Madrid — Giant network TF1, pubcaster France Televisions, upscale channel Arte France, free-to-air network M6 and European TV-film force Studiocanal, owned by Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group, are among companies confirmed for June’s Conecta Fiction in Spain, where France has been chosen as its European Country Focus.
A much appreciated Europe-Latin America production forum and networking event, which allows companies far more time to meet, great and plan than May’s L.A. Screenings, the 4th Conecta Fiction will unspool for the second year running in Pamplona, northern Spain, over June 22-25, at the Baluarte Palace of Congress.
These combines will be joined by Mediawan Originals, Orange Studio, Lagardère Studios, Federation Entertainment, Elephant International, Banijay Group, Gaumont, Wild Horses Group and Newen, all companies with large ambitions in international: Banijay paid $2.2 billion last October to acquire the Endemol Shine Group.
The initiative is also backed by the might of French institutions,...
A much appreciated Europe-Latin America production forum and networking event, which allows companies far more time to meet, great and plan than May’s L.A. Screenings, the 4th Conecta Fiction will unspool for the second year running in Pamplona, northern Spain, over June 22-25, at the Baluarte Palace of Congress.
These combines will be joined by Mediawan Originals, Orange Studio, Lagardère Studios, Federation Entertainment, Elephant International, Banijay Group, Gaumont, Wild Horses Group and Newen, all companies with large ambitions in international: Banijay paid $2.2 billion last October to acquire the Endemol Shine Group.
The initiative is also backed by the might of French institutions,...
- 1/9/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Deal includes Scandinavian series Couple Trouble and Idiomatic
Us streaming service Sundance Now has acquired a package of drama series, including German-New Zealand thriller The Gulf and Norwegian crime show Wisting, from Banijay Rights.
The AMC Networks-owned service will give The Gulf, a New Zealand-set detective series co-produced by Screentime New Zealand, Lippy Pictures and Letterbox Filmproduktion, an Svod premiere in the Us and Canada. Sundance Now has also taken a second window after broadcast for the series in the UK.
Wisting - based on the novels by Jørn Lier Horst and produced by Cinenord in co-production with Good Company Films,...
Us streaming service Sundance Now has acquired a package of drama series, including German-New Zealand thriller The Gulf and Norwegian crime show Wisting, from Banijay Rights.
The AMC Networks-owned service will give The Gulf, a New Zealand-set detective series co-produced by Screentime New Zealand, Lippy Pictures and Letterbox Filmproduktion, an Svod premiere in the Us and Canada. Sundance Now has also taken a second window after broadcast for the series in the UK.
Wisting - based on the novels by Jørn Lier Horst and produced by Cinenord in co-production with Good Company Films,...
- 11/6/2019
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Eric Rochant, creator, showrunner and director of the praised French TV series The Bureau (Le Bureau Des Legendes), has signed with Brillstein Entertainment Partners as he is plotting a move to Hollywood.
Rochant recently finished shooting the fifth and final season of political thriller series The Bureau, which airs on French broadcaster Canal+. With the show coming to an end, Rochant has set his sight on creating, showrunning and directing opportunities in the U.S.
The Bureau centers around French intelligence officer Malotru, who after six years of undercover work in Syria, returns home, where he struggles to forget his undercover identity under which he’s in love with a Syrian teacher. He makes a mistake and then has to pay the consequences beyond all expectation, putting everybody around him in danger, especially his country and the ones he loves.
Rochant produces the series with Alex Berger through their production company Top-The Oligarchs Productions.
Rochant recently finished shooting the fifth and final season of political thriller series The Bureau, which airs on French broadcaster Canal+. With the show coming to an end, Rochant has set his sight on creating, showrunning and directing opportunities in the U.S.
The Bureau centers around French intelligence officer Malotru, who after six years of undercover work in Syria, returns home, where he struggles to forget his undercover identity under which he’s in love with a Syrian teacher. He makes a mistake and then has to pay the consequences beyond all expectation, putting everybody around him in danger, especially his country and the ones he loves.
Rochant produces the series with Alex Berger through their production company Top-The Oligarchs Productions.
- 10/24/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
The industry sessions will run from September 25-27.
UK film festival Encounters has unveiled the industry programme for its 2019 event, with guests including Locksmith Animation studio and Doc Society, distributor of the BFI’s documentary funds.
Doc Society will host a panel discussing funding opportunities for UK documentaries on Wednesday September 25.
Locksmith will give a masterclass presentation the following day, with key talent from the studio discussing their careers and future plans in making films for a global family audience.
Other sessions include The Happiness Machine, a presentation from a pan-European project connecting women animators and composers in the crafting of new work.
UK film festival Encounters has unveiled the industry programme for its 2019 event, with guests including Locksmith Animation studio and Doc Society, distributor of the BFI’s documentary funds.
Doc Society will host a panel discussing funding opportunities for UK documentaries on Wednesday September 25.
Locksmith will give a masterclass presentation the following day, with key talent from the studio discussing their careers and future plans in making films for a global family audience.
Other sessions include The Happiness Machine, a presentation from a pan-European project connecting women animators and composers in the crafting of new work.
- 9/6/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
“Roma” producer Nicolas Celis’ series debut “Perfect Monsters,” Nabil Ayouch’s “Blackout” and Cinenord’s “Ice Valley” were announced as the three winners of this year’s In Development Drama Producers’ Pitch section, run collaboratively by MipTV and Canneseries.
In Development is dedicated to the development and promotion of new international TV productions from established and new talents alike. A potentially major launchpad for the still-young projects, the pitching sessions saw 12 projects selected by members of the In Development advisory board. This year, 376 projects were submitted for consideration from 41 countries.
Participating projects pitched to often packed audiences of industry professionals. Three were selected for prizes handed out by In Development’s official partners: Federation Entertainment (“The Bureau”), which offers to co-develop, co-produce and distribute one of the selected projects, and French think tank “La Fabrique des Formats” and its investment fund, which offers financing for up to two series from...
