as “Wem gehört der Osten?” (Who owns the East?), he developed a special form of contemporary historical documentary. Most recently, the documentary “Es ist kompliziert... Der Osten in den Medien” (It's complicated... The East in the media) (2024) caused a stir.

In addition to his production work, Jacobs works as a lecturer and media trainer since 2002. In 2014, he became an honorary professor at the University of Leipzig, followed by a visiting professorship in Łódź, Poland, in 2016. Jacobs is a member of the German and European Film Academies. Since 2020, he has been the founding managing director of MV Filmförderung GmbH, establishing cultural film and media funding in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.