Commissioners from four of Europe’s top public broadcasters assembled in Madrid on Tuesday for a roundtable discussion about what they’re looking for in potential scripted projects.
Hosted by the Iberseries & Platino Industria forum and emceed by María Valenzuela, the panel included speakers Morad Koufane, France Télévisions’ director of international and young adult series; José Pastor, director of cinema and fiction at Rtve in Spain; Michele Zatta, commissioning editor in charge of international co-productions for Italy’s Rai; and Laura Mae Harding, commissioning editor for international co-productions at Zdf in Germany.
In addition to sharing what excites them about pitches, the panel also discussed the importance of international co-productions, the differences in their audiences, appealing to younger viewers and why public broadcasters are number one on the list of favored production partners.
Here are five key takeaways from the enlightening conversation.
Co-Pro Plan A and Plan B
The day...
Hosted by the Iberseries & Platino Industria forum and emceed by María Valenzuela, the panel included speakers Morad Koufane, France Télévisions’ director of international and young adult series; José Pastor, director of cinema and fiction at Rtve in Spain; Michele Zatta, commissioning editor in charge of international co-productions for Italy’s Rai; and Laura Mae Harding, commissioning editor for international co-productions at Zdf in Germany.
In addition to sharing what excites them about pitches, the panel also discussed the importance of international co-productions, the differences in their audiences, appealing to younger viewers and why public broadcasters are number one on the list of favored production partners.
Here are five key takeaways from the enlightening conversation.
Co-Pro Plan A and Plan B
The day...
- 10/2/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The TV series that reimagines Angela Merkel as a small-town detective has found a U.S. home.
Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice streamer has picked up Miss Merkel from Fremantle, two 90-minute tongue-in-cheek mysteries, with a third planned.
Starring vet German actress Katharina Thalbach (The Tin Drum), the Rtl series, which has sold to a number of European networks, is based on the books by writer, humorist and actor David Safier. It imagines the former German chancellor moving to a small town with her husband and her pug, Helmut, as she discovers a new calling as an amateur detective. Safier pens the adaptations with Stefan Cantz, with Christoph Schnee directing.
Lance Schwulst, EVP Content Strategy, MHz Choice, said he had “committed to the series before my sales agent had finished her pitch.”
“It’s such an idiosyncratic premise that I knew it had to be right,...
Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice streamer has picked up Miss Merkel from Fremantle, two 90-minute tongue-in-cheek mysteries, with a third planned.
Starring vet German actress Katharina Thalbach (The Tin Drum), the Rtl series, which has sold to a number of European networks, is based on the books by writer, humorist and actor David Safier. It imagines the former German chancellor moving to a small town with her husband and her pug, Helmut, as she discovers a new calling as an amateur detective. Safier pens the adaptations with Stefan Cantz, with Christoph Schnee directing.
Lance Schwulst, EVP Content Strategy, MHz Choice, said he had “committed to the series before my sales agent had finished her pitch.”
“It’s such an idiosyncratic premise that I knew it had to be right,...
- 7/29/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice and Topic will merge into one streaming service, the company announced.
The combined product will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home of hit German series “Babylon Berlin” starting in April. As of Feb. 29, the series is no longer available in the country on Netflix, which previously held the U.S. streaming rights.
Co-created, written and directed by Tom Twyker, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten, “Babylon Berlin” is based on the novels by Volker Kutscher and distributed by Beta Film. The fourth season of the drama, which has not been available for streaming in North America before, will land on the new service June 25.
Along with “Babylon Berlin,” MHz Choice and Topic’s combined lineup will include “The Killing,” “The Bridge,” “Detective Montalbano,” “The Sea Beyond,” “Pagan Peak,” “A French Village,” “Spiral,” “Beck” and “Murder In.”
Current MHz Choice and Topic subscribers will be...
The combined product will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home of hit German series “Babylon Berlin” starting in April. As of Feb. 29, the series is no longer available in the country on Netflix, which previously held the U.S. streaming rights.