In Development is dedicated to the development and promotion of new international TV productions from established and new talents alike. A potentially major launchpad for the still-young projects, the pitching sessions saw 12 projects selected by members of the In Development advisory board. This year, 376 projects were submitted for consideration from 41 countries.
Participating projects pitched to often packed audiences of industry professionals. Three were selected for prizes handed out by In Development’s official partners: Federation Entertainment (“The Bureau”), which offers to co-develop, co-produce and distribute one of the selected projects, and French think tank “La Fabrique des Formats” and its investment fund, which offers financing for up to two series from...
- 4/10/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Fueled by the demands of the digital marketplace and linked to evolving local tastes, dramatic series have attained unprecedented influence in the French television industry, marking a notable departure from the country’s longtime approach.
For decades, international acquisitions dominated Gallic airwaves, while local production focused mainly on one-off telefilms, less-than-prestigious family shows and self-contained limited series.
The breadth of change has been remarkable. As late as 2011, U.S. imports accounted for 72% of the country’s top broadcast hits, while that number fell to just 4% by 2017. Domestic productions ascended in turn, rising from 3% in 2011 to 42% by 2017.
This shift in public appetite can partially be credited to a shift in the industry itself. “The main channels used to program a lot of French cinema, but [today] French cinema has more narrow appeal than before,” says Francois Godard of Enders Analysis. “So they had to look at other program genres, and they were...
For decades, international acquisitions dominated Gallic airwaves, while local production focused mainly on one-off telefilms, less-than-prestigious family shows and self-contained limited series.
The breadth of change has been remarkable. As late as 2011, U.S. imports accounted for 72% of the country’s top broadcast hits, while that number fell to just 4% by 2017. Domestic productions ascended in turn, rising from 3% in 2011 to 42% by 2017.
This shift in public appetite can partially be credited to a shift in the industry itself. “The main channels used to program a lot of French cinema, but [today] French cinema has more narrow appeal than before,” says Francois Godard of Enders Analysis. “So they had to look at other program genres, and they were...
- 4/8/2019
- by Ben Croll
- Variety Film + TV
As it prepares to launch a fully staffed Paris office and beefs up its roster of French series and movies originals, Netflix commissioners Sara May, Damien Couvreur, Dominique Bazay and Diego Buñuel discussed the particularities of their development process and deal-making with the French industry, as well as their diversity-friendly approach, at Series Mania.
Although France has presented many challenges for Netflix because of its strict window release schedule (which sets the Svod window at 36 months) and protests from film bodies, the French market has now become one of the fastest-growing for the streaming service, which currently boasts more than 5 million subscribers locally.
Netflix has nearly 20 French originals in the pipeline. So far, it has delivered a couple films, including “Je ne suis pas un homme facile” and “Paris est à Nous,” and three series: political drama “Marseille,” with Gerard Depardieu; romantic comedy “Plan Coeur”; and the science-fiction series “Osmosis,...
Although France has presented many challenges for Netflix because of its strict window release schedule (which sets the Svod window at 36 months) and protests from film bodies, the French market has now become one of the fastest-growing for the streaming service, which currently boasts more than 5 million subscribers locally.
Netflix has nearly 20 French originals in the pipeline. So far, it has delivered a couple films, including “Je ne suis pas un homme facile” and “Paris est à Nous,” and three series: political drama “Marseille,” with Gerard Depardieu; romantic comedy “Plan Coeur”; and the science-fiction series “Osmosis,...
- 4/1/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Lille, France — Leading French independent production-finance-distribution sales company Federation Entertainment has secured international sales rights on upcoming French psychological thriller “Torn.”
The series was created and written by director Lionel Bailliu (“Innocente”)and Yann Le Gal and world premieres in the official French competition on March 25 at France’s Series Mania TV festival. Attending the series’ premiere will be French actress – producer Julie Gayet, Bailliu, Le Gal, as well as Elephant producers Gaëlle Cholet and Guillaume Renouil.
Elephant Story and At-Production co-produced with participation from France Télévisions. France 3, Belgian public broadcaster Rtbf and TV5 Monde are already set to broadcast.
In the series, a school teacher named Victoire moves to a small village in rural France with her young family. There, she runs into Florent, her first love from a lifetime ago, and their long-dormant feelings for one another reignite. Unable to suppress their desires for one another, the...
The series was created and written by director Lionel Bailliu (“Innocente”)and Yann Le Gal and world premieres in the official French competition on March 25 at France’s Series Mania TV festival. Attending the series’ premiere will be French actress – producer Julie Gayet, Bailliu, Le Gal, as well as Elephant producers Gaëlle Cholet and Guillaume Renouil.
Elephant Story and At-Production co-produced with participation from France Télévisions. France 3, Belgian public broadcaster Rtbf and TV5 Monde are already set to broadcast.
In the series, a school teacher named Victoire moves to a small village in rural France with her young family. There, she runs into Florent, her first love from a lifetime ago, and their long-dormant feelings for one another reignite. Unable to suppress their desires for one another, the...
- 3/25/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Lille, France – The 10th Series Mania kicks off in Lille, north-east France, on Friday March 22. Here are 10 down-to-the-wire takes on the banner European TV Festival:
1.Netflixmania
Many Series Mania screenings are fully booked. But some sold out in the hour: “Osmosis,” and “The Oa” Season 2, for instance. “Chambers” with Uma Thurman is also sold out. What do these shows have in common? They’re all from Netflix. If Berlin’s Drama Series Days is anything to go by, where a Netflix panel was packed to the rafters, a one-hour panel From Idea to Screen: Developing French Content for and with Netflix will be one of Series Mania’s hottest tickets. One of the major power sessions at the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues look almost certainly to be Ted Sarandos in conversation with Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, Brooker’s producer. Netflix is by far from the only act in town. Series...
