INTERNATIONAL www.VideoAge.org Hollywood Studios’ Executive Sales Teams Page 14 Indies’ Content Highlights and Contacts Page 16 New U.S. TV Primetime Series Page 28 My 2¢: SVoD compared to telco, electricity in the early days Page 34 THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF FILM, BROADCASTING, STREAMING, PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION May 2023 - VOL. 43 No. 3 - $9.75 L.A. SCREENINGS 2023
News Why large projects tend to go over budget and over expectations: A new book is attempting to explain it. Plus, can SVoD be compared to utilities? Page 34 LAS Guide 14. Studios’ global sales teams 16. Indie Programming Guide: New shows available in L.A. 28. 2023-2024 New U.S. broadcast season series in consideration 4. World: NATPE Budapest vs. Content Budapest 6. World: American Film Market changes venue, but not its spots 10. World: L.A. Screenings 2023 inches its way to pre-pandemic times 12. Book Review: the life and times of a casting director, Joel Thurm offers entertaining tidbits 24. MIPTV Review: Down, but not out. Market survives many challenges 32. Big jets mean big headaches for frequent flyers. Calendar of upcoming events MAIN OFFICES 216 EAST 75TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10021 TEL: (212) 288-3933 WWW.VIDEOAGEINTERNATIONAL.COM WWW.VIDEOAGE.ORG P.O. BOX 25282 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025 VIALE ABRUZZI 30 20131 MILAN, ITALY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DOM SERAFINI EDITORIAL TEAM SARA ALESSI (NY) BILL BRIOUX (CANADA) ENZO CHIARULLO (ITALY) LEAH HOCHBAUM ROSNER (NY) SUSAN HORNIK (L.A.) CAROLINE INTERTAGLIA (FRANCE) OMAR MENDEZ (ARGENTINA) LUIS POLANCO (NY) MIKE REYNOLDS (L.A.) MARIA ZUPPELLO (BRAZIL) PUBLISHER MONICA GORGHETTO BUSINESS OFFICE LEN FINKEL LEGAL OFFICE STEVE SCHIFFMAN WEB MANAGER BRUNO MARRACINO DESIGN/LAYOUT CLAUDIO MATTIONI, CARMINE RASPAOLO VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 0278-5013 USPS 601-230) IS PUBLISHED SEVEN TIMES A YEAR,. PLUS DAILIES, BY TV TRADE MEDIA, INC. © TV TRADE MEDIA INC. 2023. THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT IN THE U.S., U.K., AND ALL COUNTRIES SIGNATORY TO THE BERNE CONVENTIO AND THE PAN-AMERICAN CONVENTION. SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO VIDEO AGE INTERNATIONAL, 216 EAST 75TH STREET, SUITE 1W, NEW YORK, NY 10021, U.S.A. PURSUANT TO THE U.S. COPYRIGHTS ACT OF 1976, THE RIGHTS OF ALL CONTENT DONE ON ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL VIDEOAGE PUBLICATIONS ARE HELD BY THE PUBLISHER OF VIDEOAGE, WHICH COMMISSIONED THEM Features
May 2023 4 tent Budapest. Some people will go to both.” Indeed, VideoAge is one of many that will go to both events, but probing the real feelings of both the buyers and sellers of TV content with the goal of presenting a good picture of the situation is not an easy task. NATPE has two legacies left: NATPE Miami and NATPE Budapest. The Miami market in January 2023 was replaced by a successful Content Americas from C21, while Brunico has announced that it will host a NATPE Global in Miami in 2024. The major confrontation, therefore, surrounds Budapest, where both organizations are vying for supremacy. At the moment, Brunico has the upper hand since it reportedly pledged to credit former exhibitors who lost their money due to the cancellation of NATPE Miami 2022 and who will be exhibiting at its Budapest market. It is assumed that those companies that lost money at NATPE Miami 2022 but will not be in Budapest will be credited for NATPE Global 2024, now under Brunico. Since neither organization is apparently willing to concede, planning to combine/ merge the events, or even come up with a mutually beneficial plan, one suggestion that came out from VideoAge’s probing is for each to take a step back and split the events: C21 can keep Miami, and Brunico can take Budapest. The reasoning is straightforward: With Content Americas, C21 has already successfully replaced NATPE Miami, while Brunico still has to prove itself. Brunico could find a better hotel in Miami Beach that would be more attractive than the Hilton Downtown Miami (which Jenkinson said is being refurbished). Budapest is still virgin territory for both organizations, but since Brunico can play the aforementioned “credit card,” it has a better chance of succeeding. The fact that Content Budapest will be competing with Conecta Fiction, set for June 26-29 in Toledo, Spain, must also be taken into consideration. Looking at all options, possibilities, and opportunities, the final verdict is that the best solution would be to clearly divide the NATPE spoils, rather than rummage through them. Pictured above: David Jenkinson (left) and Russell Goldstein During last month’s MIPTV, managing director David Jenkinson of the U.K.’s C21 Media published an online editorial titled “The Fight for Budapest,” about his company’s competition with Canada’s Brunico Communications (owned by president and CEO Russell Goldstein) for the legacy left by the bankrupted NATPE for a TV market in Hungary. Jenkinson explained that, “When Brunico went ahead with its purchase of NATPE [assets] and moved its dates to the week before [C21 Media’s] Content Budapest, this made it less straightforward.” Now, NATPE Budapest is set for June 19-22, 2023 at the traditional InterContinental Hotel, while Content Budapest will take place June 27-29 at the Kempinski Hotel. But, added Jenkinson, “Content Budapest would be different, though. It would host a market but also have an extended focus on developing co-production business across Central and Eastern Europe. The future is about codevelopment, not about acquiring finished shows.” He went on: “Of course, none of us want confusion in the marketplace and both C21 and Brunico would prefer to go it alone with either event having no competition, but this is where we are. Some people will go to NATPE Budapest, some people will go to ConNATPE Budapest vs. Content Budapest World (Continued on Page 6) LA SCREENINGS 2023 Visítanos en el Century Plaza SUITE 1006 131 eps x 45´ Teleserie 104 eps x 45´ Teleserie 130 eps x 45´ Teleserie C M Y CM MY CY CMY K VIDEOAGE 18,5 x 23 cm .pdf 1 3/05/2023 13:56:23
