Oscar-nominated German filmmaker Maria Brendle and New York City-based producer Mariana Mendes said, “We have launched Double M Film, a Swiss production company in the US dedicated to bold, character-driven storytelling and rethinking indie film models.
Brendle’s feature film debut, “The Case of Frida,” documenting the important 1904 murder trial in Switzerland, premiering last year in an eight-minute standing ovation at the Zurich Film Festival.
The Zurich-based filmmaker meets Mendes in 2021 and is working on the Oscar-nominated short film Take and Run. Mendes went on to executive produce “Take and Run” and oversees the Oscar campaign.
The two “clicked right away,” Blendle told Variety, and what first began as a playful idea in a New York screening room became a reality this summer. Brendle and Mendes say their partnership “redefines the dynamics of traditional producer-directors as one of true equality.”
The duo not only defies traditional ways of raising funds for indie films, but also exploits the global nature of the partnership. European Blendle and US Mendes add that “to gain access to diverse resources, talent and markets.”
“We’re here to make films differently,” Brendle and Mendes said in a joint statement. “From how we see the storyline and funding structure of our projects to how we plan to actually make them happen, we want to push boundaries and build a home for fearless stories where we play with our own rules.”
Double M is kicked off with two untitled projects currently being worked on. The character of World War II, inspired by a real-life story of a woman navigating her broken identity, and centered around a bold, unconventional anti-heroine, is centered around a woman whose choice challenges the strict structures around her and revives the courage and moral complexity of the world of war.
Both projects are currently under development with collaborators from Switzerland, Germany and the US, reflecting the global nature of their partnership.
“The surprising stories that question power structures, confront social issues, and give too much voice to perspectives remain unprecedented and cannot wait to reveal them with Mariana,” explained Brendle. “I admire her courage, intelligence and emotional insights. The way she understands her story and characters makes her an invaluable partner.
Mendes shares Blendle’s enthusiasm. “Working with Maria is an absolute joy. It’s the perfect combination of bold creativity and playful problem-solving. She is a fantastic filmmaker who has no hesitation in embracing the wildest ideas and is forced to be drawn to extraordinary real-life stories.
Recent credits for Mendez, founder of New York-based production company MindSoup, include Rita Basulto’s award-winning short animation “Humo” (“Smoke”), a 2023 animated short “Humo” (“Smoke”), and lives in a forced Nazi camp that was registered at the 96th Academy Awards and was nominated for the Ariel Award in Mexico.
From 2017 to 2025, Mendes helped run Oscar campaigns for entertainment companies such as Apple, Focus, Gkids, Searchlight and Warner Bros. as part of Joshua Jason’s public relations. Additionally, she led campaigns for Oscar-winning shorts, including “I’m Not a Robot” (2025), “The Window of the Neighbor” (2020), and “Skin” (2019).
Blendle is represented by Joanne Roberts Wills in the photo of Blackbear.
