CZAR

CZAR was founded in 1990, when Pioneer approached three young music-video makers to produce their laser karaoke clips. The trio didn’t have an office, but didn’t want to lose the deal, so overnight they transformed an abandoned office space into the ‘CZAR Group’ Headquarters. In true Mad Men style their new client turned up for the meeting oblivious to the fact that the staff members were just friends pretending to make the space look busy.

CZAR went on to produce thousands of music videos and commercials, establishing itself as an important player on the European commercial scene. The creative mindset and a healthy work ethic lead to the first Cannes Grand Prix in 1996 for Rogier van der Ploeg’s Rolo Elephant, and a Palm D’Or for best worldwide production company. 10 years later Koen Mortier and Joe Vanhoutteghem revolutionized Belgian advertising by opening CZAR Belgium. 

In 2012 Koen‘s TNT film „Push to Add Some Drama“ won 8 Lions in Cannes and countless other awards making it the most awarded ad campaign in Belgian history.

CZAR Germany was founded in 2003. Four years later Jan Fincke took the helm opening an office in Hamburg. In 2010 a second office was opened in Berlin and Thorne Mutert became managing director. CZAR Germany has become one of the country‘s top creative production companies. After producing numerous commercials in Zürich, CZAR Switzerland was officially founded in 2017.

Today creativity is still King. With our Dutch, Belgian, and French partners, and our Scandinavian brother Bacon in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, CZAR represents some of Europe’s strongest creative talent including three of the world’s top 20 most awarded directors – Andreas Nilsson, Nr 1 and multiple Cannes Grand Prix winner for his Volvo Epic Split, Martin Werner of Jack & Jones fame, and Bart Timmer (VW Laughing Horses) – as well as 2014 DGA and Cannes Grand Prix (Under Armor) winner Martin de Thurah.

In 2014 CZAR was listed in the Gunn Report’s Top 10 most awarded production companies worldwide.