1.Netflixmania
Many Series Mania screenings are fully booked. But some sold out in the hour: “Osmosis,” and “The Oa” Season 2, for instance. “Chambers” with Uma Thurman is also sold out. What do these shows have in common? They’re all from Netflix. If Berlin’s Drama Series Days is anything to go by, where a Netflix panel was packed to the rafters, a one-hour panel From Idea to Screen: Developing French Content for and with Netflix will be one of Series Mania’s hottest tickets. One of the major power sessions at the Lille Transatlantic Dialogues look almost certainly to be Ted Sarandos in conversation with Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, Brooker’s producer. Netflix is by far from the only act in town. Series...
- 3/22/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The line-up includes new TV projects from Hirokazu Kore-eda, Gurinder Chadha and Gregg Araki.
Canneseries, the annual TV festival running alongside the Miptv content market in Cannes, has unveiled the competition line-up for its second edition (April 5-10).
The first two epsidoes from 10 new international series will screen in the main competition.
Titles include Channing Powell’s London-set psychological thriller The Feed for Amazon and Liberty Global. David Thewlis stars in the dystopian tale as the inventor of a brain implant that allows people to share thoughts and emotions alongside Guy Burnet, Michelle Fairley and Nina Toussaint-White as his family members.
Canneseries, the annual TV festival running alongside the Miptv content market in Cannes, has unveiled the competition line-up for its second edition (April 5-10).
The first two epsidoes from 10 new international series will screen in the main competition.
Titles include Channing Powell’s London-set psychological thriller The Feed for Amazon and Liberty Global. David Thewlis stars in the dystopian tale as the inventor of a brain implant that allows people to share thoughts and emotions alongside Guy Burnet, Michelle Fairley and Nina Toussaint-White as his family members.
- 3/13/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Netflix movies may still be question mark in terms of being allowed in competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in May, but the streaming giant will be present at Cannes Series. The Cannes television festival will mark its second year next month with Netflix going up against rival Amazon in the competition section. The full lineup includes series from Israel, Norway, Spain, and Belgium.
Netflix’s competition entry is the German series “How to Sell Drugs Online Fast,” from writers Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann. Amazon is heading to Cannes Series with “The Feed,” a London-set drama created by Channing Powell and based on the novel Nick Clark Windo. “The Feed” stars “Game of Thrones” favorite Michelle Fairley opposite David Thewlis in a story about a piece of technology that allows people to instantly share thoughts and emotions. The tech falls into the wrong hands and becomes a murderous weapon.
Netflix’s competition entry is the German series “How to Sell Drugs Online Fast,” from writers Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann. Amazon is heading to Cannes Series with “The Feed,” a London-set drama created by Channing Powell and based on the novel Nick Clark Windo. “The Feed” stars “Game of Thrones” favorite Michelle Fairley opposite David Thewlis in a story about a piece of technology that allows people to instantly share thoughts and emotions. The tech falls into the wrong hands and becomes a murderous weapon.
- 3/13/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Cannes Series has revealed the lineup, jury and masterclasses for its second edition, which takes place alongside the Mip TV market on the French Riviera.
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
Among ten series in competition at the TV festival are Netflix’s German show How To Sell Drugs Online and Amazon’s UK series The Feed with Michelle Fairley and David Thewlis. Out of competition shows include Starz’ Now Apocalypse and Russel T Davies’ Years And Years. Scroll down for the lineup in full.
The competition jury will be presided over by Dark show-runner Baran bo Odar with members comprising actor, director and author Stephen Fry (Gosford Park), actors Miriam Leone (Non Uccidere) and Emma Mackey (Sex Education), actor and director Katheryn Winnick (Vikings) and composer Rob (The Bureau). David Cross and Jude Law are among those with projects in the short form competition.
Among those set to give masterclasses will be Game Of Thrones...
- 3/13/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Rachel Weisz is set to star in Lanny, adapted from Max Porter's upcoming novel, the follow-up to his acclaimed Grief Is A Thing With Feathers.
The Oscar-winning Brit — who recently earned a best supporting actress nomination for The Favourite — has optioned the book alongside The Bureau and BBC Films, and will produce together with The Bureau's Tristan Goligher.
Described by The Sunday Times as a “remarkable feat of literary virtuosity,” Lanny — which has sold in 20 territories — tells the story of its eponymous lead and his family, recently moved to an English commuter village....
The Oscar-winning Brit — who recently earned a best supporting actress nomination for The Favourite — has optioned the book alongside The Bureau and BBC Films, and will produce together with The Bureau's Tristan Goligher.
Described by The Sunday Times as a “remarkable feat of literary virtuosity,” Lanny — which has sold in 20 territories — tells the story of its eponymous lead and his family, recently moved to an English commuter village....
Rachel Weisz is set to star in Lanny, adapted from Max Porter's upcoming novel, the follow-up to his acclaimed Grief Is A Thing With Feathers.
The Oscar-winning Brit — who recently earned a best supporting actress nomination for The Favourite — has optioned the book alongside The Bureau and BBC Films, and will produce together with The Bureau's Tristan Goligher.
Described by The Sunday Times as a “remarkable feat of literary virtuosity,” Lanny — which has sold in 20 territories — tells the story of its eponymous lead and his family, recently moved to an English commuter village....
The Oscar-winning Brit — who recently earned a best supporting actress nomination for The Favourite — has optioned the book alongside The Bureau and BBC Films, and will produce together with The Bureau's Tristan Goligher.
Described by The Sunday Times as a “remarkable feat of literary virtuosity,” Lanny — which has sold in 20 territories — tells the story of its eponymous lead and his family, recently moved to an English commuter village....
Rachel Feldman’s “Kinks,” Monica Bellucci-starrer “Radical Eye,” Nabil Ayouch’s “Black-Out” and “Perfect Monsters,” from “Roma” producer Nicolas Celis, all figure among the 16 drama series projects to be pitched at this year’s second – and expanded – In Development, a joint venture of MipTV and Canneseries.
