L.A. SCREENINGS Guide 2024 INTERNATIONAL www.VideoAge.org Major Hollywood Studios’ Executive Sales Teams Page 14 New Programs Guide and Contacts Page 16 U.S. Broadcast Primetime Series For 2024-2025 Page 28 My 2¢: The EV fiasco serves as a cautionary tale for streamers Page 34 THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF FILM, BROADCASTING, STREAMING, PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION May 2024 - VOL. 44 No. 3 - $9.75 © 2021 DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC. / PIXAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Disney_Luca_Front Cover_videoage_24.pdf 1 2/5/2024 10:35:36
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 The EV fiasco serves as a cautionary tale for streamers. Forcing an untimely dismantle of the linear model will only generate more losses, more mergers, and more layoffs. Page 34 LAS Guide Features 10. Book Review: A Look at Hollywood from a disillusioned insider 24. MIPTV Review: Trade shows also evolve. Relief and excitement for the market’s ending 32. The U.S. ranked by airports. Plus, calendar of upcoming events 14. Major Hollywood studios’ global sales teams. Plus, Century Plaza exhibitors 16. Programming Highlights: Content ready to be licensed 28. 2024-2025 U.S. broadcast primetime drama and comedy series News 4. World: Content Warsaw, NATPE Budapest rekindle their competition 6. World: Streamer caught in the standard-setting Italian artists’ rapids 8. L.A. Screenings 2024: Fun is back on the backlots
4 World VIDEOAGE May 2024 (Continued on Page 6) 2023. It again “declared victory” in January 2024 when its show attracted more participants than NATPE Global. The dust seemed to have settled when Brunico, in a surprising move in March 2024, announced that in 2025, NATPE Global in Miami will merge with its other trade show, Realscreen Summit, and will take place February 3-7, 2025. The market will be bigger and will have calendar dates that are more favorable to Latins and Europeans who tend to take vacations up until the first week of January, leaving little time for early market preparations. Now the ball is again in center field, as would-be attendees wait to find out how Content Americas will solve its hotel capacity and slow elevator problems, which were caused by the large crowds in attendance. Back to the CEE, both sides are promising stellar events. Officially, Content Warsaw replaces Content Budapest, “as Warsaw is considered a more appropriate location for an effective CEE event.” Content’s CEE Screenings will run across the three days, “allowing distributors to showcase their programming to buyers from across the CEE region,” said the official website statement. On Wednesday, June 5, Content Warsaw “will host a cocktail to celebrate 100 leading executives from channels, streaming platforms, and producers who are redefining the content business across Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, there will be a range of parties, lunches, and dinners around the event, along with the opportunity to build and customize branded events by our trusted content and media partners.” For its part, NATPE Budapest highlighted its “by the numbers,” which were given as 375 buyers and 110 exhibitors from 55 countries. The event is still taking place in its traditional InterContinental Hotel. The NATPE programs calls for an opening night party on Monday, June 24, a Tuesday boat party, and a Wednesday closing party. The international TV sector is preparing for another faceoff this June, with Canada’s Brunico (NATPE Budapest) vs. the U.K.’s C21 (Content Warsaw). A judge would probably rule that the two parties involved be kept far away from each other. And indeed, one is now in Budapest, Hungary, while the other has moved 858 kilometers away, and settled in Warsaw, Poland. The calendar dates are also a safe distance apart: June 3-6, 2024 for Content Warsaw and June 24-27, 2024 for NATPE Budapest. This is a big improvement over last year when the two markets battled each other in the same Hungarian capital during the same month. After the shows were over, NATPE declared victory and Content moved to Warsaw for this year’s event, not minding the setback because it had already declared victory with its Content Americas in Miami in January Content Warsaw, NATPE Budapest Rekindle Their Marts’ Competition Save the date 21-25 October 2024 Palais des Festivals Cannes, France 18-20 October 2024 JW Marriott Cannes, France ads-MIPCOM-270x360mm.indd 1 29/04/2024 12:24
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6 World VIDEOAGE May 2024 (Continued From Page 4) (Continued on Page 8) deducts the costs of running the association,” she said. “Since 2013,” Mascoli continued, “as the agency in Italy that collects and distributes the proceeds of the video/cinematographic sector, Artisti 7607 has established itself as an alternative to the 30-yearold malfunctioning market historically dominated by IMAIE [the Agency for rights collection and artists’ tutelage], a former monopoly that was shut down by the Italian authorities in 2009.” Cristiana Tomei from IMAIE’s press office sent the following statement: “The old IMAIE managed the audiovisual monopoly of rights [collection] from 1998 to 2009, when it ceased to operate because it was placed in liquidation. Nuovo [New] IMAIE came into existence in 2010 and is managed by the artists who serve on its governing bodies. The monopoly of the Nuovo IMAIE came to an end in 2012, and since then Nuovo IMAIE has been in competition with other entities, including Artisti 7607.” An additional collective management organization, SIAE (the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers) manages the copyrights owed to authors. (Artisti 7607 manages royalties related to copyrights owed to performers.) VideoAge asked Mascoli how her agency determines streamers’ revenue for Italian content. “The European Copyright Directive,” she said, “has stated that the remuneration to artists must be ‘adequate and proportionate’ to the revenues, and that the same platforms must provide the collective management organizations (such as Artisti 7607) with the general revenues and data on the exploitation of the works (views / transactions / subscriptions). This data is the basis upon which Artisti 7607 applies its reference rate and claims the compensation to which it is entitled.” Artisti 