Promotional video from the Commerzbank campaign “Together, We Can Do It” The best advertising for a bank: a customer who made it.
When the coronavirus hit, Berlin’s cultural poster industry lost its entire business—all within a week. The film tells the story of how Commerzbank stepped in to help before it was too late, and what the company is giving back to the city today.
A Bank Proves Its Worth During a Crisis
Kulturplakatierung has been putting up posters for Berlin’s cultural and events scene since 1993. In the spring of 2020, this business came to a sudden halt: no concerts, no posters, no revenue. Bankruptcy seemed like the next step.
Then Commerzbank stepped in to help—and quickly: The funds were transferred within a week. The film lets the company itself explain what that trust meant. And it shows the most beautiful form of gratitude: Ever since, the cultural poster campaign has continued to beautify the city—even without any commissions.
Filmed in the midst of the crisis
This film was not made in hindsight, but in the spring of 2020, when no one knew how long the crisis would last. That is precisely what makes it credible: the relief in the original audio is genuine, as is the gratitude.
The story continued: In 2022, a sequel was released about the fresh start following the rescue. For Commerzbank, the film achieves what bank advertising rarely does: It doesn’t merely claim to be close to its customers—it documents that closeness through a real-life case, complete with names, faces, and a verifiable story.
“We have zero revenue, and we’re on short-time work. And yet Commerzbank said: ‘We trust you; we’ll get through this together.’”
Seen in the film
Managing Director Mihai Danzke introduces Kulturplakatierung: serving Berlin’s cultural scene since 1993. Then came the turning point: COVID-19. The client base vanished within a week—zero revenue, furloughs, and the threat of bankruptcy looming. The turning point: Commerzbank says, “We trust you; we’ll get through this together,” and the funds arrive within a week. In the end, the gesture that makes the film special: pro bono work as a thank-you to the city and the desire to personally thank the bank’s staff.
01 · Putting up posters for Berlin's cultural scene
02 · Serving the city since 1993
03 · Workshop Details
04 · At the Office of Cultural Posters
What ROCC Film took care of.
A film shoot under COVID-19 conditions—quick and up close with the people.