Co-created, written and directed by Tom Twyker, Achim von Borries and Hendrik Handloegten, “Babylon Berlin” is based on the novels by Volker Kutscher and distributed by Beta Film. The fourth season of the drama, which has not been available for streaming in North America before, will land on the new service June 25.
Along with “Babylon Berlin,” MHz Choice and Topic’s combined lineup will include “The Killing,” “The Bridge,” “Detective Montalbano,” “The Sea Beyond,” “Pagan Peak,” “A French Village,” “Spiral,” “Beck” and “Murder In.”
Current MHz Choice and Topic subscribers will be...
- 2/29/2024
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Babylon Berlin has landed a new U.S. home on a newly-merged streaming service created as Kino Lorber’s MHz Choice and Topic combine.
The boutique streamer will be named MHz Choice and feature the likes of The Killing, The Bridge, Detective Montalbano, The Sea Beyond and Pagan Peak, alongside the popular Babylon Berlin, which moves over from Netflix after three seasons on that streamer.
Kino Lorber said the new streamer will “combine the best European dramas and mysteries with Nordic noir crime and thrillers under the MHz Choice brand.”
The Four Daughters distributor owns MHz Choice and Topic, the latter of which in a Jv with First Look Media under which Kino has a majority stake and management oversight. The news comes a few weeks after we revealed layoffs at First Look production subsidiary Topic Studios.
Viaplay has also exited the U.S. following a disastrous 12 months that has...
The boutique streamer will be named MHz Choice and feature the likes of The Killing, The Bridge, Detective Montalbano, The Sea Beyond and Pagan Peak, alongside the popular Babylon Berlin, which moves over from Netflix after three seasons on that streamer.
Kino Lorber said the new streamer will “combine the best European dramas and mysteries with Nordic noir crime and thrillers under the MHz Choice brand.”
The Four Daughters distributor owns MHz Choice and Topic, the latter of which in a Jv with First Look Media under which Kino has a majority stake and management oversight. The news comes a few weeks after we revealed layoffs at First Look production subsidiary Topic Studios.
Viaplay has also exited the U.S. following a disastrous 12 months that has...
- 2/29/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Bille August, the two-time Palme d’Or winning director of “Pelle the Conqueror,” is directing a sprawling English language series adapted from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” starring an international cast led by Sam Claflin (“Peaky Blinders”).
“The Count of Monte Cristo” marks the first series which is entirely produced within Mediawan and represented by its distribution arm Mediawan Rights. As such, Italy’s Palomar is producing the eight-part series in collaboration with Demd Productions in France, in association with Entourage Ventures, as well as Rai Fiction and France Televisions which are the commissioning broadcasters in Italy and France, respectively.
The show underscores Mediawan’s strategy to pursue prestige scripted projects with strong international potential under its €100 million co-development agreement signed earlier this year with private equity film Entourage Ventures. Another recent Mediawan show in the same vein is the anticipated “Zorro” series reboot directed by...
“The Count of Monte Cristo” marks the first series which is entirely produced within Mediawan and represented by its distribution arm Mediawan Rights. As such, Italy’s Palomar is producing the eight-part series in collaboration with Demd Productions in France, in association with Entourage Ventures, as well as Rai Fiction and France Televisions which are the commissioning broadcasters in Italy and France, respectively.
The show underscores Mediawan’s strategy to pursue prestige scripted projects with strong international potential under its €100 million co-development agreement signed earlier this year with private equity film Entourage Ventures. Another recent Mediawan show in the same vein is the anticipated “Zorro” series reboot directed by...
- 10/11/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“The Sea Beyond,” the Naples-set prison drama that has become a pop culture phenomenon in Italy, has been bought by U.S. streamer MHz Choice for North America.
Represented in international markets by Beta Film, all four seasons of the drama will premiere exclusively on MHz Choice, with the first season premiering this fall in the U.S. and Canada.