May 2023 6 still view the AFM as a theatrical market even though it has morphed into a TV market. The traditional Loews hotel location closed for renovations in March and will reopen late this year. Le Méridien is a fourstar hotel with nine floors and 299 rooms, normally priced at $339 per night for a standard room. The hotel and the homonymous chain was founded by Air France and built in 1981. It is now part of Marriott. The AFM moved to Santa Monica in 1991 from various hotels in West Los Angeles and remained at Loews ever since. The last in-person market was held at Loews in 2022. Earlier this year the IFTA announced, “Because this is a new venue, we will provide more visual references for office choices and work directly with you to identify the best match for your business needs and budget. Buyer Registration will open on July 5, and we will offer a range of buyerspecific benefits, including a new Buyer Concierge, Buyer’s Lounge, and a full schedule of screenings in theatres as well as on-demand. Industry Attendee Registration will also open on July 5 with a variety of badge options for you to accomplish your AFM goals.” Added IFTA’s Prewitt, “The Le Méridien has a wider range of room sizes so it offers exhibitors more choices as to size and price points, including lower cost options.” Pricing varies from $7,200 for a mini standard office to $60,000 for the 9th floor suite package. Meeting tables, including two exhibitors’ badges, go for $5,500 each. AFM parking will stay the same as in the past with exhibitors able to purchase parking at the hotel, valet parking, and the beach lots still available with Beach Lot 4 South being the primary offsite lot. AFM shuttle services will be available to and from the beach lots and the other hotels in Santa Monica. The owners of Loews Santa Monica Beach did not renew Loews Hotels & Co’s management agreement, and as of March 4, 2023, the hotel was no longer operated by Loews. In January, reps for the Loews hotel announced that it was set to close and lay off 320 staff members. The venue is being made part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, which itself is part of the Strategic Hotels & Resorts group. The iconic, Pacific-facing property will be rebranded as the Regent Santa Monica Beach. After 29 years at the Loews Santa Monica Hotel, the American Film Market will be changing venues for its 2023 edition, moving its event 800 meters east to the Le Méridien Delfina on Pico Boulevard (pictured at right), an 11-minute walk from the Loews. “This is a long-term move for AFM,” said press officer Jennifer Garnick. The calendar dates, however, will stay around the same time of year as in the AFM’s past. This year’s edition will take place October 31- November 5, 2023, meaning that it will begin exactly 11 days after MIPCOM ends in Cannes. The forced relocation could have given AFM organizers the perfect excuse to move the market to a date that would be more conducive to doing business since it continues to fall right after the end of MIPCOM, a major market, and also at the end of film buyers’ budgeted funds for the year. “The reasons supporting AFM’s date haven’t changed,” said Jean Prewitt, CEO of the IFTA, the Los Angeles-based film and TV association that organizes the AFM. “The industry needs a market at this time as the bookend to Cannes six months earlier.” This statement is a clear indication that the powers that be at the IFTA AFM Changes Venue, But Not Its Spots World (Continued from Page 4) (Continued on Page 10)
May 2023 10 covery will settle for evening “drinks.” Meanwhile, Lionsgate will host “private screenings.” Going back to the indies, Marquez would like to encourage all participants to obtain a $75 registration badge from her. It comes with a list of buyers, plus a discount to those interested in attending the Content LA conference (held concurrently at the same hotel). They can pay a $199 fee (instead of the regular $500). The indies’ L.A. Screenings registration is not mandatory, “but that little amount would help me to provide the services that participants would like to receive,” said Marquez. Pictured at left, one of the Century Plaza’s floors at the L.A. Screenings 2022. Fox Studios Get An Upgrade Did you ever wonder what happened to the legendary Fox Studios after Disney acquired 21th Century Fox in 2019 for $71.3 billion? The studio lot is now set for a $1.5 billion expansion. The rumor that it was going to be sold as real estate for a large development complex fortunately did not materialize. The Fox lot, in the Century City part of Los Angeles, is still under the control of Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp., and is now going to be upgraded with the addition of office towers, soundstages, and other facilities. The upgrade would add nine soundstages to the existing 15, as well as a 20-story building. The 53-acre (214,450 sq. meters) studio lot is located at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars. When Murdoch sold the 21st Century Fox assets to Disney, the deal included the 20th Century Fox film and TV studios, but did not include the studio property, Fox Television stations, and Fox Entertainment. However, Disney rented the Fox studios to produce its own shows. FilmLA, the city and county film permit office, indicated that existing soundstages in the Los Angeles area have been fully rented and that demand for new soundstages has escalated, with a waiting list as long as five film productions, and in order to meet demand, supply would need to double in Los Angeles in the next few years. Between suites and tables, the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel in the Century City section of Los Angeles will be housing over 70 exhibition companies for the upcoming L.A. Screenings. This is according to Isabella Marquez, the organizer of the independent portion of the L.A. Screenings, which will run May 17 to 19 (with set-up on Tuesday, May 16). The studios will pick up the activities starting on May 20, except for MGM, which will host a one-hour presentation on May 19. The above number compares to 59 exhibitors at the Century Plaza in 2022, and 84 in the pre-pandemic year 2019. This year, on the evening of Saturday May 20, many participants will return to the Century Plaza for the traditional Telefilms screenings and cocktail. That same night, NBCUniversal will also be running a Fast X film screening event in Hollywood. Fox will be back at the Screenings after a three-year absence with a Sunday “presentation and party” on its lot. The Hollywood studios will continue their schedule until May 25, ending with the Sony Pictures TV screenings. Another party will be thrown by Sony, while Paramount, MGM, and Warner Bros. DisL.A. Screenings Inches Back to Full Exhibition World (Continued from Page 6)