7607 then “distributes the fee collected according to a chart that takes into consideration the type of works used and the presence of primary and supporting artists.” About the state of Italian original productions, it has A group of Italian film and TV actors assembled under the Artisti 7607 association has taken Netflix to court in order to increase the royalties given to performers from the 0.03 percent offered by Netflix to 0.4 percent of the streamer’s revenue. The verdict will be a test case for all the streamers operating in Italy. This takes into consideration that all streamers, except Netflix, will be reducing production investments in Italy (more on the subject below), and that international producers pay Italian artists 30 percent more than domestic ones. In order to better understand the issues, VideoAge interviewed Cinzia Mascoli, president of the 3,150-member association, which includes both actors and dubbers. The name “Artisti 7607” derives from June 7, 2007 (7/6/07), the birth date of the European Social Statute for the purpose of determining forms of protection for artists. According to Mascoli, “Artisti 7607 is financed from the fees collected for the Italian performers’ rights from various outlets. From those fees, Artisti 7607 Streamer Caught in the Standard- Setting Italian Artists’ Rapids Save the date 19-22 November 2024 Moon Palace Cancun, Mexico ads-MIPCANCUN-270x360mm.indd 1 29/04/2024 13:51
8 World VIDEOAGE May 2024 (Continued From Page 6) The major studios’ screenings will begin on Saturday, May 18 with the LatAm contingent at Paramount. Up next is NBCUniversal on Sunday, then Warner Bros. Discovery on Monday, Sony Pictures TV on Tuesday, and Disney on Wednesday. Buying contingents from other territories will mingle at various studios throughout the week, with activities ending on Thursday, May 23. Missing at the Fairmont Century Plaza will be the Content L.A. market, which was canceled (officials say it’s only been rescheduled for next year) in March, after first announcing its dates as May 16-17. A host of recreational activities will also take place during the L.A. Screenings, starting on May 16 with a BBC party. The evening of Saturday, May 18 will see lots of action, with Argentina’s Telefilms holding a screening and cocktail, an NBCUniversal drinks party, and a Lionsgate party. Fox Entertainment will host a barbecue on Sunday afternoon, and in the evening, Paramount Global Content Distribution will have a movie premiere and cocktail party. On Monday evening, Warner Bros. Discovery and MGM will throw separate drinks parties. Finally on Tuesday, drinks will be had on the Disney lot, while Sony Pictures will serve cocktails after the daytime screenings, which are scheduled to end at 5:30 p.m. It has reportedly become difficult to have a good working relationship with the management over at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. Nevertheless, over 70 companies will exhibit there for the indie L.A. Screenings 2024, both in its suites and at tables in the hall below the ground floor. More than 130 buyers, mostly from LatAm, have registered for the indie portion. Unusual this year is the expected reduced number of buyers for Latin America based in Miami. However, there will basically be the same number of TV sales companies present as last year, with a few newcomers, including Rabbit Films, Screenbright Media, and Seriella, in addition to returning companies that skipped the last L.A. event, such as Electric Entertainment and Latin Media. Three of the six major U.S. studios (Disney, NBCUniversal, and Paramount) will also have their suites at the Century Plaza, which will remain open throughout the duration of the event, while those of the indies will open for business on May 14 and stay open until May 17. L.A. Screenings 2024: Fun Is Back on the Backlots (Continued from Page 6) been reported that investments from streaming platforms would be reduced to 150 million euro (U.S.$161 million) from the expected 250 million euro per year. In addition, tax credits will be lower, reaching 400 million euro (U.S.$429 million) in 2024 compared to 746 million euro in 2023. Italy’s main domestic production entity remains the Italian public broadcaster, RAI, which will continue to invest 180 million euro a year in TV drama and 80 million euro in films. Artisti 7607
10 Book Review VIDEOAGE May 2024 A Look at Hollywood From Ed Zwick, a Disillusioned Insider By Dom Serafini Ed Zwick’s book is an exposé about Hollywood, but don’t expect to find a hint to that in the title, Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions (Gallery Books, $28.99). However, maybe some clue might be gleaned from the subtitle of the 300-page book, My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood. “Fortysomething,” after all, is a reference to the 19871991 ABC TV series thirtysomething, which helped transform Zwick into the powerful Hollywood writer/director/producer that he is today. Just before his “Introduction,” Zwick quotes Marco Polo, “I did not tell half of what I saw.” After reading the book, my questions for him would be: Why did you write the book? And for whom? The first question was answered in a New York Times Book Review interview. The interviewer asked a series of questions, including: “Would you call your memoir a tell-all?” and “How did you decide what not to tell?” Zwick responded, “I’d call it a ‘tell-some.’ I tried not to be hurtful, but if people are going to behave badly, they should know better than to do it around a writer.” That answer reminded me of personal situations experienced during the reign of Hollywood’s pioneering international content distribution executives, including the likes of Bruce Gordon (Paramount), Colin Davis (MCA-Universal), Bill Saunders (Fox), Michael Solomon (Warner Bros.), Larry Gershman (MGM/UA) and others, who would discuss delicate subjects with buyers and associates in my presence. When something like that took place, I would inevitably excuse myself in order not to hear things that I didn’t need to know and therefore wouldn’t feel compelled to report. After all, writers aren’t perfect. Look at the backlash that Truman Capote suffered with his (innocent, in his mind) exposé of powerful New York City socialites of the 1960s in Esquire’s November 1975 issue, now dramatized in FX’s second season of Feud (also streamed on Hulu). As for the reason for Zwick, a Hollywood insider, to write such a book, I could only come up with the same motives given for Ralph Baruch’s 2008 autobiography Television Tightrope: How I Escaped Hitler, Survived CBS and Fathered Viacom. First, that no author had come forward to do it, and second, that it is better to control the narrative. Zwick acknowledges as much in his intro: “I’ve resisted, as best I could, the impulse to straighten the narrative [and] sharpen the dialogue.” He also admitted: “It’s payback, pure and simple,” possibly referring to those who made his life difficult. In the book, Zwick is a prolific name-dropper, but it couldn’t be otherwise as such a thing is necessary to describe his relationships with the many actors, writers, producers, agents, and studio executives he has met along the way while producing such TV series and epic films as Glory (1989), The Last Samurai (2003), and Blood Diamond (2006). Special attention is given to his actor/writer/ producer wife Liberty Godshall, who he met and married in 1982. One story epitomizes his relationship with Godshall: “A moment can explain why I’ve never much partaken of the industry’s social scene. Not that my wife was antisocial, just that she’d had her fill of the industry bullshit... Early in our marriage she decided there were better ways to spend her time than standing around eating canapés with boors, and if I wanted our relationship to thrive, I had better get with the program, by which she meant having family dinners.” Also getting attention is his long-time business partner Marshall Herskovitz because, as he explained, “as we worked together, it became clear that, between the two of us, we might be at least one complete filmmaker.” Zwick started as an assistant to Woody Allen (whom he liked) on the set of Love and Death. He also worked with Robert Redford (about whom he was “ambivalent”). He dealt with Dustin Hoffman (whom he found to be difficult and argumentative). He worked with Jim Belushi (who at first refused to take his directions), as well as the talented Demi Moore. On set with Moore, Zwick learned the importance of punctuality after being called out by his Assistant Director (or AD) for being late. Then there is a chapter about Matthew Broderick, who had agreed to play Robert Gould Shaw in the Civil War movie, Glory. “Nothing I might have done could possibly rival Matthew’s role in the cruelty that was about to begin.” Zwick then proceeded to describe the cruelty he personally endured from Broderick during the filming, explaining: “If I intended to write about what it’s really like to make movies, I might as well suck it up and tell it like it is, even at risk of causing some hurt.” In Glory, Zwick also worked with Denzel Washington (he wrote that casting him changed his life, but did not explain why) and Morgan Freeman (“a rewarding relationship”). Other stars mentioned in the book include Brad Pitt (described by Zwick as “a forthright, straightforward person, fun to be with”) and Tom Cruise (whom Zwick describes as having “the ability to see a movie from the audience’s point of view”). He also made mention of other stars, including the talented Leonardo DiCaprio. There is a chapter devoted to Julia Roberts, who walked away from the pre-production of the 1991 film Shakespeare in Love that Zwick initiated. The film was eventually completed in 1998 by Harvey Weinstein. The same chapter also covers his subsequent spat with Weinstein. Ultimately, Shakespeare won an Oscar and Zwick shared it as one of the producers. Zwick’s admiration for the art of acting is clear from the fact that he cast himself to play the part of a therapist in one of the movies he directed. After all, he was familiar with the role, having himself been a patient. He even consulted with his real therapist before passing on directing the movie Thelma & Louise. That scene with Zwick took five takes and he ended up with a sweat-soaked shirt. “It’s beginning to dawn on me there might be more to this acting thing than I thought,” he mused. Ultimately, however, the question remains: Who is the target audience for Zwick’s book? It can’t be for insiders, as there is too much here that they already know. If it’s for general readers, the book contains too much industry jargon to be readily understood. On the other hand, Zwick twice quoted an old Hollywood maxim (attributed to Samuel Goldwyn), “If you want to send a message, try Western Union,” possibly meaning that he wants to set the record straight and use Gallery Books as his messenger.
14 L.A. Screenings 2024 May 2024 VIDEOAGE Dan Cohen Chief Content Licensing Officer, Paramount and President, Republic Pictures Lisa Kramer, President, International Content Licensing, Paramount Global Content Distribution Jonathan Bingaman, EVP Multi-Platform Licensing & Distribution Jonathan Greenberg, EVP, Television Licensing Regional Sales, North Asia Matthew Downer, SVP, Regional TV Licensing 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 Paramount Lot 5555 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90038 www.paramount.com Studios’ Global Sales Teams May 20-21 May 20-23 May 18-21 May 18-21 David Decker President, Global Content Sales Mickie Steinmann, SVP & MD, Content Sales, Canada Phil Goodhew, SVP, Commercial Strategy Martyn Holmyard, VP, Content Licensing & Commercial Strategy Roni Patel, SVP, Sales, Nordics, Middle East, CEE, Turkey & Greece Kai Rowley, Director, Content Licensing, CEE Alison Morris, SVP, TV, Affiliate & Digital Distribution, UK & Ireland Toby Etheridge, Executive Director, Sales, UK & Ireland Guillaume Coffin, SVP Affiliates, Ad Sales & Content Licensing, France, Benelux & Africa Alessandra Ghoneim, Executive Director, TV Sales, 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 Manuel Garcia Del Rosso, Executive Director, TV Sales & Digital Distribution, Italy Patricia Jasin, VP, TV Distribution, Latin America Michael Brooks, Managing Director, Australia & New Zealand Jae Chang, SVP, Content Licensing, India, SE Asia, Korea Kunio Yamada, VP, Group Distribution, Japan Sunday Lu, VP, International TV, China Warner Bros. Discovery International Content Lincesing Warner Bros. Studios, Steven J. Ross Theater 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 Tel: (818) 954-6000 www.warnerbros.com Keith Le Goy Chairman, Worldwide