“The Sea Beyond,” which airs on public broadcaster Rai’s Rai Play streaming platform, follows Filippo (Nicolas Maupas) and Carmine (Massimiliano Caiazzo) as their resilience and loyalties are tested while serving time in a juvenile detention center on the Gulf of Naples. As Variety reported earlier this year, the third season of the show scored record-breaking ratings just as previous installments played in more than 20 international territories. Rai Play is believed to have gained roughly 300,000 new subscribers as Season 3 kicked off. The series was created by Cristiana Farina, who co-wrote the script with Maurizio Careddu.
Represented in international markets by Beta Film, all four seasons of the drama will premiere exclusively on MHz Choice, with the first season premiering this fall in the U.S. and Canada.
“The Sea Beyond,” which airs on public broadcaster Rai’s Rai Play streaming platform, follows Filippo (Nicolas Maupas) and Carmine (Massimiliano Caiazzo) as their resilience and loyalties are tested while serving time in a juvenile detention center on the Gulf of Naples. As Variety reported earlier this year, the third season of the show scored record-breaking ratings just as previous installments played in more than 20 international territories. Rai Play is believed to have gained roughly 300,000 new subscribers as Season 3 kicked off. The series was created by Cristiana Farina, who co-wrote the script with Maurizio Careddu.
- 8/31/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A new Kino Lorber-led joint venture will manage both Topic and international content rival MHz.
US distributor and streamer Kino Lorber has formed a joint venture with First Look Media that will encompass the companies respective North American streaming services MHz Choice and Topic.
Kino Lorber will be the majority owner of the as yet unnamed joint venture and have management oversight of both MHz, which it acquired late last year, and Topic (Topic Studios is not part of the joint venture). Both services offer American audiences access to international television series such as the MHz’s Detective Montalbano and Topic’s The Killing.
US distributor and streamer Kino Lorber has formed a joint venture with First Look Media that will encompass the companies respective North American streaming services MHz Choice and Topic.
Kino Lorber will be the majority owner of the as yet unnamed joint venture and have management oversight of both MHz, which it acquired late last year, and Topic (Topic Studios is not part of the joint venture). Both services offer American audiences access to international television series such as the MHz’s Detective Montalbano and Topic’s The Killing.
- 5/22/2023
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Kino Lorber and First Look Media have formed a joint venture to operate their respective streaming services, MHz Choice and Topic.
The new entity will be run by Kino Lorber, which will also take a majority stake. Programming, marketing and technology will be handled by MHz Networks founder Frederick Thomas. Topic Gm Ryan Chanatry and Jennifer Liang, who oversaw acquisitions for the streaming service, will consult through the transition period. Kino Lorber’s streaming services are overseen by Chief Strategy Officer Ed Carroll, the former longtime AMC Networks exec who joined the company earlier this year.
Programming for both Topic streaming and MHz Choice will be overseen by Lance Schwulst, SVP of Content Strategy for MHz Networks. Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing for Topic, will join the Jv as Chief Marketing Officer for both services.
Topic, which launched as an effort to showcase high-caliber international series and eventually focused in on the crime genre,...
The new entity will be run by Kino Lorber, which will also take a majority stake. Programming, marketing and technology will be handled by MHz Networks founder Frederick Thomas. Topic Gm Ryan Chanatry and Jennifer Liang, who oversaw acquisitions for the streaming service, will consult through the transition period. Kino Lorber’s streaming services are overseen by Chief Strategy Officer Ed Carroll, the former longtime AMC Networks exec who joined the company earlier this year.
Programming for both Topic streaming and MHz Choice will be overseen by Lance Schwulst, SVP of Content Strategy for MHz Networks. Monica Bloom, VP of Marketing for Topic, will join the Jv as Chief Marketing Officer for both services.
Topic, which launched as an effort to showcase high-caliber international series and eventually focused in on the crime genre,...
- 5/22/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
The streamer specialises in international series.
US arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, parent of streamer MHz Choice, a North American SVOD service that screens international television series.
With the acquisition, Kino Lorber Media Group will have more than 10,000 hours of international series and films under license, the company said.
MHz Networks CEO Frederick Thomas and senior vice president of content strategy Lance Schwulst will continue to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
MHz Networks was an early entrant into the boutique streaming market, launching MHz Choice in 2015. The service has screened series including Wallander, Detective Montalbano and Paris Police 1900.
US arthouse distributor Kino Lorber has acquired MHz Networks, parent of streamer MHz Choice, a North American SVOD service that screens international television series.
With the acquisition, Kino Lorber Media Group will have more than 10,000 hours of international series and films under license, the company said.
MHz Networks CEO Frederick Thomas and senior vice president of content strategy Lance Schwulst will continue to lead MHz Networks within Kino Lorber Media Group.
MHz Networks was an early entrant into the boutique streaming market, launching MHz Choice in 2015. The service has screened series including Wallander, Detective Montalbano and Paris Police 1900.
- 11/3/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Producer Lorenzo Mieli, who has brought to the screen top Italian TV series such as “The Young Pope” and “My Brilliant Friend,” is launching two new crime shows with innovative elements: “The King” and “Bang Bang Baby.”
Both stem from his bent to push boundaries of genre storytelling that is “borne from authenticity,” he says.
“The King,” which is Italy’s first prison drama, recently bowed positively in Italy on Comcast-owned Sky’s pay-tv service and also premiered internationally at the Series Mania fest.
The dark show stars Luca Zingaretti, best known as the titular character in Italy’s widely exported “Inspector Montalbano” series. He plays Bruno Testori the sometimes psychopathic director of a maximum security penitentiary located on an unspecified Italian border territory that is not subject to Italian law. There Testori, who is a mixture of good and evil, can apply his totally personal idea of justice.
Both stem from his bent to push boundaries of genre storytelling that is “borne from authenticity,” he says.
“The King,” which is Italy’s first prison drama, recently bowed positively in Italy on Comcast-owned Sky’s pay-tv service and also premiered internationally at the Series Mania fest.
The dark show stars Luca Zingaretti, best known as the titular character in Italy’s widely exported “Inspector Montalbano” series. He plays Bruno Testori the sometimes psychopathic director of a maximum security penitentiary located on an unspecified Italian border territory that is not subject to Italian law. There Testori, who is a mixture of good and evil, can apply his totally personal idea of justice.
- 4/1/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Following “Gomorrah” and “The Young Pope,” Sky continues to bring to the screen fresh edgy TV series with “The King,” which is Italy’s first prison drama but transcends genre tropes to recount the country’s complex way of contending with evil forces, including terrorism.
The dark skein, currently playing in Italy on Comcast-owned Sky’s pay-tv service –– and premiering internationally in competition at Series Mania –– is the brainchild of Italian A-list actor Luca Zingaretti, best known as the titular character in Italy’s widely exported “Inspector Montalbano” series.
After playing a a simpatico Mafia-fighting Sicilian sleuth in “Montalbano,” Zingaretti “wanted to do a show set in an Italian maximum security penitentiary and play a character who was the head of this jail,” says “The King” producer Lorenzo Mieli.
Zingaretti’s character, named Bruno Testori, is the “supreme ruler” of the San Michele penitentiary, which is packed with hard...
The dark skein, currently playing in Italy on Comcast-owned Sky’s pay-tv service –– and premiering internationally in competition at Series Mania –– is the brainchild of Italian A-list actor Luca Zingaretti, best known as the titular character in Italy’s widely exported “Inspector Montalbano” series.
After playing a a simpatico Mafia-fighting Sicilian sleuth in “Montalbano,” Zingaretti “wanted to do a show set in an Italian maximum security penitentiary and play a character who was the head of this jail,” says “The King” producer Lorenzo Mieli.