12 In Sex, Drugs, and Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director (416 pgs., BearManor Media, 2022, $32), the now semi-retired Joel Thurm shares how he became an accomplished casting director. The publisher, BearManor Media, is a small imprint that pushed for Thurm to give an interview to VideoAge, but it ultimately did not take place. Getting a personalized inside view of pilot season would have been a perfect addition to this L.A. Screenings Issue. A quick glance at his storied career shows a promising start at CBS in the mid-1970s, head of Talent at the production company Spelling-Goldberg, VP of TV Talent & Casting at Paramount TV, and then VP of of Talent and Casting at NBC. Across the decades, his credits included casting The Bob Newhart Show, Starsky & Hutch, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Taxi, Grease, Airplane!, Cheers, Miami Vice, and so much more. Essentially, he had a hand in shaping some of the biggest TV series and movies from the last 50 years. Sex, Drugs, and Pilot Season tells the story of Thurm’s career in Hollywood and portrays him as an adventurous, funny, ears-to-theground professional whose connections in the industry were constant and far-reaching. But before his success in casting, he was a humble New York City kid. You could say that he had the most bucolic childhood you could have while growing up in the Big Apple. Born on September 16, 1942, he remembers being raised on his grandfather’s dairy farm in East New York, at a time when the Brooklyn neighborhood could accommodate farms. While his father served in World War II, the very young Thurm and his mother spent time in a red-brick barn with “fifty-six smelly, bony Holstein cows in neck shackles.” As a schoolboy, Thurm might best be described as a high-functioning under-achiever — slacking off in class while scoring high on tests. He took to the arts from a young age. He enjoyed listening to the radio to keep up with musical theater, and he loved television. He watched the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, family comedy Father Knows Best, and the adventure series Bomba, the Jungle Boy, and learned to distinguish star talent by watching standouts such as Kirby Grant in adventure Sky King and Peter Graves in family Western Fury — quite an introduction to his casting education. Thurm reluctantly pursued higher education, enrolling at Hunter College’s Bronx campus, before accidentally dropping out by flunking chemistry and taking a trip to Rome. His first big break in the industry came early in his young adulthood. In 1967, after stints in New York’s theater community, he landed a job at David Merrick Productions, led by none other than the acclaimed theater producer David Merrick. Thurm worked as an assistant to general manager Jack Schlissel and even had the opportunity to serve as company manager on a production. As Thurm puts it, “By day I was Jack’s office slave; by night I became company manager of arguably the biggest smash on Broadway: Hello, Dolly!, then in its fourth season and staring the incomparable black singer Pearl Bailey.” Thurm’s professional relationship with Bailey took him out to Los Angeles, where he worked on the variety show The Pearl Bailey Show. Bailey is one of the many figures who helped to shepherd Thurm in his career. Another notable favorite mentioned in the book is Ethel Winant, who, when Thurm met her, led the CBS Casting Department and was “network TV’s first female vice president in a creative, non-business area.” The book includes memorable anecdotes with Bailey and Winant, and plenty of A-list talent and top-level executives like Brandon Tartikoff. Among the former category, there are amusing tales about the casting of David Hasselhoff in the soap opera The Young and the Restless, the crime-drama Knight Rider, and the action-drama Baywatch. Another favorite includes casting Susan Sarandon in the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The book also includes a delightful chapter titled “NBC Series Notes”, in which he lists every pilot that became a series on NBC during his tenure from 1980 to 1990. His sense of humor — droll with a sarcastic edge — continues to shine through even in his notes and commentary on each show. Regarding the one and only season of The David Letterman Show, Thurm comments, “Thank God for the cancellation, because who knows if Letterman’s late-night show would ever have happened otherwise.” Regarding the fourepisode flop known as Fathers and Sons starring Merlin Olsen, Thurm jokes, “I honestly remember nothing about this show; nor do I know why we were so intent on finding vehicles for the very uncharismatic Mr. Olsen.” Sex, Drugs, and Pilot Season is every bit as flashy and thrilling as its title suggests. The sparkling memoir offers a guide into Hollywood from an insider’s perspective with wit and panache. Thurm is charming, honest, and knows when to dish out an equal dose of gossip and industry advice. The veteran insider shares his insight and accomplishments from over three decades of having an eye for talent The Life and Times of a Hollywood Casting Director: Joel Thurm’s Entertaining Tidbits May 2023 Book Review By Luis Polanco Regarding the op known as Fathers and Sons starring Merlin Olsen, “I honestly remember nothing about this show; nor do I know why we were so intent on nding vehicles for the very uncharismatic Mr. Olsen.”
L.A. Screenings 2023 Dan Cohen, Chief Content Licensing Officer, Paramount and President, Republic Pictures Lisa Kramer, President, International TV Licensing, Paramount Global Content Distribution Michael Armstrong, EVP, Worldwide TV Licensing & Operations Jonathan Bingaman, EVP Multi-Platform Licensing & Distribution Jonathan Greenberg, EVP, Television Licensing Regional Sales, North Asia Matthew Downer, SVP, Regional TV Licensing Paul Gilbert, SVP, International Formats Lauren Marriott, SVP, Content Partnerships and Brand Strategy Philippe Renouard, SVP, Regional TV Licensing Maria Sanchez, SVP, TV Licensing, Latin America Bernhard Schwab, SVP, Regional TV Licensing Nicole Sinclair, SVP, Regional TV Licensing Doug Smith, SVP, Streaming & Content Licensing PARAMOUNT GLOBAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION 5555 MELROSE AVE. LOS ANGELES, CA 90038 www.paramount.com 14 May 2023 VIDEOAGE Studios’ Global Sales Teams May 22-23 May 22-25 May 20-23 May 21 May 20-23 Robert Blair, President, International Television Distribution Phil Goodhew, SVP, Commercial Strategy Martyn Holmyard, VP, Commercial Strategy Roni Patel, SVP, Sales, Nordics, Middle East, CEE, Turkey & Greece Alison Morris, SVP, TV, Affiliate & Digital Distribution, UK & Ireland Toby Etheridge, Executive Director, Sales, UK & Ireland Guillaume Coffin, Head of Affiliates, Ad Sales & Content Licensing, France, Benelux & Africa Alessandra Ghoneim, Executive Director, TV Sales, France, Benelux & Africa Stephane Queneudec, Head of Content Distribution, France, Benelux & Africa Matthias Heinze, Head of Distribution & Partnerships, Germany, Austria & Switzerland Klaas Woebken, Director, TV Distribution, Germany, Austria & Switzerland Angel Yllera, VP, TV Licensing, Affiliate Sales & Digital Distribution, Spain, Portugal & Italy Luis Garcia de Figueroa, Sales Director, TV & Affiliate Sales, Spain Guido Tundis, Executive Director, TV and Affiliate Sales, Italy Patricia Jasin, VP, TV Distribution, Latin America Michael Brooks, Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand Jae Chang, SVP, International TV, India, SE Asia, Korea Kunio Yamada, VP, Group Distribution, Japan Sunday Lu, VP, International TV, China WARNER BROS. 