Also making the cut at In Development, known as well as the Cannes Drama Creative Forum, is “Twenty-Four Land,” an ambitious WWII project from Portugal, and “A Good Year,” from relatively new Flemish outfit Mockingbird Pictures. Chosen from 376 submissions, up on last year’s inaugural edition, the 16-title In Development projects will be pitched at an event which play out this year over an extended schedule of three-and-a-half days as MipTV itself places ever more emphasis on project development, not just distribution.
The spread of country of origin of projects has also grown from a still predominantly European base, but taking in titles from Mexico,...
Also making the cut at In Development, known as well as the Cannes Drama Creative Forum, is “Twenty-Four Land,” an ambitious WWII project from Portugal, and “A Good Year,” from relatively new Flemish outfit Mockingbird Pictures. Chosen from 376 submissions, up on last year’s inaugural edition, the 16-title In Development projects will be pitched at an event which play out this year over an extended schedule of three-and-a-half days as MipTV itself places ever more emphasis on project development, not just distribution.
The spread of country of origin of projects has also grown from a still predominantly European base, but taking in titles from Mexico,...
- 3/1/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Graced by Uma Thurman, “The Good Doctor” star Freddie Highmore and “Black Mirror” creators Charlie Brooker and Anabel Jones, the 10th edition of Series Mania will kick off March 22 with a prominent Netflix presence, a broader geographical reach and a strong showing of women writers and directors.
Thurman will make the trek to Lille, in northeast France, for the international premiere of Netflix Original Series “Chambers,” which looks like one of the hottest tickets in this year’s 10-title Official Competition. “Chambers” is a Ya supernatural drama thriller from Stephen Gaghan and Turner’s multi-platform Super Deluxe. In it a young heart attack victim begins to take on the sinister characteristics of her deceased heart donor. Thurman plays the donor’s mother.
Thurman, Highmore, and Brooker and Jones will deliver Series Mania masterclasses, as will writer-producer-director Marti Noxon, who is president of the Official Competition jury. Other members of the...
Thurman will make the trek to Lille, in northeast France, for the international premiere of Netflix Original Series “Chambers,” which looks like one of the hottest tickets in this year’s 10-title Official Competition. “Chambers” is a Ya supernatural drama thriller from Stephen Gaghan and Turner’s multi-platform Super Deluxe. In it a young heart attack victim begins to take on the sinister characteristics of her deceased heart donor. Thurman plays the donor’s mother.
Thurman, Highmore, and Brooker and Jones will deliver Series Mania masterclasses, as will writer-producer-director Marti Noxon, who is president of the Official Competition jury. Other members of the...
- 2/20/2019
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Snd, the commercial arm of the French TV network M6, has acquired worldwide distribution rights to “Family Shake,” a comedy series written by Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc.
Snd is the latest vertically integrated French film group to start handling live-action series, following TF1 Studio, Studiocanal and Gaumont, among others. Produced by Gaëlle Cholet at Elephant, “Family Shake” has been commissioned by M6 in France and will start airing later this year in a primetime slot.
The show centers on the ups and downs of a modern, multi-ethnic and blended family. The ensemble cast comprises Grégory Montel (“Call my agent!”), Nailia Harzoune (“Patients”), Julia Piaton” (“Serial (Bad) Weddings”), Lyès Salem (“Just to be sure”), Biyouna (“Aïcha”) and Djemel Barek (“The Bureau”).
The concept of “Family Shake” seems to bank on the success of the comedy franchise “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” which has a similar topic. The first movie grossed more than...
Snd is the latest vertically integrated French film group to start handling live-action series, following TF1 Studio, Studiocanal and Gaumont, among others. Produced by Gaëlle Cholet at Elephant, “Family Shake” has been commissioned by M6 in France and will start airing later this year in a primetime slot.
The show centers on the ups and downs of a modern, multi-ethnic and blended family. The ensemble cast comprises Grégory Montel (“Call my agent!”), Nailia Harzoune (“Patients”), Julia Piaton” (“Serial (Bad) Weddings”), Lyès Salem (“Just to be sure”), Biyouna (“Aïcha”) and Djemel Barek (“The Bureau”).
The concept of “Family Shake” seems to bank on the success of the comedy franchise “Serial (Bad) Weddings,” which has a similar topic. The first movie grossed more than...
- 2/18/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The most lauded of titles on this year’s MyFrenchFilmFestival, UniFrance’s online showcase featured by over 50 Ott services around the world, may not be a film but a drama series.
With four seasons aired, and a milestone in world sales on a French TV show, slow-boiling espionage series ‘Le Bureau des légendes’ (“The Bureau”) is tracking to become a French modern classic, its admirers say..
“This series is the best ever made in France,” trumpeted French newspaper Le Figaro.
A Canal Plus Création Originale produced by The Oligarchs Productions (Top) and Federation Entertainment Ent., which handles international sales, the series was created by screenwriter-director Eric Rochant whose “The Patriots,” with Yvan Attal as a Mossad operative, was selected for main competition at the 1994 Cannes Festival.
First released on Canal Plus in April 2015, Season 4 concluded last November. MyFrenchFilmFestival is screening Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 1 in its New Horizons showcase, out of competition.
With four seasons aired, and a milestone in world sales on a French TV show, slow-boiling espionage series ‘Le Bureau des légendes’ (“The Bureau”) is tracking to become a French modern classic, its admirers say..
“This series is the best ever made in France,” trumpeted French newspaper Le Figaro.
A Canal Plus Création Originale produced by The Oligarchs Productions (Top) and Federation Entertainment Ent., which handles international sales, the series was created by screenwriter-director Eric Rochant whose “The Patriots,” with Yvan Attal as a Mossad operative, was selected for main competition at the 1994 Cannes Festival.
First released on Canal Plus in April 2015, Season 4 concluded last November. MyFrenchFilmFestival is screening Episodes 1 and 2 of Season 1 in its New Horizons showcase, out of competition.
- 2/16/2019
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Ilene Chaiken, a creative force behind “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Empire” and “The L Word,” will participate in a keynote interview at the upcoming MipTV market in Cannes.