Distribution & Networks, SPE Mike Wald, EVP, International Distribution & Networks, SPT Flory Bramnick, EVP, Distribution, SPT Paul Littmann, EVP, Distribution, SPT John Rossiter, EVP, Distribution, Networks & Production, LATAM, SPT Mark Young, EVP, Distribution & Networks, SPE, EMEA, SPT Ian Durndell, EVP, Digital Distribution & Direct to Consumer, SPT Adam Herr, SVP, Distribution, APAC, SPT Ramon Garcia, SVP & MD, TV Distribution, LATAM, SPT Selina Nederhand, SVP & Co-Networks Head, Content Strategy and Acquisitions, LATAM, SPT Monica Veiga, SVP, US Distribution, SPT Holly Comiskey, SVP, Distribution & Networks, UK and GSA, SPT Jorge Lezaun Valverde, SVP, Distribution & Networks, Spain, SPT Louise Emblem, SVP, Distribution & Networks, Benelux & Nordics, SPT Irina Panfilova, SVP Distribution & Networks, CEE & Russia, SPT Noemie Weisse, SVP Sales, France, SPT Zelda Stewart, Country Manager, Italy, SPT Ziad Yaghi, SVP, Distribution & Networks, MENA & Turkey, SPT Sony Pictures Television 10202 West Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232 Tel: (310) 244-4000 www.sonypictures.com/tv Belinda Menendez President & Chief Revenue Officer, Global TV 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 Anne-Lorraine Villeroy, SVP, Liaison, Frenchspeaking Territories, Greece, CEE, Poland, Africa Pierre Weisbein, SVP, Sales Liaison, Latin America NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution Universal Studios Lower Lot Universal City, CA 91608 Tel: (818) 777-1300 www.nbcuniversal.com May 19 Tony Vassiliadis Interim Head of FOX Entertainment Global David Smyth, EVP, Content Sales & Partnerships Deena Stern, SVP, Marketing & Communications Lori Bernstein, SVP, Business & Legal Affairs Nathalie Wogue, SVP, Global Formats Simona Argenti, SVP, Content Sales Brook Peters, SVP, Sales & Business Development Michol Ellebrecht, VP, Strategy & Operations Jody Cipriano, VP, Content Sales Roxanne Likely, Senior Director, Content Sales Tara Gaule, Director, Content Sales Cyrus Farrokh, Sales Consultant Andrew Whiteman, Sales Consultant Michelle Payne, Sales Consultant FOX Entertainment Global FOX Studios Lot Tel: (310) 369-5500 www.foxentglobal.com ACI Table 9 Alfred Haber Distr. 824 All3Media Int’l. Table 5 America Video Films 930 Atresmedia Television 356 ATV 1029 Banijay Rights 844 Beta Film 816 Blue Ant Media Table 4 Blue Media Table 12 Calinos Ent. 856 Caracol Televisión 1155 CDC United Network 716 Cinepolis Table 7 Cisneros Media Distr. 906 Disney Latam 933 Dori Media 556 Eccho Rights 901 Electric Ent. Table 2 Encripta Table 13 Endemol Shine 1144 EO Media 914 Fifth Season 904 Fremantle 456 Global Agency 756 Globo 855 Great Movies Distr. Table 1 Inter Medya 555 Kanal D International 1054 Kensai Table 15 Korea Pavilion 808, 920, 922, 928, 938, 944, 946, 952, 1108 Ledafilms 602 Lionsgate Television 655 MADD Entertainment 355 MediaHub 1006 Mediapro 1014 MGM 501 MIP Markets Table 7B MISTCO 601 Multicom 1146 NBCUni Global Distr. 1004 New Regency 912 OGM Universe 832 Onza Distribution 802 Paramount Global CD 401 Polar Star 744 Raya Group 936 Record TV Network 656 Red Arrow Studios Table 3 RTVE Table 8 Screenbright Table 11 Seriella 1055 Somos Distribution 919 Telefilms 954 Televisa Univision 801 TRT 1104 TV Asahi Table 6 TV Azteca 755 TV Tokyo Table 14 VIP 2000 TV 955 We Love Ent. 724 Zee Ent. Table 10 Century Plaza Exhibitors May 20-22 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 Entertainment 500 S. Buena Vista St. Burbank, CA 91521 Tel: (818) 560-6017 www.dmedmedia.disney.com
The Pioneers Always Standing Tall Pioneer and Guiding Force Paramount International Television president 1978-1998 Proprietor WIN Television Network Australia, 1979 ongoing Joint owner NRL team St. George Illawarra Dragons Happy Birthday from family, friends and colleagues Salute to Bruce Gordon on your 95th Birthday The Paramount Team St George Illawarra Dragons
16 L.A. Screenings 2024 May 2024 VIDEOAGE Programming Highlights AMERICAN CINEMA INTERNATIONAL Finding Love in Sisters (drama, romance) Successful lawyer Esperanza’s dream life is showing cracks. Her mother suggests she visit their hometown of Sisters, Oregon, to get recharged but she chooses to stay at her job. When Esperanza’s mother dies, she returns home and is wary of reuniting with her two sisters after so many years apart. Finding Love in San Antonio (drama, romance) (pictured) Adela Romero, a successful TV chef living in Los Angeles, gets an offer to work on a new network series that will send her traveling to Europe, but she is worried about moving her daughter away from her hometown of San Antonio. In San Antonio for the summer, Adela must restore her reputation after an interview goes wrong with a local food writer, who is secretly a big fan of Adela’s work. Born to Race Unstoppable (action) Valeria “La Imparable” Morales, a street racer and single mother, navigates her rivalry with her daughter’s father, Damían “Drop Top” Juarez. After a brush with the law, she joins Fast Track Miami, a women’s professional racing program, where she learns the value of teamwork and refines her skills. Finding Love in Miami (drama, romance) Professional swimmer Alicia realizes her lifelong dream of qualifying for the Olympics but faces an unexpected challenge when she learns that her estranged father needs a kidney transplant. As she navigates her relationships with her boyfriend Alonso, Alicia must decide whether to donate her kidney and embrace her new family or focus on her swimming career. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries (mystery) Cheryl, a 30-year-old trying to mend a broken heart, moves to Sugarcreek, Ohio, to run her Aunt Mitzi’s gift shop. Her mundane life takes a sharp turn when she and Naomi, an Amish woman, stumble upon a mysterious kidnapping within the community. Fairmont Century Plaza, Table 9 Contact: carlos@amerciancinemainspires.com; chevonne@americancinemainspires.com Tel: (818) 805-1015 Address: 4312 Woodman Avenue, Suite 203, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 ATV Safir (drama) (pictured) In the Gülsoy family mansion, housekeeper Feraye falls for Yaman, one of the family’s heirs. However, Yaman must wed Aleyna. Ateş, the eldest child, saves Feraye from heartbreak and falls in love with her. Street Birds (drama) Five friends find an abandoned baby in a trash bin and decide to take care of baby Gülayşe. 