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CULVER CITY, CA 90232 TEL: (310) 244-4000 www.sonypictures.com/tv Justin Connolly, President, Disney Platform Distribution Disney Content Sales and Distribution Regional Leads: Paolo Agostinelli — Europe, Middle East and Africa Fernando Barbosa — Latin America and U.S. Hispanic Market Angela Wang — Asia Pacific Chris Oldre — U.S. and Canada DISNEY MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION 500 S. BUENA VISTA ST. BURBANK, CA 91521 TEL: (860) 766-3529 www.dmedmedia.disney.com Belinda Menendez, President & Chief Revenue Officer, Global Distribution Carolyn Stalins, EVP, International Distribution Bruce Casino, EVP, Sales & Distribution, U.S. Ron Suter, EVP & GM, Sales & Distribution, Canada Jay McNamara, EVP, Strategy, Analysis & Digital Distribution Rob Bell, EVP, International Digital Distribution Justin Che, MD, Asia Pacific, Distribution & Networks Chris Taylor, MD, Distribution, Networks and DTC, Australia and New Zealand & IMD USA Lizzie Avery, SVP, Lead Sales Liaison, EMEA Rajiv Dhawn, SVP, Sales Liaison, Asia Tamara Misert, SVP, Sales Liaison, Iberia, Italy, Israel Atsushi Miyasaka, SVP, Sales Liaison, Japan & Korea Sven Noth, SVP, Liaison, German-speaking Territories, Benelux, Nordics Gillian Rose, SVP, Sales & Distribution, U.S. Chloe Van den Berg, SVP, Head of Kids & Family Entertainment Anne-Lorraine Villeroy, SVP, Liaison, French- speaking Territories, Greece, CEE, Poland, Africa Pierre Weisbein, SVP, Sales Liaison, Latin America NBCUNIVERSAL GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION UNIVERSAL CITYWALK AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD UNIVERSAL CITY, CA 91608 TEL: (818) 777-1300 www.nbcuniversal.com Fernando Szew, CEO, FOX Entertainment Global & CEO, MarVista Entertaioment Tony Vassiliadis, EVP, FOX Entertainment Global Deena Stern, SVP, Marketing & Communications, FOX Entertainmment Global Michol Hatwan, VP, Distribution, FOX Entertainment Global Jody Cipriano, Content Sales Andrew Whiteman, Content Sales Dina Vangelisti, Content Sales Michelle Payne, Content Sales Andy Nguyen, Content Sales FOX ENTERTAINMENT GLOBAL FOX STUDIOS LOT TEL: (310) 369-5500 www.foxentglobal.com Alfred Haber Distr. 649 All3Media Int’l. 732 America Video Films 930 Atresmedia Television 356 ATV 1029 Banijay Rights 844 Beta Film 816 Blue Ant Int’l. Table 4 Calinos Ent. 856 Caracol Televisión 1001 CDC United Network 716 Cisneros Media Distr. 906 CJ ENM 944 Comarex 708 Disney Latam 933 Dori Media 556 Eccho Rights 901 Endemol Shine 840 Entertainment Studios 1012 EO Contents Group 952 EO Media 914 Fifth Season 904 Fremantle 456 The Global Agency 756 Globo 855 Great Movies Distr. Table 1 Haciyatmaz Group Table 12 Hemisphere 920 Hybe Table 11 Inter Medya 555 Kanal D International 1054 Kang Contents 946 KBS Media 824 KOCCA 1108 Ledafilms 602 Lionsgate Television 655 MADD Entertainment 355 Mas Ros Media 740 MBC America 938 MediaHub Table 5 Mediapro 1014 MGM 501 MISTCO 601 Multicom Table 13 NBCUni Global Distr. 1004 New Regency 912 OGM Universe 832 Onza Distribution 1055 Paramount Global CD 401 Polar Star 744 Publispei Table 6 Raya Group 936 RCN Estudios 301 Record TV Network 656 Red Arrow Studios Table 3 RTVE Table 8 Saran Studios Table 2 Sato Company 724 SBS International 928 SLL Joongang 808 Something Special 922 Somos Distribution 919 Telefilms 954 Televisa Univision 801 Tondero Distribucíon 1006 TRT 1104 TV Azteca 755 TV Film International 455 VIP 2000 TV 955 We Love Ent. Table 9 Zee Ent. Table 10 Century Plaza Exhibitors
L.A. Screenings 2023 ALL3MEDIA INTERNATIONAL Detective #24 (drama) (pictured) Tilda, a recently fired prosecutor, and Ibrahinn, a Somalian refugee who is also an exceptional detective known as Number 24, form a distinctive duo. Their worlds collide when the case of a missing teenage girl arises. Far North (drama) This epic true story follows how an everyday couple from the Ahipara community foiled an international crime ring’s largest-ever deal in the Pacific. The Messenger (drama) Ed Kennedy, a directionless teenager, inadvertently becomes a local hero after he stops an armed robbery. Soon after, he starts receiving cryptic messages on playing cards that take him stumbling along a path of mysterious missions. Rise and Fall (format) (entertainment, gameshow) The format follows people from all walks of life who either find themselves in a position of power living in opulent penthouses or as part of the powerless living in a basement workplace. The Kardashians: A Billion Dollar Dynasty (documentary) This two-part celebrity special presents a fascinating account of how the Kardashians became one of the world’s most recognized brands, changed the face of social media, and achieved stratospheric wealth. The Unknown (adventure reality) A new psychological adventure reality that asks: “Do you dare to choose the unknown?” Picture Slam (format) The format sees teams face a series of pictures that are worth prize money. The more the teams can name the more they win, but for the jackpot they need to name all the pictures. Century Plaza Suite 732 Contact: yari.torres@all3media.com Tel: +1 917 606 3863 19 Fulton Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10038 ATV Street Birds (drama) Five friends find an abandoned baby in a trash bin and decide to take care of baby Gülay se. The five friends accidentally wound a bad guy named Çatal, then (also accidentally) kill a woman who was looking for the baby. Time goes by and the five friends are now adults, but everything will fall apart once the policeman Barbaros comes to find Gülay se. A Little Sunshine (drama) (pictured) Hakan and Elif were a happy couple until Hakan got into an accident that unearthed a slew of lies. Elif will take Günes under her wing with the support of Fırat, and their story will begin. The Father (drama) Cezayir Türk, a secret service assassin, fakes his own death for the sake of his family and the government. He starts a new life, but everything falls apart when he is forced to return to Istanbul. For My Family (drama) Kadir and his three younger siblings face the sudden death of their parents. Despite poverty, they stick together through it all. The Ottoman (drama) When Ertugrul Gazi fell ill, the Kayı tribe was forced to contend with outside enemies, and power struggles began between the youngest son of Ertugrul Ghazi, Osman, and his uncles, Dündar and Gündüz. The brave Osman will fight to defeat his enemies and empower the Kayı tribe in Anatolia. Century Plaza Suite 1029 Contact: info@atvdistribution.com Tel: +90 212 354 37 01 Merkezi Güzeltepe Mh. 15 Temmuz Sehitler Cd. 34060 