Zingaretti’s character, named Bruno Testori, is the “supreme ruler” of the San Michele penitentiary, which is packed with hard...
- 3/19/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Award winning film director and historian Mark Cousins (“The Story of Film: A New Generation”) is at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios making a doc titled “March on Rome” that will explore the roots of fascism by analyzing films, photographs, and other documents found in Italian archives.
The high-profile documentary — pegged to the centennial of the infamous late October 1922 insurrection by which Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy — will take its cue from the Fascist propaganda film “A Noi” by director Umberto Paradisi, produced in 1923 as an official Fascist party document celebrating the March on Rome.
Italian writer and director Tony Saccucci (“The Duce’s Boxer”), who originated the project and did meticulous research for it, serves as a co-writer with Cousins. Saccuci cross-checked Paradisi’s film with other sources of the time to reveal details of the pic that provide a completely new take on the history of those dramatic days,...
The high-profile documentary — pegged to the centennial of the infamous late October 1922 insurrection by which Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy — will take its cue from the Fascist propaganda film “A Noi” by director Umberto Paradisi, produced in 1923 as an official Fascist party document celebrating the March on Rome.
Italian writer and director Tony Saccucci (“The Duce’s Boxer”), who originated the project and did meticulous research for it, serves as a co-writer with Cousins. Saccuci cross-checked Paradisi’s film with other sources of the time to reveal details of the pic that provide a completely new take on the history of those dramatic days,...
- 2/9/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Fremantle and pay-tv operator Sky are unveiling Sky original series “The King,” an innovative prison drama toplining Luca Zingaretti, who is best known as the titular character in Italy’s widely exported “Inspector Montalbano” series.
While in “Montalbano” Zingaretti played a simpatico Mafia-fighting Sicilian sleuth, in “The King” he undergoes a monumental character change, becoming the psychopathic Buno Testori (watch trailer above) director of the lawless San Michele penitentiary, which is located on an unspecified Italian border territory that is not subject to Italian law where he can apply his totally personal idea of justice.
Testori is ruthless with those who deserve it and unexpectedly compassionate with others, “always following the principles of his own distorted and obscure morals,” according to the provided synopsis. As the trailer puts it: “Every kingdom has its own rules.”
The dark show is penned by Stefano Bises, whose credits include “Gomorrah,” “ZeroZeroZero” and “The New Pope,...
While in “Montalbano” Zingaretti played a simpatico Mafia-fighting Sicilian sleuth, in “The King” he undergoes a monumental character change, becoming the psychopathic Buno Testori (watch trailer above) director of the lawless San Michele penitentiary, which is located on an unspecified Italian border territory that is not subject to Italian law where he can apply his totally personal idea of justice.
Testori is ruthless with those who deserve it and unexpectedly compassionate with others, “always following the principles of his own distorted and obscure morals,” according to the provided synopsis. As the trailer puts it: “Every kingdom has its own rules.”
The dark show is penned by Stefano Bises, whose credits include “Gomorrah,” “ZeroZeroZero” and “The New Pope,...
- 1/18/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Serbian drama “The Family,” which swept the newly launched Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival on Monday, has sold to North America, Variety can reveal.
Directed by Bojan Vuletić (“Requiem for Mrs. J”) and produced by Firefly Productions, the show will launch this fall on the Ott service MHz Choice, where it will join the streamer’s roster of top-flight European titles, including the Italian hit “Inspector Montalbano” and the Movistar Plus original series “Arde Madrid.”
“The Family” is a five-part miniseries which tells the inside story of the three days leading up to the arrest of the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević. At Monday’s award ceremony in Sarajevo, it won best drama series, best series creator for Vuletić, and best actor for leading man Boris Isaković.
Vuletić, whose acerbic portrait of a suicidal widow, “Requiem for Mrs. J,” earned critical praise following its world...