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 Gülayşe. 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 in Tashkent, but everything starts to fall 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 and homelessness, they stick together through every heartbroken truth and situation. 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. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 1029 Contact: muge.akar@atv.com.tr; merve.dogan@atv.com.tr; ilayda.sunar@atv.com.tr Tel: +90 212 354 37 01 Address: Merkezi Güzeltepe Mh. 15 Temmuz Şehitler Cd., 34060 Eyüpsultan, Istanbul CALINOS ENTERTAINMENT Farah (drama) (pictured) An Iranian woman, who ran away from her country to live in Istanbul, goes to work as a cleaning lady in order to afford her son’s medical treatments, but she soon turns into a mafia accomplice. Ego (drama) When Erhan asks for money from his fatherin-law Burhan to invest in the stock market, things turn for the worse and Erhan loses all the money. Meanwhile, Sibel, of the wealthy Koraslan family, learns that if she doesn’t have a baby soon, she will never be able to bear children. Erhan’s and Sibel’s lives will change when Sibel decides to get pregnant with Erhan’s baby and make an indecent proposal in the amount of 3 million. Adela (drama) Adela and Andreea were raised by Nuti and Mitu in a slum near Bucharest. One day, when Adela’s biological grandfather decides to repair past mistakes, her secret identity is revealed. However, before bringing Adela to her real father, the old man dies and Nuti and Mitu bury him in the garden. With this new opportunity, Nuti and Mitu send their own daughter Andreea in Adela’s place, since Adela’s real father is a powerful media mogul. Indefensible (crime drama) The combative, endearing team of criminal lawyers at Lapointe-Macdonald Law Firm are passionate about justice. Viewers will be captivated by the touching and disturbing causes they defend as well as by their personal, ethical, emotional, and psychological issues. Alert Squad (crime drama) Every single minute counts when the Missing Persons Unit works a case. Driven by hope, bound by courage and determination, the team investigates with one clear objective: to recover the missing alive. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 856 Contact: info@calinosentertainment.com Tel: +90 216 999 49 99 Address: Calinos Plaza, Kavacik Mh. Ekinciler Cd. Elbistan Sk. No: 6, 34810, Beykoz Istanbul Turkey DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT LATIN AMERICA Black Widow (action, adventure, science fiction) Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Doctor Strange (action, adventure, fantasy) World-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange sees his life change forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for hope in an unlikely place – a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Encanto (animation, family, fantasy, musical) Tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia, in a magical house, in a vibrant town, in a wondrous, charmed place called Encanto. The magic of Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift from super strength to the power to heal — every child except one, Mirabel. Inside Out (animation, family) Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Riley is guided by her emotions. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Luca (adventure, animation, comedy) (pictured) Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, this coming-of-age story portrays one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these fun adventures with his newfound best friend, Alberto, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 933 Contact: Tel: (305) 567-3700 GLOBAL AGENCY One Love (drama) (pictured) At university, the idealistic Doga falls hopelessly in love with the charming Fatih, a man from a devout family whose values clash with (Continued on Page 20)
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20 L.A. Screenings 2024 May 2024 VIDEOAGE those of her mother. After Doga becomes pregnant, her life is turned upside down and her mother is upset when she refuses to have an abortion and instead marries Fatih. Red Roses (drama) Red Roses tells the poignant story of Meryem, married off at 14 in an Islamic sect, and now battling bravely to prevent her daughter Zeynep from suffering the same cruel fate as the bride of the sheikh’s grandson. Another Love (drama) In this powerful story, anchorman Kenan and prosecutor Leyla both seek to uncover the truth about a mysterious serial killer, and are drawn into a passionate affair. While the duo fall in love, Leyla discovers dark secrets that link her father with Kenan. Vendetta (drama) Dilan and Baran are forced into marriage to end a blood feud, triggered by an attack on Baran’s parents. When Baran’s uncle schemes to gain access to the family fortune by pressuring Baran to take revenge, Baran realizes that the only way to prevent more violence is to marry his enemy’s daughter. Soon, he finds himself torn between his love for her and his hatred for her family. Two Of Us (family singing show) A parent and their child bid for stardom in a contest filled with enthusiasm, excitement, and love. With 10 families competing on each show and three voted off weekly, the combination of talented performers and deep personal ties is a recipe for powerful entertainment. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 756 Contact: info@theglobalagency.tv Tel: +90 (212) 241 26 93 Address: Abdi İpekçi Cad. Park 19-1 Kat:3 Nişantaşı - İstanbul Türkiye INTER MEDYA Love and Pride (drama) (pictured) The Köksoy family are on the verge of losing everything. When Tolga, heir to a wealthy family, enters their lives, they plot how one of their three daughters might marry him. Eldest daughter Mercan rebels against the idea, despite Tolga and Mercan being attracted to each other. However, the middle daughter, Gül desires Tolga too. When Tolga shifts his focus from Mercan to Gül, they drift towards marriage. Deception (drama) Güzide Yenersoy, a family court judge, seems to have it all: a loving lawyer husband, Tarik; a successful son, Ozan; and a daughter, Oylum, who is studying to be a doctor. But beneath the surface, buried secrets threaten to turn Güzide’s picture-perfect life upside down. Leylifer (drama) Meryem travels to Istanbul with her husband Kemal and children for his sister’s wedding. However, their plans to return to their home in Spain are abruptly disrupted when Kemal goes missing and is later found dead in a burned-out car with a woman Meryem has never met. Poison Ivy (drama) When Macide, who hails from a poor family, falls in love with Kazım Işık, a successful married businessman, she’s thrilled to learn that he loves her back. But will he be able to protect her from the cruelty of the people in the rich and powerful life that he created for himself? Like There’s No Tomorrow (romance) When actress Manolya meets journalist Hakan for an interview, both their lives change. In their brief time together, they share secrets they have never shared with anyone else. As Manolya and Hakan grow closer, they try to establish honest and open communication, only to realize that it’s not as easy as it seems. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 555 Contact: info@intermedya.tv Tel: +90 (212) 231 0102 Address: Istanbloom Offices, Kore Sehitleri Caddesi 16/1 Zincirlikuyu, 34394 Istanbul, Turkey KANAL D INTERNATIONAL Secret of Pearls (drama) (pictured) Azem’s life shatters when he takes the blame for his wife’s death to protect his daughter. After prison, he seeks his adopted children, navigating complex relationships, but time has taken its toll. A Father’s Promise (drama) In 1980’s political turmoil, Mustafa sacrifices to save his wife, leaving his daughter with the wealthy Ronas. A poignant tale unfolds as he reunites, facing dangers and love’s resilience. Daylight (drama) Gece’s summer dreams of university and music in Istanbul are disrupted when her family moves to Foça for her sister Gülce’s special needs. A tale of love, maturity, and unexpected challenges unfolds. Farewell Letter (drama) Alanur’s life, dependent on Ziya, takes an unexpected turn after 30 years. As their children, Aslı and Mehmet, navigate love and family opposition, hidden connections from the past resurface. Three Sisters (drama) After living their fairytale family life, three sisters — Türkan, Dönüş, and Derya — will all face harsh realities. Turkan learns that her husband accepted their marriage without his consent. Meanwhile, Dönüş and Derya will see their lives turn upside down due to a secret from the past. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 1054 Contact: hello@kanald.international Address: Demirören Medya Center 100. Yıl Mah. 2264 Sok. No:1 34218 Bağcılar İstanbul LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT Hal & Harper (drama) Brother and sister Hal and Harper have a new family member on the way and their childhood house is on the market. Dad is struggling just as much as his kids. The family charts the evolution of their enmeshment and faces profound loss on their journey to forge new paths under different roofs. Borderline (drama) (pictured) When crimes straddle the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, PSNI’s Detective Inspector Boyd and Garda’s Detective Inspector Regan begrudgingly team up to solve brutal murders, navigating personal and professional clashes along the way. Fake (drama) Birdie falls for Joe, a wealthy grazier, thinking he’s her Prince Charming. Shocked by his fake identity, she switches to investigation mode, forensically retracing every step they took together. The Chosen (Season 4) (drama) This fresh take on the Gospels follows Jesus as he gathers his disciples, heals the needy, and sacrifices himself for the sake of humanity. The Conners (comedy) After a sudden turn of events, the Conner family is forced to face the daily struggles of life in a way they never have before. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 655 Contact: general-inquiries@lionsgate.com Tel: (310) 449-9200 Address: 2700 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404 MULTICOM ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SK8FACE (2024) (documentary) (pictured) The first documentary focused on the history of skateboard art, starring Tony Hawk, Shepard Fairey, Tommy Guerrero, and many famous artists and skaters. This title is especially relevant this year as skateboarding is an official sport at the Paris 2024 Olympics and will be in the zeitgeist more than ever. Shelter in Solitude (2023) (comedy, crime, drama) A heartwarming film about an unlikely friendship between a washed-up country singer turned prison guard and a death row prisoner with 10 days left to live. The movie is produced, written and directed by women, with a 98% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Garrett Gunderson: The American Ream (2024) (comedy) The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Garett Gunderson and Emmy-winning producer Marty Callner present a unique special from Gunderson’s multi-city sold-out tour. Gunderson’s comedic prowess meets financial expertise as he breaks down money myths and delivers his insightful and entertaining perspective on financial matters. Desert Rose (2022) (thriller) Set on a remote farm in South Africa’s Namaqualand desert, the Greyling siblings reunite when one of them breaks a decadelong deal to settle their father’s debts. With a ruthless debt collector on their tail, the family must locate their elusive father quickly or come up with the money before the debt collector and his thugs take them down. Devilsdorp (2021) (docu-series) A true-crime docuseries about a spate of brutal and mysterious killings that grip a rural town in South Africa. The investigation leads detectives to a Satan-influenced ‘cult of killers’ and unravels the events that rocked an entire community. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 1146 Contact: sales@multicom.tv Tel: (310) 693-8818 Address: 10801 National Blvd., Suite 603, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (Continued on Page 22) (Continued from Page 16)