Chaiken is best-known for creating the Showtime series “The L Word.” She also executive produced Hulu’s critically acclaimed “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and was the showrunner for the first four seasons of the Golden Globe-nominated Fox series “Empire.” Chaiken is an executive producer on “The L Word” reboot, which was recently commissioned by Showtime.
MipTV praised Chaiken for “bringing more awareness [of] the importance of diverse and equal representation in all its forms, both in front of and behind the camera,” through the series she has created. She’s currently under a multi-year producing deal with 20th Century Fox Television.
Chaiken’s keynote interview will be one of the highlights of MipTV’s content development side, which notably includes the second edition of In Development,...
Chaiken is best-known for creating the Showtime series “The L Word.” She also executive produced Hulu’s critically acclaimed “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and was the showrunner for the first four seasons of the Golden Globe-nominated Fox series “Empire.” Chaiken is an executive producer on “The L Word” reboot, which was recently commissioned by Showtime.
MipTV praised Chaiken for “bringing more awareness [of] the importance of diverse and equal representation in all its forms, both in front of and behind the camera,” through the series she has created. She’s currently under a multi-year producing deal with 20th Century Fox Television.
Chaiken’s keynote interview will be one of the highlights of MipTV’s content development side, which notably includes the second edition of In Development,...
- 2/14/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is closing in on a deal for Antonin Baudry’s “The Wolf’s Call” (“Le Chant du Loup”), an anticipated big-budget French submarine thriller, for multiple territories.
The streaming service is in advanced negotiations to pre-buy “The Wolf’s Call” from Pathé International for North America, Latin America, Spain and Scandinavia, as well as for France, where Netflix would get exclusive Svod rights 36 months after the local theatrical release. The film will be released on Netflix in North America, Latin America, Spain and Scandinavia this summer. Pathé will distribute “The Wolf’s Call” in French theaters starting next Wednesday.
“The Wolf’s Call” will be released by independent distributors in other territories. Pathé has already pre-sold the film to Germany (Concorde), Japan (Klockworks), Cis (Total Films), Middle East (Gulf), Portugal (Cinemundo), Czech Republic (MediaSquad), former Yugoslavia (Fox Vision), Turkey (Pixel Yapim) and Hong Kong (Sun Dream), among other territories.
The streaming service is in advanced negotiations to pre-buy “The Wolf’s Call” from Pathé International for North America, Latin America, Spain and Scandinavia, as well as for France, where Netflix would get exclusive Svod rights 36 months after the local theatrical release. The film will be released on Netflix in North America, Latin America, Spain and Scandinavia this summer. Pathé will distribute “The Wolf’s Call” in French theaters starting next Wednesday.
“The Wolf’s Call” will be released by independent distributors in other territories. Pathé has already pre-sold the film to Germany (Concorde), Japan (Klockworks), Cis (Total Films), Middle East (Gulf), Portugal (Cinemundo), Czech Republic (MediaSquad), former Yugoslavia (Fox Vision), Turkey (Pixel Yapim) and Hong Kong (Sun Dream), among other territories.
- 2/14/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin — The Berlin Festival’s Drama Series Days wrapped Wednesday after three days of intense panels, screenings and an affirmation of the robust growth of Europe’s higher-end drama series production. As the Berlin Festival looks to a future under new directors, one fairly safe prediction is that its TV strand, already boasting packed-to-the -rafters audiences for its key sessions, will only get bigger. Following, five takeaways from its 5th edition:
Netflix
Amazon made the running at Sundance, but Netflix ruled business news flow in Berlin, at least through Wednesday afternoon. With its first film in Berlin competition, Isabel Coixet’s “Elisa & Marcela,” an at-least 49-exec delegation and its own panel at Berlin’s Drama Series Days, during the course of the Berlin Film Festival, Netflix unveiled 12 new Original Series and seven new Original Movies out of international, from Spain (five new series), Mexico, Germany and Norway (one series).
The...
Netflix
Amazon made the running at Sundance, but Netflix ruled business news flow in Berlin, at least through Wednesday afternoon. With its first film in Berlin competition, Isabel Coixet’s “Elisa & Marcela,” an at-least 49-exec delegation and its own panel at Berlin’s Drama Series Days, during the course of the Berlin Film Festival, Netflix unveiled 12 new Original Series and seven new Original Movies out of international, from Spain (five new series), Mexico, Germany and Norway (one series).
The...
- 2/13/2019
- by John Hopewell and Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Patrick Wachsberger, the former co-chairman of Lionsgate who recently created Picture Perfect Entertainment, is joining forces with France’s Federation Entertainment to launch a new TV production company called Picture Perfect Federation.
The banner will be dedicated to the development and production of premium TV series for the U.S., as well as international co-productions. Wachsberger and Ashley Stern, Federation’s head of U.S. television, will be based in Los Angeles representing the newly formed venture.
“Patrick Wachsberger has long been a game-changer in the market. And we at Federation have also intensely ‘disrupted’ the status quo by attracting and associating the best European talent to our independent studio,” said Pascal Breton, the founder of Federation Entertainment.
Federation is the producer of “Marseille,” “The Bureau” and “The Collection,” among other series.
Wachsberger said that “after starting the original Summit in 1993 and its ultimate sale to Lionsgate in 2012,” he had...
The banner will be dedicated to the development and production of premium TV series for the U.S., as well as international co-productions. Wachsberger and Ashley Stern, Federation’s head of U.S. television, will be based in Los Angeles representing the newly formed venture.
“Patrick Wachsberger has long been a game-changer in the market. And we at Federation have also intensely ‘disrupted’ the status quo by attracting and associating the best European talent to our independent studio,” said Pascal Breton, the founder of Federation Entertainment.
Federation is the producer of “Marseille,” “The Bureau” and “The Collection,” among other series.
Wachsberger said that “after starting the original Summit in 1993 and its ultimate sale to Lionsgate in 2012,” he had...