Eyüpsultan, Istanbul, Turkey CALINOS ENTERTAINMENT Farah (drama) (pictured) An Iranian woman who ran away from her country to live in Istanbul, works as a cleaning lady in order to afford her son’s expensive medical treatments, but she soon turns into a mafia accomplice. Twisted Lives (action drama) Korkmaz and Iskender have been dear friends for 40 years, ever since Iskender saved Korkmaz from certain death and hired him as a hitman. Indefensible (crime drama) The combative, endearing team of criminal lawyers at Lapointe-Macdonald Law Firm are passionate about justice. They defend touching cases and tackle their personal, ethical, emotional, and psychological issues. Adela (drama) Sisters Adela and Andreea were raised by their parents, Nuti and Mitu, in a slum near Bucharest. One day, Adela’s biological grandfather decides to repair his past mistakes. In doing so, Adela’s secret identity will be revealed. Forbidden Fruit (drama) Socialite Ender hires Yildiz to seduce her businessman husband Halit so that Ender can get Halit’s assets after the divorce. However, Yildiz betrays Ender and exposes her plan. Halit still divorces Ender but marries Yildiz, continuing the endless war between the two women. Deeply (drama, romance) Deniz and Barı ’s love spans 10 years. Their love story is sometimes sunny, sometimes stormy, sometimes possible, often impossible. Yesilcam (drama) After losing his production company, Semih Ate has two goals: to make a blockbuster movie without losing his new company and to win back his unforgettable ex-wife, famous actress Mine Cansu. Century Plaza Suite 856 Contact: info@calinosentertainment.com Tel: +90 216 999 49 99 Calinos Plaza, Kavacik Mh. Ekinciler Cd. Elbistan Sk. No: 6, 34810, Beykoz Istanbul, Turkey GLOBAL AGENCY One Love (drama) (pictured) The idealistic Doga falls hopelessly in love at university with charming Fatih, a man from a devout family whose values clash with her mother’s, creating a moving drama as they seek to overcome differences. Lonely Hearts (drama) Teoman’s romance with Ayda must overcome the challenge of a formidable rival. Teoman’s brother’s dreams of success are threatened by a foolish business deal with that same scheming rival, and his only source of strength is the love he finds. Vendetta (drama) Dilan and Baran are forced into a marriage to end a blood feud, triggered by an attack on Baran’s parents, which leaves Baran struggling to bring peace to a conflict-filled family. Blind Duets (singing talent show) The four celebrity singers on the jury perform with 12 contestants in a show highlighting talent, star quality, and rivalry between performers. Each contestant’s identity is only revealed when a jury member chooses them, and they emerge to perform on stage with the celebrity. Match the Family (gameshow) This contest challenges two teams of three players to use intelligence and quick wits to identify family members of a person in the studio, with prize money rising to $10,000 over five rounds. Finish That Dish (cooking show) Eight creative chefs in four teams must prepare special dishes without communicating with their teammates in an innovative contest which offers a unique recipe for fun and entertainment. Whose Chance (singing entertainment show) Contestants must show business skills by debating how to handle an office scenario, while six CEOs in the jury observe and question them. In the second round, candidates are then grilled by the executives, who must decide whether to offer them a position or not. Century Plaza Suite 756 Contact: info@theglobalagency.tv Tel: +90 212 241 26 93 Abdi Ipekçi Cad. Park 19-1 Kat:3 Nisantasi Istanbul, Turkey KANAL D INTERNATIONAL Farewell Letter (premium drama) (pictured) What Mehmet and Aslı, two fresh lovers, don’t know, is that the roots of their strong feelings go back 30 years. When Mehmet’s father, Ziya, and Aslı’s mother, Alanur, were about to get married, Ziya suddenly disappeared and left Alanur all alone. Now, the two former lovers have to sit at the same table, this time as in-laws. That Girl (premium drama) Zeynep dreams of being a social media influencer to escape her poor life. She works as a house cleaner for influencer Ozan. One day, she meets businesswoman Sitare, who owns an agency, is the boss of several social media influencers, and is also, Ozan’s secret girlfriend... Three Sisters (premium drama) After living their fairytale family life, three sisters — Türkan, Dönüs, and Derya — will all face harsh realities. Turkan learns that her husband accepted their marriage without his consent. Meanwhile, Dönü and Derya will see their lives turn upside down due to a secret from the past. Love and Hope (premium drama) Tells a story about love, conflicting generations, families falling apart, and domestic feuds. At the heart is two love stories, one between Zeynep and Ege, and the other between Elif and Kuzey. Love & Hate (romantic comedy) Tolga, a famous young actor, is at the top of 16 Indie Programming Guide May 2023 VIDEOAGE (Continued on Page 20)
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L.A. Screenings 2023 Neil LaBute Short Film and Series Collection (collection) Highlights nine titles ranging from 2010-2017 written and/or directed by Neil LaBute. Featuring talent such as Julia Stiles, Maggie Grace, Jenna Fischer, Bill Pullman, Judith Light, Marin Ireland, Adam Brody, Keith David, Thomas Sadosky and more. Century Plaza Table 13 Contact: sales@multicom.tv Tel: +1 310 693-8818 10801 National Blvd., Suite 603 Los Angeles, CA 90064 PUBLISPEI Flowers Over The Inferno (thriller) (pictured) Teresa, a 60-year-old detective, has just arrived in a mountain village, a place that looks like a paradise but hides dark secrets among its narrow streets. Will she be able to find the answers she seeks? Yet We Fall Happy (teen series, family drama) Gioia Spada finds her 16-year-old life complicated, and all because of her mother, Sabrina. Every man Sabrina meets falls at her feet. But these complicated liaisons always lead her to get into her pink food truck and change cities. Redemption (detective series) Valerio investigates the presumed suicide of his son. Helped by Sara, his ex and a policewoman, he embarks on a journey full of pitfalls in order to set things straight with his past. I Cesaroni (comedy series) Broadcast on Canale 5 from 2006 to 2014, I Cesaroni told the story of the most popular TV family in Rome and changed the idea of family entertainment in Italy. Crazy About Love (romantic comedy series) Two forty-something neighbors, who are both parents of teenagers, fall for each other. The series is centered on their relationship but also on romances between secondary characters. Family Doctor (comedy series) Revolves around the adventures of the Martini family at their home in Poggio Fiorito on the outskirts of Rome. Lele