22 L.A. Screenings 2024 May 2024 VIDEOAGE OGM UNIVERSE Dilemma (drama, thriller) Neslihan Turhan, the host of the TV show One Truth, touches people’s lives, sheds light on the stories that remain in the dark, and has built her career on the principles of justice. Her life is upturned by Lal Kaleli’s death, in which her son Canis is implicated. Caught between motherhood and all that she believes in, Neslihan faces a challenge. Lost in Love (drama) (pictured) Mete and Naz, born into affluent and influential families, are bound together by a childhood promise. As they grow older, their relationship becomes a rollercoaster of heated arguments and passionate reconciliations. The story explores the intricacies of love, trust, and competition in their intertwined lives. Stickman (drama) Tamer, a successful game developer, married Berrin, and when his game struck gold with a $300 million investment, he bought a mansion. Meanwhile, Peri, a private bank manager with a traumatic past, contemplated ending her life but unexpectedly crossed paths with Tamer. They discovered their shared pain and found solace in each other’s company. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 832 Contact: ekinkoyuncu@ogmuniverse.com; mustafakeyvan@ogmuniverse.com; Nesrineyupoglu@ogmunivers.com Address: Tomtom Mah. İstiklal Cad. Mısır Apt. No: 163/17 Beyoğlu İstanbul Turkey PARAMOUNT GLOBAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION Watson (drama, mystery) A year after the death of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty, Dr. John Watson resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. NCIS: Origins (crime) Narrated by Mark Harmon, the new series begins in 1991, years prior to the events of NCIS, and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The Darkness (drama) (pictured) Based on the best-selling thriller series by Ragnar Jónasson, The Darkness follows Detective Inspector Hulda Hermannsdóttir as she investigates a shocking murder case whilst coming to terms with her own personal traumas. The Gray House (adventure, drama) The Gray House focuses on the true story of the unsung women who turned the tide of the American Civil War in favor of the North. Contact: GDGsales@viacomcbs.com Address: Paramount Lot, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038 PUBLISPEI Sleeping Nymph (thriller) Inspector and profiler Teresa Battaglia is back and finds herself deep in a dark mystery that dates to World War II. When the body of a young female cop is found in the woods, Teresa uncovers a bloody trail that spans across almost a century and seems to originate with The Sleeping Nymph, a long-lost painting that has a horrifying peculiarity. For Women Only (drama) When you are a 15-year-old girl and your body changes, you freak out. When you are a 50-year-old woman, and your body changes again, you freak out again. The parachute remains the same: your friends, the ones who stay the same and grow old with you. Lady Doctors (period drama) (pictured) A story with two main focal points: the trenches along the eastern front, where soldiers fight without respite; and the hospital where Anita and the other lady doctors tend to the wounded combatants. Yet We Fall Happy 2 (young adult drama) In season 2, the beloved protagonists, starting from Gioia, will find themselves having to question every certainty they thought they had. They will have to deal with their pasts to become adults. Spina (crime drama) When Piersanti Spina, a DIGOS agent affected by CIPA — a condition that prevents him from feeling neither pleasure nor pain — gets demoted after disobeying orders and blowing up a delicate operation, he decides to take matters into his own hands and hunt down the international drug trafficker who escaped him. Contact: a.adinolfi@publispei.it; i.pagano@publispei.it Address: Via Col di lana, 28 00195 Rome Italy RECORD TV The Slave Isaura (period telenovela) (pictured) Based on the 1875 novel by Bernardo Guimarães, the telenovela portrays a love story amid slavery. Isaura, the daughter of the slave Juliana and farm manager Miguel, is raised and educated by the Commander’s family. Despite an excellent education and fair skin, Isaura is a slave of the Commander. Amid suffering for her freedom, she lives a beautiful love story. Topíssima (telenovela) Sheds light on the conflicts of modern women: work versus love life; independence versus loneliness; motherhood versus career; aging versus aesthetics; illegality of abortion versus death, among others. The series also features a police investigation full of twists and turns. Ultimate Love (telenovela) Everyone would like to experience — or has imagined experiencing — a love story capable of overcoming any difference, prejudice or obstacle imaginable. This sentiment often arises in the most unexpected places and in even unlikely people. But when love proves to be true, nothing can stop it from uniting two lovers. Belaventura (telenovela) Set in the Middle Ages, around the 15th century, in a beautiful and fictional region known as Belaventura. The story revolves around Pietra, a beautiful young woman who lives outside the castles of Belaventura, and Enrico, a prince who inherited a great kingdom. The Slave Mother (telenovela) The Slave Mother is the prequel to The Slave Isaura. It tells the story of Juliana, Isaura’s mother, who lives an intense love story and is faced with powerful enemies and obstacles. In an era that lives in the shadow of slavery, the force of love always wins! Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 656 Contact: dandrade@recordtv.com.br; tbcastro@recordtv.com.br; mcscosta@recordtv.com.br Tel: +55 11 3300-4022 Address: 240, Varzea Street, Barra Funda 01140-901 São Paulo SP, Brasil TELEFILMS Civil War (action) (pictured) Three daring journalists embark on a risky journey through a country devastated by a new civil war. This brave group travels thousands of kilometers to document the Judgment Day. From trenches to aerial assaults, they brave it all, fueled by adrenaline and a determination to uncover the truth. Immaculate (horror) Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is offered a fulfilling new role at an illustrious Italian convent. Her warm welcome to the pictureperfect Italian countryside is soon interrupted as it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors some dark horrifying secrets. The Zone of Interest (drama, history) Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife strive to build a dream life next to the concentration camp. Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller star in the lead roles. Late Night with The Devil (horror) Set against the eerie backdrop of Halloween night in 1977, the film unfolds as a documentary-style introduction. The spotlight falls on Jack Delroy, a talk show host determined to catapult his show to fame. Seizing an audacious opportunity, Jack extends an invitation to a young girl believed to be possessed, all in a bid to skyrocket ratings. Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 954 Contact: Tel: 54 11 5032 6000 Address: Av. Del Libertador 1069, Floor 9, Edificio Blue Sky, Buenos Aires, Argentina V CHANNELS Dark Parasite (horror) (pictured) A group of robbers takes refuge in a rundown suburban apartment. They don’t know that a telepathic alien resides in the basement. Live Escape (horror) Cops explore a creepy shelter, encounter zombies, and uncover the origin. The danger lies in the potential escape of zombies into the city. Rust 3 (horror) Seven years after Hotel Fear, Heather faces its reopening and Travis’s return. She fights for survival. Stranger (horror) John and Rebecca seek tranquility in a cabin, where a stranger’s dangerous obsession will soon force them into a deadly game. The Legend Of Jack And Diane (drama, thriller) Jack and Diane uncover secrets about Diane’s mother’s death, prompting them to create a “Hit List” and seek revenge on those responsible. Contact: nick@vchannelsmedia.com Tel: (310) 279-6354 Address: 26465 Summit Cir., Santa Clarita, CA 91350 (Continued from Page 20)
AMERICAN CINEMA at LA Screenings & Cannes Chevonne O’Shaughnessy chevonne@americancinemainspires.com Carlos Herrera carlos@americancinemainspires.com Table, 9 Riviera 7, F12
24 VIDEOAGE May 2024 MIPTV Review Trade Shows Also Evolve: Relief and Excitement for the Market’s Ending The international entertainment trade show business is going through a seismic change, with two competing markets taking place almost simultaneously in Miami, Florida (NATPE Global and Content Americas); one market moving from Santa Monica, California to Las Vegas, Nevada (AFM); another moving from Budapest to Warsaw (Content East); and another one moving from Cannes, France to London, England (MIP London). Then, Realscreen Summit is merging with NATPE Global for its February 3-7, 2025 event, while the 31st annual Hot Docs, the Toronto documentary market, had serious financial challenges that reduced participation at its April 25-May 5 event, while the Sunny Side of the Doc documentary event that takes place June 24-27 in La Rochelle, France, is going through a management reorganization. Meanwhile, Content L.A. was canceled. And in Argentina, the Jornadas trade show, supported by CAPPSA (a cable TV hardware association) and ATVC (a cable channel organization), has become a much smaller event, more focused on the telecommunications business than on pay-TV. At the same time, a proliferation of local and regional trade shows has meant that film and TV executives have mostly been bypassing large international markets, as was the case with MIPTV. In addition, several filmfocused events (including the Cannes Film Festival) have developed busy content market components within their shows. Speaking of MIPTV, it seemed as though executives from RX France, the organizers of MIPTV, were relieved that the long agony of a market, which started in 1963, was finally ending. At the same time they were excited about MIP London, a new market that will take place February 24-27, 2025. During an introductory presentation on April 9, MIPTV’s second day, a big display showed the organization’s new line-up of their major events: MIP London, MIP Cancun, and MIPCOM. The presentation, which happened before a large crowd, was preceded by a press conference wherein Lucy Smith, Entertainment Division director at RX France, shared the statistics for this year’s MIPTV market. Smith reported 135 exhibitors, a total of 3,573 participants from 84 countries, including 1,100 buyers, and assured that these were “actual figures.” As was predicted, the focus at the press conference was next year’s MIP London, which Smith categorized as “a multi-genre market complementing, not replacing, the existing London Screenings event.” In effect, two other screening events led to the demise of MIPTV in April: February’s London Screenings and May’s L.A. Screenings. MIPTV’s popularity began declining in the 1990s and accelerated in the 2000s. But the escape from Cannes, even though predictable, was nevertheless so sudden that it caught the city’s residents off guard. Presenting the new MIP London, Smith, who introduced herself as a Brit, reported that buyers will be invited free of charge and that they will have buyers’ lounges at both the Savoy Hotel and at the adjacent Savoy Place IET venue, the market’s headquarters. Before ending the presentation and inviting participants to a champagne toast, Smith concluded her remarks with, “MIP: Time to make changes.” This year’s small MIPTV revolved around the Riviera section of the Palais des Festivals, with some extra exhibition space on the fourth floor. And, as VideoAge predicted in its April 2024 Issue, the market ended up being a good event for those exhibitors who had new content to show. Elsewhere at the market, some exhibitors still showed their commitment to MIPTV, with Italy’s MFE (Berlusconi family-owned Media For Europe) even unveiling a brand new stand. In addition, Turkey’s Global Agency brought 11 cast members from its new series, One Love, for a press conference and a late-night party. China had a large presence, as well, with 28 companies vying for attention from Western media. There was also an opening night party, hosted by RX France — with champagne and, this time, actual food served. Naturally, the rumor mill got into motion, with some predicting that MIP London will only last two years, while others hoped that it would eventually move to Barcelona, Spain. Plus, many questioned whether the European Union, which has, in the past, sponsored a creative audiovisual umbrella at MIPTV, would support a market outside the E.U. Comments from U.S.-based MIPTV veterans were positive for this year’s event in Cannes, but often negative when it came to the move to London. To Electric Entertainment’s Steve Saltman, “MIP was lightly attended, [but] I found the market to be good. Those attending wanted to and were ready to do business. We were able to come to some agreements. As for MIP London, in one sense it’s a good move with MIP combining with the London Screenings. However, end of February is not the best (Continued on Page 26) RX France’s Lucy Smith introduced MIP London
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