- 1/23/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Mip TV is staying close to home this year after organizers revealed that France is to be the country of honor for the Cannes event.
The event, which runs 8-11 April 2019, will dedicate a series of conferences and promotional events to the French TV industry. This comes after France’s export association TV France International reported that sales were up over the last twelve months to €325M, it second best performance in 20 years.
This growth has been driven by animation and documentary sales as well as drama series, such as The Bureau and Midnight Sun, which increased international sales by 28% since 2016.
“It could not be better timing to celebrate France’s creativity and savoir-faire on the international content scene. Over the years, French production has taken a growing share of the international market in every genre, from animation to documentary, formats and, of course, drama series. French creators and producers...
The event, which runs 8-11 April 2019, will dedicate a series of conferences and promotional events to the French TV industry. This comes after France’s export association TV France International reported that sales were up over the last twelve months to €325M, it second best performance in 20 years.
This growth has been driven by animation and documentary sales as well as drama series, such as The Bureau and Midnight Sun, which increased international sales by 28% since 2016.
“It could not be better timing to celebrate France’s creativity and savoir-faire on the international content scene. Over the years, French production has taken a growing share of the international market in every genre, from animation to documentary, formats and, of course, drama series. French creators and producers...
- 1/17/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Paris — Two Cannes Critics’ Week hits – ‘Guy,” “Sauvage” – and Erick Zonca’s comeback, “Black Tide,” are three potential highlights in a still-expanding MyFrenchFilmFestival, French promotion org UniFrance’s annual online selection of French and French-language films.
Unveiling MyFFF’s 2019 edition in Paris on Wednesday, UniFrance also revealed that this year’s ninth edition will bow a TV strand, showcasing espionage thriller “The Bureau,” a recent and game-changing Canal Plus Création Originale. The international filmmakers’ jury – unveiled by UniFrance’s president Serge Toubiana and co-managing director Isabelle Giordano on Wednesday morning at Google’s offices in Paris — comprises Jaco Van Dormael (“The Brand New Testament”), Houda Benyamina (“Divines”), Coralie Fargeat (“Revenge”), Mikhaël Hers (“Amanda”) and Kim Nguyen (“Rebelle”). Citing “Divines” which sold to Netflix, and “Revenge” which was acquired by AMC’s Shudder, Toubiana and Giordano said all the filmmakers on the jury have had a connection with a digital service.
Unveiling MyFFF’s 2019 edition in Paris on Wednesday, UniFrance also revealed that this year’s ninth edition will bow a TV strand, showcasing espionage thriller “The Bureau,” a recent and game-changing Canal Plus Création Originale. The international filmmakers’ jury – unveiled by UniFrance’s president Serge Toubiana and co-managing director Isabelle Giordano on Wednesday morning at Google’s offices in Paris — comprises Jaco Van Dormael (“The Brand New Testament”), Houda Benyamina (“Divines”), Coralie Fargeat (“Revenge”), Mikhaël Hers (“Amanda”) and Kim Nguyen (“Rebelle”). Citing “Divines” which sold to Netflix, and “Revenge” which was acquired by AMC’s Shudder, Toubiana and Giordano said all the filmmakers on the jury have had a connection with a digital service.
- 1/9/2019
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
High-profile Paris-based Moroccan filmmaker Laila Marrakchi is partnering up with Backup Films (“Donnybrook”) and Alexandre Aja (“The Hills Have Eyes”) on “My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece,” her long-gestating English-language project based on Annabel Pitcher’s bestselling novel.
The book has been translated into more than 20 languages and has earned many prizes including the Royal Society of Authors’ Betty Trask nod and the Hull Children’s book of the year. Marrakchi is writing the script with British writer Amber Trentham (“Rhapsody in Blueberry”). The pair is working on the final draft and has incorporated new elements, such as Brexit, into the storyline. The British Film Institute has just come on board to support the project.
The film will revolve around a 10-year-old boy whose sister was killed in a terrorist attack in London when he was 5 years old and has been raised by his father who has become Islamophobic. When...
The book has been translated into more than 20 languages and has earned many prizes including the Royal Society of Authors’ Betty Trask nod and the Hull Children’s book of the year. Marrakchi is writing the script with British writer Amber Trentham (“Rhapsody in Blueberry”). The pair is working on the final draft and has incorporated new elements, such as Brexit, into the storyline. The British Film Institute has just come on board to support the project.
The film will revolve around a 10-year-old boy whose sister was killed in a terrorist attack in London when he was 5 years old and has been raised by his father who has become Islamophobic. When...
- 12/6/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Federation, Pascal Breton’s Paris-based company which has just raised $18.4 million to expand its footprint, has signed a joint distribution agreement with leading independent production banner Elephant.
Created by Emmanuel Chain and Thierry Bizot, Elephant is the company behind French drama hits such as “Desperate Parents,” “Killer by the Lake” and WorkinGirls.”
The partnership with Federation will allow Elephant to develop shows for the global market, tapping into Federation’s experience working with international talents, co-producers, broadcasters and streaming services.
Elephant recently hired Sandra Ouaiss, a former high-ranking executive from Newen, to came on board as executive producer and head of international.
With offices in Paris and Los Angeles, Federation Entertainment is one of the market’s most dynamic independent distributors, boasting international drama hits such as “The Bureau,” “Bad Banks,” “Hostages,” “Marseille” and “Find me in Paris.”
“When it comes to bringing together indie European talents, what better partners...
Created by Emmanuel Chain and Thierry Bizot, Elephant is the company behind French drama hits such as “Desperate Parents,” “Killer by the Lake” and WorkinGirls.”
The partnership with Federation will allow Elephant to develop shows for the global market, tapping into Federation’s experience working with international talents, co-producers, broadcasters and streaming services.
Elephant recently hired Sandra Ouaiss, a former high-ranking executive from Newen, to came on board as executive producer and head of international.
