Former Studio Babelsberg Independents (SBI) chief Arthur Hofer has been appointed artistic head at the Baden-Wuerrttemberg Film Academy in Ludwigsburg. He succeeds Albrecht Ade who founded the academy in 1991.

Hofer resigned from his Babelsberg post last month citing the resignation of studio boss Friedrich-Carl Wachs as a reason for his departure (Screendaily March 28).

Hofer launched a blistering attack on Babelsberg owner, the French utilities and media giant Vivendi, in an interview with Berlin daily Berlin Morgenpost this week.

He told the newspaper that he was leaving the studio "in a phase where SBI is really successful". He added: "If the shareholder turns around here and says that no longer fits into our strategy, ie we now have to save money, then it makes little sense to fight against this. The shareholder has the say. So one has to take the consequences. I can't just sit here and twiddle my thumbs."