Directed by Bojan Vuletić (“Requiem for Mrs. J”) and produced by Firefly Productions, the show will launch this fall on the Ott service MHz Choice, where it will join the streamer’s roster of top-flight European titles, including the Italian hit “Inspector Montalbano” and the Movistar Plus original series “Arde Madrid.”
“The Family” is a five-part miniseries which tells the inside story of the three days leading up to the arrest of the former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević. At Monday’s award ceremony in Sarajevo, it won best drama series, best series creator for Vuletić, and best actor for leading man Boris Isaković.
Vuletić, whose acerbic portrait of a suicidal widow, “Requiem for Mrs. J,” earned critical praise following its world...
- 8/18/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Palomar, the leading Italian production outfit that’s part of Mediawan Group, has optioned the adaptation rights to “Fresh Water for Flowers,” the best-selling novel by French author Valérie Perrin. Palomar will be making an internationally-driven TV series based on the book.
Founded by Carlo Degli Esposti in the 1980’s, the Rome-based Palomar is one of Italy’s oldest production banners and has delivered some of country’s top films and series over the years, including Edoardo Ponti’s Oscar-nominated “The Life Ahead,” “Piranhas” which won the Silver Bear at Berlin in 2019, as well as the series “Inspector Montalbano” and “The Name of the Rose” with John Turturro and Rupert Everett.
“Fresh Water For Flowers,” a global literary success translated into 28 languages with over 1.5 million copies sold in France and Italy, won several awards, including the Maison de la Presse prize.
The book revolves around Violette Toussaint, the beautiful, cheerful...
Founded by Carlo Degli Esposti in the 1980’s, the Rome-based Palomar is one of Italy’s oldest production banners and has delivered some of country’s top films and series over the years, including Edoardo Ponti’s Oscar-nominated “The Life Ahead,” “Piranhas” which won the Silver Bear at Berlin in 2019, as well as the series “Inspector Montalbano” and “The Name of the Rose” with John Turturro and Rupert Everett.
“Fresh Water For Flowers,” a global literary success translated into 28 languages with over 1.5 million copies sold in France and Italy, won several awards, including the Maison de la Presse prize.
The book revolves around Violette Toussaint, the beautiful, cheerful...
- 6/29/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
To mark the release of Inspector Montalbano Collection 10 on 23rd November, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on DVD.
Our Favourite Sicilian detective Inspector Montalbano returns for another enthralling series of intrigue, drama and fine food, set against a stunning sun-drenched backdrop.
With all of the thrills of Scandi-noir, but with delicious delicacies, Sicilian culture and the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, this ratings hit stars Luca Zingaretti as the eponymous, much-loved icon of contemporary detective drama. Salvo Montalbano is a sharp, unconventional detective who must fight to succeed within Italy’s precarious justice system, alongside his trusted colleagues.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 26th November 2020 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be picked at random from entries received No cash alternative is available Please note prizes may be...
Our Favourite Sicilian detective Inspector Montalbano returns for another enthralling series of intrigue, drama and fine food, set against a stunning sun-drenched backdrop.
With all of the thrills of Scandi-noir, but with delicious delicacies, Sicilian culture and the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, this ratings hit stars Luca Zingaretti as the eponymous, much-loved icon of contemporary detective drama. Salvo Montalbano is a sharp, unconventional detective who must fight to succeed within Italy’s precarious justice system, alongside his trusted colleagues.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only The competition will close 26th November 2020 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be picked at random from entries received No cash alternative is available Please note prizes may be...
- 11/14/2020
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Mediawan, one of Europe’s most thriving independent production-distribution groups, is looking to expand its leadership further into Europe with the acquisition of Lagardere Studios and a minority stake in Madrid-based banner Weekend Studio.
Following last month’s clearance by the anti-trust board, Mediawan has finalized its takeover of Lagardere Studios, an expansive French TV producer-distributor comprised of 27 companies, including the Spanish banner Boomerang, whose hit series include “The Time in Between” and “Mum detective;” Atlantique Productions, whose credits include Damien Chazelle’s Netflix series “The Eddy”; and Imagissime, the documentary producers behind hit Netflix documentary series “Who Killed Little Gregory?”