With offices in Paris and Los Angeles, Federation Entertainment is one of the market’s most dynamic independent distributors, boasting international drama hits such as “The Bureau,” “Bad Banks,” “Hostages,” “Marseille” and “Find me in Paris.”
“When it comes to bringing together indie European talents, what better partners...
- 10/15/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Pascal Breton’s Federation Entertainment, the Paris-based production and distribution firm whose credits include “The Bureau” (pictured), “Marseille” and “Find Me in Paris,” has raised 16 million Euros ($18.4 million) as it plans to expand globally and diversify.
The minority funding round was made with the financial institutions Bpifrance, BNP Paribas Développement, Amundi Private Equity Funds, Alliance Entreprendre and Entrepreneur Venture.
Under the helm of its founder and CEO Pascal Breton, and his partners, Lionel Uzan, David Michel, Serge Hayat and Stéphane Sperry, the thriving independent company is active in the drama, kids & family and light entertainment genres. The banner has offices in Paris and Los Angeles, and works with a wide range of streamers and networks.
Breton, who remains a majority shareholder in Federation Entertainment, said the new investors were a “consortium of solid, cohesive companies close to the audiovisual sector.”
“After having put in place a number of innovative financing tools for production and distribution,...
The minority funding round was made with the financial institutions Bpifrance, BNP Paribas Développement, Amundi Private Equity Funds, Alliance Entreprendre and Entrepreneur Venture.
Under the helm of its founder and CEO Pascal Breton, and his partners, Lionel Uzan, David Michel, Serge Hayat and Stéphane Sperry, the thriving independent company is active in the drama, kids & family and light entertainment genres. The banner has offices in Paris and Los Angeles, and works with a wide range of streamers and networks.
Breton, who remains a majority shareholder in Federation Entertainment, said the new investors were a “consortium of solid, cohesive companies close to the audiovisual sector.”
“After having put in place a number of innovative financing tools for production and distribution,...
- 10/8/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Pascal Breton’s Federation Entertainment, a leading player in international drama and kids’ entertainment, has acquired a stake in WeMake, a production company specializing in unscripted, scripted and digital formats.
WeMake was launched a year ago by Bouchra Réjani, the former COO of Shine France. The Paris-based banner has so far developed a catalog of more than 20 original formats, and has signed several co-production and distribution deals with John de Mol’s Talpa TV in Europe, as well as Lionsgate and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) in the U.S.
WeMake has also partnered with Live Nation Productions in the U.S. to develop and produce a musical talent contest. In addition, it has acquired French remake rights to the Flemish TV show “Taboe,” a thought-provoking comedy format which is a ratings hit in Belgium and has sold to more than a dozen countries.
“WeMake has the same strategic vision as...
WeMake was launched a year ago by Bouchra Réjani, the former COO of Shine France. The Paris-based banner has so far developed a catalog of more than 20 original formats, and has signed several co-production and distribution deals with John de Mol’s Talpa TV in Europe, as well as Lionsgate and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) in the U.S.
WeMake has also partnered with Live Nation Productions in the U.S. to develop and produce a musical talent contest. In addition, it has acquired French remake rights to the Flemish TV show “Taboe,” a thought-provoking comedy format which is a ratings hit in Belgium and has sold to more than a dozen countries.
“WeMake has the same strategic vision as...
- 10/3/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Pose and Vikings exec producer Sherry Marsh has teamed up with Federation Entertainment, the producer of Netflix’s Gérard Depardieu-fronted original Marseille, to develop a drama based on Cristina Alger’s forthcoming novel The Banker’s Wife.
The company, which has bases in the U.S. and France, has optioned the thriller novel, which was released at the start of this month by Putnam.
The Banker’s Wife is a “high stakes” international thriller set in the world of global finance about two women racing for answers when a mysterious plane crash sets them off on parallel pursuits of truth.
It follows a couple who board a private plane bound for Geneva, flying into a storm. Soon after, it simply drops off the radar, and its wreckage is later uncovered in the Alps. Among the disappeared is Matthew Werner, a banking insider at Swiss United, a powerful offshore bank.
The company, which has bases in the U.S. and France, has optioned the thriller novel, which was released at the start of this month by Putnam.
The Banker’s Wife is a “high stakes” international thriller set in the world of global finance about two women racing for answers when a mysterious plane crash sets them off on parallel pursuits of truth.
It follows a couple who board a private plane bound for Geneva, flying into a storm. Soon after, it simply drops off the radar, and its wreckage is later uncovered in the Alps. Among the disappeared is Matthew Werner, a banking insider at Swiss United, a powerful offshore bank.
- 7/12/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Two of Europe’s most energetic high-end series producers, Spain’s Mediapro and France’s Federation Entertainment, are teaming with director Jaume Collet Serra to produce an English-language crime drama set in Ibiza.
The project marks a move into series by Collet Serra and his L.A.-based Ombra Films. Collet Serra’s movies, including Liam Neeson thrillers “Unknown,” “Non-Stop” and “The Commuter,” have earned more than $800 million worldwide and made him one of Europe’s most successful L.A.-based movie directors.
Ryan Engle, a writer on “Non-Stop,” Collet Serra’s biggest hit to date with $222.8 million in global revenue, is writing the new eight-episode drama. It will start shooting next year. Engle’s recent writing credits include Dwayne Johnson-starrer “Rampage” for Warner Bros. and the upcoming “Cowboy Ninja Viking,” with Chris Pratt, for Universal.
The new series centers on a young woman’s disappearance on the party island of Ibiza.
The project marks a move into series by Collet Serra and his L.A.-based Ombra Films. Collet Serra’s movies, including Liam Neeson thrillers “Unknown,” “Non-Stop” and “The Commuter,” have earned more than $800 million worldwide and made him one of Europe’s most successful L.A.-based movie directors.
Ryan Engle, a writer on “Non-Stop,” Collet Serra’s biggest hit to date with $222.8 million in global revenue, is writing the new eight-episode drama. It will start shooting next year. Engle’s recent writing credits include Dwayne Johnson-starrer “Rampage” for Warner Bros. and the upcoming “Cowboy Ninja Viking,” with Chris Pratt, for Universal.
