14 There’s still a while to go before MIPTV 2023, the second in-person edition since the pandemic put a stop to such things. But Lucy Smith, RX France Entertainment Division’s director, as well as the director of MIPTV, noted that “going into its 60thanniversary,MIPTV2023 feels rejuvenated and more relevant than ever.” There are new additions to the MIPTV itinerary that she has already announced — a screening summit for more than 500 buyers in the Debussy Theatres on Sunday, April 16; a new Canneseries documentary series selection; the build-out of a MIPDoc & MIP Formats Producers Hub and Lounge in the Riviera; the return of the MIPDoc Screening Library; and Canneseries (April 14-19), which will be introducing its first documentary selection, the International Documentary Series Competition, all encompassed under the MIPDoc, MIPFormats, MIPDrama and Future of Kids TV Summit umbrella’s. Of course, it remains to be seen (and experienced) if all of these promising opportunities will translate into exhibitors’ participation and buying activities. But in conversations with some regular attendees from the U.S. and Europe, there does appear to be good support for Smith’s “rejuvenated” comments. Reiner Moritz, a producer, director, and distributor with Munich-based Poorhouse International, who has attended every MIPTV and MIPCOM from day one (yes, even when the markets were in Lyon!) believes that “MIP is quite important, as it happens early in the year when buyers might still have some budget. It also facilitates co-productions, which might be ready by the end of the same year.” That said, he noted that MIPTV “attendance has been declining and MIPCOM seems to be gaining.” Not a fan of online markets, Moritz welcomes the return of “a very important feature. MIPDoc is back!”While thatmay be good, Moritz wishes there was “a better synchronization of panels and keynotes.” Hervé Michel, vice president of Paris-based Unifrance, revealed that while “the number of our companies ready to attend is unknown at this point, Unifrance will, as usual, go to MIP with its umbrella (of entities) for our TV and cinema members. Will they come as numerous as before? We believe so.” Michel acknowledged that before COVID, “MIPTV andMIPCOMwere our biggestmarkets, since all genres are covered — documentaries, animation, fiction, drama and cinema catalogs — and the venue is easily accessible for members of our organization.” Michel wonders about attendance by people and companies from outside of France. “The number of foreign companies making the trip to Cannes (due to budgetary travel restrictions, the situation between Ukraine and Russia, environmental issues, etc.) might have some influence on their final decision to attend or not”, and he admits that the effect will not be knownuntil April 17,whenthe60thanniversary event officially kicks off. Overall, Michel remained “confident that MIPTV will be as successful as before. It’s an efficient market, well organized, plus the importance of meeting personally vs. digitally has proven to be a key factor for our business development.” But some people and companies are looking elsewhere. “We are not exhibiting at MIPTV in 2023”, said Rachel Glaister, senior VP, Press & Marketing, for the London-based All3Media International. “We now prioritize our Upfront, which forms part of the London TV Screenings Week in spring.” However, she added, “We are looking at the specialist areas of MIPDoc and MIPFormats as a potential platform for speakers.” Steve Saltman, head of Domestic Sales at the Los Angeles-based Electric Entertainment, is still a MIPTV advocate, though. Like many others across the industry, he has felt that it has “been on its ‘last legs’ for a number of years”, and recognizes that “there have been a lot of companies that have walked away from it. I believe that with NATPE going the way it’s gone, that this MIPTV could be very exciting. I think it’s going to have the biggest attendance it’s had in recent years. There’s certainly a lot more energy than there’s been, so I’m very hopeful about MIPTV.” Electric has been ramping up its presence in Cannes over the years, “and certainly at the last MIPTV and at the recent MIPCOM— where our stand doubled in size from our MIPTV stand”, Saltman commented. “We’re trying to find a bigger stand and a better location, which is the nature for all these shows”, he said. “We’ll definitely be bringing a larger contingent of people than we have, certainly pre-pandemic. We’re very bullish right now and with NATPE going away that makes MIP much more important!” Added Lise Romanoff, managing director/ CEO of Worldwide Distribution for Vision Films: “A year ago at MIPTV, there was hardly anyone in attendance. But by MIPCOM 2022, I thought that it was very good for buyers and sellers in Europe and the U.S. It was a shame that some regions couldn’t attend because of the pandemic travel restrictions, such as Australia and the Far East. So I do hope that in 2023, all of the territories of the world can finally travel.” Emilia Nuccio, VP of International Sales for the New York City-based FilmRise, said: “We are aware that more companies and buyers attend MIPCOM, but for us MIPTV is equally important. While MIPTV may have fewer people in attendance, we feel that the quality of the meetings and opportunities for new business abound. Since FilmRise is committed to expanding its international presence, we are excited to attend MIPTV in April.” Despite the global economic picture predicting continued inflation and rising prices, Nuccio said the company still thinks “presence at keymarkets is fundamental, even if there is a reduced presence in terms of people attending. Everybody looks at ROI, and especially for small independent companies, choices will have to be made.” ChevonneO’Shaughnessy of the Los Angelesbased American Cinema International (ACI) is still not surewhether shewill begoing toMIPTV, as the company has so much in production right now in South Africa (seven TV movies and two Christmas movies). She believes that, these days, “most MIPTV buyers are streaming services, and European [broadcast] TV outlets are not buying!” According to Tom Devlin, president of International TV Sales & Marketing at Allen Media Group/Entertainment Studios, “MIPTV 2023 will be better than 2022! My sense is buyers and exhibitors want the live events. Our industry continues to go through amazing times, and face-to-face meetings are invaluable!” Some other EuropeanandU.S. companies that VideoAge contacted didn’t want to comment yet, since they weren’t sure yet if they would be attending, however, Hud Woodle of Los Angeles-based GRB Studios, said that his firm would “definitely be attending both MIPTV and MIPCOM.” (By Mike Reynolds) American-European Interfaith Dialogue About MIPTV Continues to Flare Up January 2023 Road to MIPTV
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