Martini, a widower and a doctor for the local medical center, decides to move to the house he bought together with his wife, before she died. Sissi (period drama series) Charts the life of Sissi, the Empress of Austria, from 1867, when Sissi is about to address Parliament in Budapest to convince the Hungarians not to abandon the Hapsburg Empire. Century Plaza Table 6 Contact: a.adinolfi@publispei.it Tel: +39 349 6045195 Via Col di Lana, 28 00195 Rome, Italy RECORD TV Kings (Biblical telenovela) The story of Israel, from the time that the prophet Samuel led God’s people up to the fall of Jerusalem caused by the armies of Babylon. Genesis (Biblical telenovela) This story of the first 2,300 years of humanity begins by giving a greater understanding of why we exist and how we turned from perfection to imperfection. world of competitive swimming. Gqeberha: The Empire (telenovela) One man seemingly has it all: family, love, money, power, glory, and respect. What more could he want? Another wife, for starters. His decision to expand the family soon endangers his relationship with his heir apparent. Shaka Ilembe (drama) Set in the 1700s, Shaka Ilembe tells the story of the making of the iconic African king, with passages from his early childhood through to adulthood. Dam (psychological thriller) Yola Fischer returns home from Chile for her estranged father’s funeral. To her surprise, and her sister’s irritation, he’s left his farm to her, but this may be more of a curse than a blessing, as the house seems to be trying to tell her something. Strangers You Know (true-crime docu-series) This crime docu-series unpacks the details of some of South Africa’s most heinous murders, with each episode taking viewers to the heart of a brutal incident that gripped the nation. Devilsdorp (documentary) This documentary explores the mysterious 2016 killings in Krugersdorp and offers exclusive interviews with the lead detective, prosecutor, the ex-girlfriend, as well as the parents of ringleaders. Lioness (family thriller) A woman loses her children, her lover, and her freedom when she is framed for fraud committed by her husband before his death. Eight years later, she discovers that he is still alive. Contact: sales@multichoicestudios.com Tel: +27 11 289 3000 MultiChoice City, 144 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg, Johannesburg, 2194, South Africa MULTICOM ENTERTAINMENT GROUP Wounded Land (4K) (documentary) (pictured) This newly released documentary explores how Ukraine’s wine-making regions suddenly shift when Russia escalates a war against Ukraine. Stay Calm (4K) (comedy) An Italian-American politician arrives in Italy to stage an elaborate scandal to win the majority. Nothing goes as planned. Arthur Cohn Collection (collection) Spotlights five titles ranging from 1962 to 1997, including multiple Academy Award winners. The collection features Dangerous Moves, Black and White in Color, One Day in September, Sky Above, Mud Below, and White Lies. Atlas Collection (collection) Features four of the recently restored 4K titles, with many more to come. The collection includes Castle of the Creeping Flesh, The Cannibal Man, Kiss Me Monster, and The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman. Cheerleader Collection (collection) Showcases popular cult classics ranging from comedy to drama to thriller to horror — all featuring cheerleaders! Titles include But I’m a Cheerleader, Death of a Cheerleader, and Satan’s Cheerleaders. TheArchive (channel) TheArchive is a channel dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft and silver screen fun, representing rare, retro and 4K restored films and classic TV. his career but dissatisfied with life, and Asya dreams of studying at university but works as a shop clerk. Their paths will cross coincidentally, and their worlds will collide. Price of Passion (premium drama) Cold-blooded hitman Ferhat and idealistic surgeon Aslı are forced to marry in order to preserve Aslı’s life. But Ferhat’s life is too dirty for an innocent love story. Ruthless City (premium drama) Seher’s family life changes when her motherin-law, Neriman, makes a secret deal to marry one of Seher’s daughters to Agah Karaçay’s nephew. Neriman twists the story of this marriage to convince Seher to move the family into Agah’s mansion, where a new encounter will test both families. Century Plaza Suite 1054 Contact: sales@kanald.international Tel: 90 212 413 51 11 Demirören TV Radyo Yayıncılık Yapımcılık A. . 100 Mahallesi, 2264. Sokak, Demirören Medya Center Apt. No: 1/21 34218 Ba gcilar, I stanbul, Turkey LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT Gray (drama) (pictured) After 20 years in hiding, CIA spy Cornelia Gray returns to her old life just as it is discovered that there is a new mole within her old spy network putting her and her network in jeopardy. Northern Lights (drama) Revelations, confessions, secrets and lies envelop this darkly humorous and intimate series of hope as two grieving strangers Lloyd and Áine discover how friendship can play a vital role in their ability to heal and move on. Wong & Winchester (comedy) Marissa Wong, an ex-cop turned private investigator, and Sarah Winchester, a young woman fresh out of university, form an unlikely partnership. Despite their generation gap and their different approaches to work, life and fun, the mismatched duo solves their clients’ cases. Pistol (drama) The story of a band of noisy, working-class kids with “no future”, who shook the boring, corrupt establishment to its core, threatened to bring down the government, and changed music and culture forever. Paul T Goldman (docu-series) This true-crime/scripted hybrid series tells an astonishing tale of betrayal and empowerment that is equal parts jaw-dropping, hilarious, action-packed, and uniquely inspiring. Welcome to Flatch (comedy) When a mockumentary crew sets out to explore the lives of residents in a small American town, they stumble upon the midwestern town of Flatch, which is made up of many eccentric personalities. Nacho (drama) Inspired by the life of legendary Spanish porn star Nacho Vidal, Nacho is an exploration of the real people behind the “other film industry”, and the birth of the porn industry in Spain. Century Plaza Suite 655 Contact: general-inquiries@lionsgate.com Tel: +1 310 449-9200 2700 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica CA, 90404 MULTICHOICE Diepe Waters (drama) (pictured) A telenovela about love, secrets, intrigue and revenge that takes place within the relentless May 2023 VIDEOAGE 20 (Continued from Page 16) (Continued on Page 22)
Bringing you the most compelling dramas and stand-out formats @all3media_int all3mediainternational.com BASED ON MARKUS ZUSAK’S BESTSELLING NOVEL FROM THE CREATORS OF THE TRAITORS DO YOU DARE TO CHOOSE THE UNKNOWN?