Pierre-Antoine Capton, chairman of Mediawan, said the company is now getting ready to integrate Lagardere Studios’ talent and labels into the org and is preparing to reorganize in order to create more synergies.
“With these new acquisitions we are going to strengthen our footprint in Spain, the Netherlands and Finland,...
Following last month’s clearance by the anti-trust board, Mediawan has finalized its takeover of Lagardere Studios, an expansive French TV producer-distributor comprised of 27 companies, including the Spanish banner Boomerang, whose hit series include “The Time in Between” and “Mum detective;” Atlantique Productions, whose credits include Damien Chazelle’s Netflix series “The Eddy”; and Imagissime, the documentary producers behind hit Netflix documentary series “Who Killed Little Gregory?”
Pierre-Antoine Capton, chairman of Mediawan, said the company is now getting ready to integrate Lagardere Studios’ talent and labels into the org and is preparing to reorganize in order to create more synergies.
“With these new acquisitions we are going to strengthen our footprint in Spain, the Netherlands and Finland,...
- 11/10/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
European pay-tv operator Sky has greenlit production of Italian prison drama “The King,” toplining Luca Zingaretti, best known as the titular character in the popular “Inspector Montalbano” series.
In “The King” Zingaretti will play Buno Testori, chief of the San Michele penitentiary, where “he applies his own personal idea of justice,” according to a Sky synopsis. The innovative show is being produced for Sky by Lorenzo Mieli’s shingle The Apartment in collaboration with Wildside, producer of “The New Pope” and “My Brilliant Friend.” Both are Fremantle-owned companies.
Shooting on the eight-episode series, directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi (“1992”), is expected to start by early next year in Rome, Turin, and Trieste locations. Fremantle is handling international sales.
The screenplay of “The King” is penned by Stefano Bises (“Gomorrah”), Peppe Fiore (“The Young Pope”), Bernardo Pellegrini (“Non Uccidere), and Davide Serino (“The Comedians”).
According to the Sky synopsis, the San Michele...
In “The King” Zingaretti will play Buno Testori, chief of the San Michele penitentiary, where “he applies his own personal idea of justice,” according to a Sky synopsis. The innovative show is being produced for Sky by Lorenzo Mieli’s shingle The Apartment in collaboration with Wildside, producer of “The New Pope” and “My Brilliant Friend.” Both are Fremantle-owned companies.
Shooting on the eight-episode series, directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi (“1992”), is expected to start by early next year in Rome, Turin, and Trieste locations. Fremantle is handling international sales.
The screenplay of “The King” is penned by Stefano Bises (“Gomorrah”), Peppe Fiore (“The Young Pope”), Bernardo Pellegrini (“Non Uccidere), and Davide Serino (“The Comedians”).
According to the Sky synopsis, the San Michele...
- 9/18/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Italy late on Monday became the first European country to go into lockdown mode to counter the spread of a coronavirus outbreak that has caused cinemas to be shuttered and production to stop. But the country’s film and TV industry has not hit the pause button.
Right after Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte in a prime time nightly news conference announced nationwide travel limits affecting the nation’s roughly 60 million citizens – in an attempt to stem the virus that in Italy has killed more than 460 people, the highest death count outside China – more than 9 million Italians tuned in to watch the first episode of the new season of “Inspector Montalbano” on pubcaster Rai.
The new “Montalbano,” starring (and also co-directed by) Luca Zingaretti as the titular Sicilian sleuth who is a Mafia fighting foodie, scored a whopping 39% share on Rai 1, becoming a collective anti-coronavirus rite of sorts even...
Right after Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte in a prime time nightly news conference announced nationwide travel limits affecting the nation’s roughly 60 million citizens – in an attempt to stem the virus that in Italy has killed more than 460 people, the highest death count outside China – more than 9 million Italians tuned in to watch the first episode of the new season of “Inspector Montalbano” on pubcaster Rai.