The new series centers on a young woman’s disappearance on the party island of Ibiza.
- 6/4/2018
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Welsh drama Hidden is heading to the U.S. after Acorn TV struck a deal with All3Media International to pick up the eight-part series. The drama, which is produced by Severn Screen for S4C and BBC Wales, stars Hinterland and Requiem’s Sian Reese-William as Dci Cadi John, as she is drawn back to her childhood home by the faltering health of her beloved father, and finds herself policing the precinct and people of her youth including the search for the killer of a local woman is found in a remote mountain river.The series will air on the Svod service in July. It has also been picked up by international broadcasters including Dr (Denmark), Kro (Netherlands) and Vrt (Belgium). All3Media International boss Louise Pedersen said, “We knew that the pedigree of the team behind Hidden would result in a very distinctive series – Welsh Noir is now on the international map.
- 5/14/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Paris- and Los Angeles-based Federation Entertainment has struck an co-financing deal with Anton that will see the London-based investment company taking equity positions on Federation’s burgeoning portfolio of foreign and English-language drama series.
The multi-year slate investment deal is in the spirit of the $190 million partnership from the Drama Investment Partnership announced last year by BBC Worldwide and Anton, or indeed of Anton’s former slate-financing deals on Studiocanal movies.
On the distribution side, Anton will co-fund Federation’s
Paris- and Los Angeles-based Federation Entertainment has struck an exclusive multi-year co-financing deal with Anton that will see the London-based investment company taking equity positions on Federation’s burgeoning portfolio of foreign and English-language drama series.
The multi-year slate investment deal is in the spirit of the $190 million partnership from the Drama Investment Partnership announced last year by BBC Worldwide and Anton, or indeed of Anton’s former slate-financing deals on Studiocanal movies.
The multi-year slate investment deal is in the spirit of the $190 million partnership from the Drama Investment Partnership announced last year by BBC Worldwide and Anton, or indeed of Anton’s former slate-financing deals on Studiocanal movies.
On the distribution side, Anton will co-fund Federation’s
Paris- and Los Angeles-based Federation Entertainment has struck an exclusive multi-year co-financing deal with Anton that will see the London-based investment company taking equity positions on Federation’s burgeoning portfolio of foreign and English-language drama series.
The multi-year slate investment deal is in the spirit of the $190 million partnership from the Drama Investment Partnership announced last year by BBC Worldwide and Anton, or indeed of Anton’s former slate-financing deals on Studiocanal movies.
- 5/14/2018
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Head of fiction programming at Canal Plus since 2002, Fabrice de la Patelliere has been a driving force behind the French pay TV’s channel’s push into ambitious French and English-language drama series, notably “Versailles,” whose third season world premiered at Canneseries on Wednesday, opening the new TV festival.
The French TV maven spoke to Variety about the making of “Versailles” and how the show fits into the editorial line of Canal Plus’ Creation Originale label, He also discussed upcoming projects and new challenges sparked by the high-end drama series boom.
What were the challenges in creating this third season of “Versailles” and why did you decide to make it the final season?
From the start, “Versailles'” producer Claude Chelli had spoken to us about making three seasons. The series was meant to chronicle the coming of age and rise to power of Louis Xiv and show how he...
The French TV maven spoke to Variety about the making of “Versailles” and how the show fits into the editorial line of Canal Plus’ Creation Originale label, He also discussed upcoming projects and new challenges sparked by the high-end drama series boom.
What were the challenges in creating this third season of “Versailles” and why did you decide to make it the final season?
From the start, “Versailles'” producer Claude Chelli had spoken to us about making three seasons. The series was meant to chronicle the coming of age and rise to power of Louis Xiv and show how he...
- 4/7/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Film has scored a major deal ahead of MipTV, scooping international rights to high-end period drama “Victor Hugo – Enemy of the State,” which it will bring to the market.
The limited series hails from Quad, the production company behind box office hit “The Intouchables.” The French production will be on France 2 domestically. Production is underway in Paris, northern France, and the Dordogne, and will continue until mid-May. Beta Film will kick off the pre-sales effort in earnest at MipTV.
The four-part drama will tell the story of Hugo, the author of “Les Misérables,” which is itself being remade as a miniseries for the BBC. The series will be a portrait of the novelist, covering his life and family and his beliefs and politics.
Yannick Choirat (“Rust and Bone”) takes the title role. Isabelle Carré (“Romantics Anonymous“) is his lover, Juliette. Jean-Marc Moutout (“The Bureau”) directs.
“When the series begins...
The limited series hails from Quad, the production company behind box office hit “The Intouchables.” The French production will be on France 2 domestically. Production is underway in Paris, northern France, and the Dordogne, and will continue until mid-May. Beta Film will kick off the pre-sales effort in earnest at MipTV.
The four-part drama will tell the story of Hugo, the author of “Les Misérables,” which is itself being remade as a miniseries for the BBC. The series will be a portrait of the novelist, covering his life and family and his beliefs and politics.
Yannick Choirat (“Rust and Bone”) takes the title role. Isabelle Carré (“Romantics Anonymous“) is his lover, Juliette. Jean-Marc Moutout (“The Bureau”) directs.
“When the series begins...
- 4/7/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Every actor know that your headshot is what gets you in the door—it's what sells you. It shows your theatrical range and personality. Not only do you want your picture to be a true representation of yourself, but the best representation. How hard could it be to get a picture like that, right? No pressure at all! For me, finding the "perfect headshot" has become quite a journey. It started about a year ago, when I first decided to get into acting. Rather than doing research or finding someone who actually specialized in headshots, I went to a photographer I knew. He'd taken many photos of me when I was younger, and I always liked his work. His style can best be described as what you would get from a glossy glamour shoot, or a high school yearbook photo. I had no idea what kinds of headshots were "in" these days.
- 12/3/2009
- backstage.com
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