22 Lucia is in love with love itself, but she can’t find the perfect partner. She believes that in Madrid she will finally find someone and get the real possibility of giving love a chance. Isla bonita (comedy) Esperanza, Roxana and Lorena are three friends who escape into the heart of the jungle. Tired of listening to what the world expects of them, they begin an epic adventure full of emotions, tropical music, and funny moments. Century Plaza Suite 1006 Contact: cecilia@tondero.com.pe, abril@tondero.com.pe Tel: +51 989 288 523 Av. Javier Prado Oeste Nro. 757 Dpto. 1804 Magdalena del Mar, Lima VA MEDIA VA Media is a Sydney-based media company that specializes in social video monetization. With offices in Sydney and Melbourne, VA helps producers and distributors discover audiences and monetize their content across YouTube, Facebook, SNAP and other AVOD platforms. VA Media is the largest enterprise partner of YouTube in Australia/APAC. With over 15 million subscribers, its network of owned and operated channels, as well as the channels it manages, is making AVOD truly global through YouTube’s worldwide reach. Three license models are available. Through the Licensed Content Model, VA licenses movies and series from over 60+ global distributors, curating titles to its growing number of owned and operated channels on YouTube. With the Services Model, VA works with content companies, producers and/or distributors to build out channel(s) brands and create social content formats for YouTube, Facebook, SNAP and TikTok to drive audience growth and monetization. Through IP protection, VA Media helps clients protect content on YouTube and soon on Facebook. VA Media recently signed an agreement with Lesflicks, an SVoD platform featuring predominantly sapphic and bi content, to monetize its LGBTQIA+ content on VA’s recently rebranded YouTube channel We Are Pride. The fifty films newly licensed by VA Media are never-before seen outside of the Lesflicks platform and will be released on We Are Pride. In March 2023, the company hired Los Angeles-based distribution and marketing executive Kristen Bedno as head of Content Partnerships & Acquisitions, North America, in its first move to expand globally in the social AVOD space. Bedno is founder of marketing and distribution consultancy SideHussleLife, with her previous roles including vice president of Distribution and Marketing at Vision Films. Contact: kristen@vamedianetwork.com Moses and the Ten Commandments (Biblical telenovela) The telenovela depicts the life of Moses, from his birth until his death. Jesus (Biblical telenovela) Tells a fascinating story about the trajectory of the man who changed humanity. The telenovela shares little-known passages and deepens the stories of the people who were touched by the words of Jesus. The Rich and Lazarus (Biblical telenovela) Zach and Asher are born with the same opportunities, and they die on the same day. One of them goes to hell, and the other to heaven. Which one of them will be thrown in a place of torment and which will be taken to a place of peace after death? Century Plaza Suite 656 Contact: dandrade@recordtv.com.br, emendes@recordtv.com.br Tel: +55 11 3300-4022 240, Varzea Street, Barra Funda 01140-901 São Paulo-SP, Brazil TELEFILMS Orphan: First Kill (psychological horror) After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. Everything Everywhere All At Once (adventure, sci-fi) (pictured) The film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman who can’t seem to finish her taxes. Kandahar (action, thriller) Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative, is stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan. When an intelligence leak exposes his identity and mission, he must fight his way out to an extraction point in Kandahar. Talk To Me (horror, thriller) Lonely teen Mia gets hooked on conjuring spirits through an embalmed hand, but when confronted with a soul claiming to be her dead mother, she unleashes supernatural forces. Beau Is Afraid (horror, comedy) Tells the story of a man who sets out to visit his mother and discovers a world of malevolent forces and unseen eyes tracking his every move. After Everything (comedy, drama) The fourth installment in the After franchise finds Tessa and Hardin in a dilemma: should Tessa keep trying to save him and their relationship, or is it time to save herself? 13 Exorcisms (horror, thriller) After participating in a séance, young Laura begins to behave strangely. Her parents ask Father Olmedo for help. A series of strange phenomena will begin to involve the protagonists of the story. Century Plaza Suite 954 Contact: telefilms@telefilms.com.ar Tel: +54 11 5032 6000 Av. del Libertador 1068 Piso 9 CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina CP 1112 TLN MEDIA GROUP Candombe: Canciones de Libertad (Songs of Freedom) (documentary) The musical style candombe originates from African slaves who were brought to Uruguay. Uruguayan immigrants in Canada brought it to Montreal, where it has become a gift to further enrich Canadian heritage. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) (documentary) This documentary examines why Dia de los Muertos is considered one of the most important cultural traditions to Mexican Canadians and how its influence is growing across the nation. Suenos de Hierro (Iron Dreams) (documentary) Bodybuilders Jorge Calmet and Aaron Gachuz, who moved from Latin America to Canada for their passion, share their inspiring story and dive into the sacrifices they endure to push themselves to their limits, follow their dreams, and reach the pinnacle of their sport. Diogo Snow: O fazer de um artista urbano (The Making of a Modern Graffiti Artist) (documentary) Diogo Snow, also known as D-Snow in the entertainment industry, is a new-generation artist and this documentary sheds a spotlight on an artist who is everywhere you look, yet anonymous to most. Searching with Chef Sang (docu-series) Celebrated chef and writer Sang Kim embarks on a culinary road trip across his home province of Ontario, Canada, and meets a multi-generational cast of Korean Canadian people, who share stories and recipes that paint a portrait of the country’s diverse, vibrant culture. Opening (food & travel series) (pictured) In this six-season food and travel exploration series, TV personalities and top Canadian chefs Rob Rossi and Craig Harding discover Italy, Argentina, Canada, and Spain in search of culinary inspiration. Contact: Lily Caputo Lilyc@tlnmediagroup.com Tel: +1 416 744-5739 TMG Worldwide Media Distribution Inc. Columbus Centre 901 Lawrence Ave West, Level 2 Toronto, Ontario M6A 1C3 Canada TONDERO DISTRIBUTION Luz de Luna 3 (TV series) After finally recovering the paternity of Luz, beginning the process of adopting Mabel and Marvin’s son, and making his home with Bella, León Zárate begins his internationalization process with Adán Cruces, who promises to turn the orchestra into a globally known product. The price will be high, as Cruces secretly wants to steal Leon’s soul. Maricucha 2 (TV series) (pictured) Maricucha loves Renato, but her doubts prevent her from committing to him. She will have to face her own fears to win back his love. To do this, Maricucha will have the help of Los Corbachos. Al fondo hay sitio (TV series) The Gonzales family inherits a half-built house in one of the most exclusive residential areas of Lima. Their folksy customs will make the neighbors uncomfortable, especially the Maldini family who doesn’t know how to get rid of the newcomers. Soltera, casada, viuda y divorciada (comedy) Four childhood friends — a single woman, a married woman, a widow, and a divorcee — are willing to do anything to meet again and experience adventures on a beach in northern Peru. Un retiro para enamorarse (romantic comedy) May 2023 VIDEOAGE L.A. Screenings 2023 More Content Highlights are available online at www.VideoAgeInternational.com (Continued from Page 20)
