Austrian-German production company Westside Studios will unveil its latest documentary thriller, “Spy Capital 2: Name of the Game,” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025. Following the international success of “Spy Capital: Vienna” (2024), this highly anticipated sequel promises to dig deeper into the shadowy world of European espionage operations.
The documentary brings together dramatic reenactments and real-world testimony under the direction of Boris Volodarsky. For those unfamiliar with his work, Volodarsky isn’t just any filmmaker – he’s an award-winning director and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society with genuine expertise in intelligence history. His unique background certainly shows in the film’s approach to its subject matter.
At its core, “Spy Capital 2” follows The Telegraph’s special correspondent Hayley Dixon through her exhaustive investigation spanning nearly two years. Dixon’s journey takes viewers across Europe and into the United States, peeling back layers of contemporary intelligence operations that most of us can barely imagine exist.
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline revolves around Jan Marsalek, the former Chief Operating Officer of German fintech giant Wirecard. If you’ve been following the news, you’ll know Marsalek vanished after Wirecard’s spectacular collapse, with media reports suggesting he might have been a long-term Russian intelligence asset. Producer Dennis DeWall steps into Marsalek’s shoes for the dramatic sequences, while Austrian TV favorite Silvia Schneider portrays a British investigative journalist.
The production team didn’t cut corners when capturing the global reach of modern espionage. They filmed in London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, Munich, Nice, Malta’s Sliema, and even Syria’s Palmyra. It’s this geographical scope that really drives home how borderless intelligence operations have become.
One particularly fascinating element is the inclusion of German psychological profiler Suzanne Grieger-Langer, who provides on-camera analysis of the key players. Her insights offer viewers a rare glimpse into what makes these individuals tick – something you don’t typically see in documentaries of this nature.
What really sets this film apart is its unprecedented access to actual intelligence professionals. Real-life intelligence officers and spy handlers agreed to be interviewed, sharing firsthand accounts of how modern espionage actually works. Combined with Volodarsky’s historical expertise, these testimonies create a remarkably comprehensive picture of contemporary spy craft.
The World Premiere kicks off at 2:00 PM in the Palais des Festival’s Lérins 3 cinema, with a special meet and greet session scheduled for 1:00 PM. Most of the production team has confirmed they’ll be attending, and Westside Studios will be holding court at booth Palais -1 | 22.07 throughout the festival.
The timing couldn’t be better. With intelligence operations dominating headlines more than ever, audiences are clearly hungry for authentic insights into this secretive world. Recent high-profile cases have only intensified public interest in understanding how these shadowy networks operate.
While the first film focused primarily on Vienna’s unique position as an espionage hub, this sequel broadens its lens considerably. The filmmakers have emphasized their commitment to extensive historical research, woven together with examination of current events to provide essential context for understanding today’s intelligence landscape.
For those wanting to catch up before the sequel drops, the original “Spy Capital: Vienna” is still streaming. German and Austrian viewers can watch it on Amazon Prime Video, while audiences in the US and UK can find it here.
The Cannes premiere represents a major milestone for this ambitious documentary. By blending dramatic storytelling with investigative journalism, “Spy Capital 2: Name of the Game” aims to make the complex world of intelligence gathering accessible without sacrificing accuracy or depth.
As the line between fact and fiction becomes increasingly blurred, this documentary arrives at exactly the right moment. Real espionage continues to shape our world in ways that would make even the best spy novels seem tame – and “Spy Capital 2” promises to reveal secrets that will leave audiences questioning everything they thought they knew about international intelligence. Whether you’re hooked on spy thrillers or fascinated by real-world geopolitics, mark your calendar – this is one premiere you won’t want to miss.