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24 Market director Lucy Smith declared that “MIPTV is here to stay” during the event’s closing press conference. And to make it even clearer, she announced the dates for next year’s MIPTV, which will be held April 1517, 2024, in Cannes. This was done, many speculated, so that the market’s somewhat disappointing showing this year wouldn’t fuel any “dismissive” thoughts about future events. The prediction was that this 60th annual MIP would be a rather low-key market, but the event got off to a good start with the MIPDOC opening party sponsored by Paramount Global Content Distribution (held on April 16) and a Beta Film dinner where the German company screened (among other titles) the trailer for new drama series La Storia, based on Elsa Morante’s novel. Earlier, at a luncheon organized by Poorhouse’s Reiner Moritz, guests decried that MIPDOC, the pre-MIP documentary market, had been reduced to just a single day. Commented doc buyer Elisabeth Hagstedt of France’s Histoire-TV, “Screenings are very important because when back at the office we don’t have time for them, and with just one day at MIPDOC, there is no time to screen.” In addition, a number of MIPTV exhibitors were reportedly frustrated with some aspects of the event, complaining to VideoAge that they had tried to contact buyers who were indicated as participants, but whom they later discovered weren’t even in attendance at the market. Another frustrating element was the panel at the entrance of the Riviera area of the Palais that replaced the exhibition guide. Instead of listing the companies in alpha order, it listed them by stand number — making it hard to find whoever it was you were looking for. Despite that, content sellers reported a good number of Asian TV buyers and that even though they attended with little expectations, meetings were taking place with few no-shows and even some walk-ins. As for attendance, Smith reported that some “5,510 delegates” were in attendance “in person”, and she assured the press corps that gathered at the press conference for glasses of water (no champagne this time around!), that that number did not include participants at the concurrent CanneSeries Festival, the drama festival sponsored and organized by the Cannes municipality. Some observers, however, put the total number at no more than 3,000 registrants for MIP. As for MIPTV’s 60th anniversary commemoration, Poorhouse’s Moritz commented: “It seems I am the only participant of all inperson markets who is still in business.” He also remembered that at the very first MIP, there were “119 companies from 19 countries [and that it was considered] a bit disappointing.” This 60th annual edition drew 166 exhibiting companies, not a big improvement, but better than no market at all, and the nice weather got a good number of participants in a sunny mood. The highlight of MIPTV 2023 was certainly the launch of TVMonaco. The new channel, which is owned by the Principality, will, starting in September 2023, cover all of Côte d’Azur extending from Genoa, Italy. The press conference/breakfast presentation at the Carlton Hotel, which reopened in March (well, at least the third floor reopened), was attended by Salim Zeghdar, TVMonaco’s general director, as well as deputy director and veteran international TV executive Nathalie Biancolli, and many of the station’s executives, including Marie-Pierre Gramaglia and Virginie Lavagna. The new channel will broadcast on a linear schedule and will offer an on-demand version with mostly unscripted programming that will be available in both French and English. Lots of attention from the press was also lavished upon Paramount Global Content Distribution as it was the only major Hollywood studio there with a large stand. The company also sponsored the MIPDOC opening party on Sunday. The MIP opening party the following day featured fireworks and a giant birthday cake in honor of the market’s 60th anniversary. As for the seminar portion of the event, the MIPFormat Pitch presentation, moderated by FormatBiz’s Maria Chiara Duranti, attracted a highly motivated audience that rushed to the large Debussy Theatre to find out which pitch would win the 5,000 euro prize. It ultimately went to The Show Must Go On from Turkish company Formatworkshop. The seminar included the participation of two jury members from Los Angeles who connected via videoconference. On the other hand, reservations were held for the seminar titled “What the Streamers Want?” since it’s become clear that no one — including the powers that be at the streamers — really knows what they are actually looking for. As for deal-making, the market fulfilled its role and several announcements were made on the market floor, including that director Ondi Timoner’s film, The New Americans: Gaming A Revolution has been acquired by Republic Pictures for worldwide distribution by Paramount Global Content Distribution. The documentary feature explores the possible connection between the GameStop short squeeze and the insurrection in the U.S. capital, examining the explosive and irreversible ramifications into the digital future. Glass House Distribution’s feature film Ask Me To Dance was acquired by distributors in six international territories. Great Movies will distribute the film in Latin America, M-net in Africa, Truth Media in Mauritius, Urania in the Czech Republic, Italia Film in the Middle East, and Central City Media in the U.K., while Electric Entertainment holds the domestic Down, But Not Out. MIP Market Survives Many Challenges May 2023 MIPTV Review (Continued on Page 26) TVMonaco’s breakfast press conference at the recently re-opened Carlton hotel Content sellers reported that meetings were taking place with few no-shows and even some walk-ins. Beta Film’s Ferdinand Dohna, La Storia star Jasmine Trinca, La Storia producer Roberto Sessa of Picomedia The Show Must Go On won the MIPFormat Pitch, moderated by FormatBiz’s Maria Chiara Duranti
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