The new “Montalbano,” starring (and also co-directed by) Luca Zingaretti as the titular Sicilian sleuth who is a Mafia fighting foodie, scored a whopping 39% share on Rai 1, becoming a collective anti-coronavirus rite of sorts even...
- 3/10/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Palomar, the Italian TV and film production company behind “Inspector Montalbano” and “The Name of The Rose,” is launching a unit dedicated to documentaries to be headed by Andrea Romeo, founder and chief of Italy’s Biografilm Festival.
Palomar Doc, which will become operational in March, will be developing and producing docs and doc series by Italian and European directors for theatrical and platform distribution with a special focus on tapping into new opportunities offered by streamers, the company said in a statement.
Romeo will be at the European Film Market in Berlin scouting for projects.
While Italy is quite active in terms of its overall docs output, the country has plenty of room for improvement when it comes to churning out high-profile docs that can travel such as Agostino Ferrente’s “Selfie” or Beniamino Barrese’s “The Disappearance of my Mother,” which Kino Lorber recently released in the U.
Palomar Doc, which will become operational in March, will be developing and producing docs and doc series by Italian and European directors for theatrical and platform distribution with a special focus on tapping into new opportunities offered by streamers, the company said in a statement.
Romeo will be at the European Film Market in Berlin scouting for projects.
While Italy is quite active in terms of its overall docs output, the country has plenty of room for improvement when it comes to churning out high-profile docs that can travel such as Agostino Ferrente’s “Selfie” or Beniamino Barrese’s “The Disappearance of my Mother,” which Kino Lorber recently released in the U.
- 2/12/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Streamlined Rome Film Fest sees inevitable drop in box office and attendance but puts on a good show; Mia launches with scope for content growth.
The Rome International Film Festival’s 10th edition concluded on Saturday (Oct 24) with Pan Nalin’s female “buddy” movie Angry Indian Goddesses winning the sole prize of the event - The Bnl People’s Choice Award.
The director, who also made India’s highest-grossing documentary, Ayurveda: Art of Being, continued his successful festival run after securing second place for Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, behind Lenny Abrahamson’s Room.
Both films were once again pitted against each other in the eternal city, with the heartwarming Goa-based drama this time winning out.
Piera Detassis, president of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, said: “I am pleased that a courageous and revealing film that sheds light on the condition of women in India, choosing a genre that is traditionally about male bonding...
The Rome International Film Festival’s 10th edition concluded on Saturday (Oct 24) with Pan Nalin’s female “buddy” movie Angry Indian Goddesses winning the sole prize of the event - The Bnl People’s Choice Award.
The director, who also made India’s highest-grossing documentary, Ayurveda: Art of Being, continued his successful festival run after securing second place for Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, behind Lenny Abrahamson’s Room.
Both films were once again pitted against each other in the eternal city, with the heartwarming Goa-based drama this time winning out.
Piera Detassis, president of the Fondazione Cinema per Roma, said: “I am pleased that a courageous and revealing film that sheds light on the condition of women in India, choosing a genre that is traditionally about male bonding...
- 10/26/2015
- ScreenDaily
Strictly Come Dancing was Saturday's (November 30) highest-rated show, peaking with an audience of 10.27 million (45.2%).
Featuring dances from around the world, this week's show was seen by an average audience of 9.63 million (42.4%) from 7pm on BBC One.
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! was ITV's highest-rated show, entertaining 7.85 million (38.5%) from 9.45pm.
It was preceded by The X Factor, which drew an average audience of 7.55 million (33.1%). A further 133k watched on ITV+1, while 167k (0.8%) tuned into ITV2's The Xtra Factor.
ITV's evening began with 3.4 million (15.4%) for The Chase: Celebrity Special at 7pm and ended with 2.55 million (20%) for The Jonathan Ross Show at 10.50pm.
Back on BBC One, Atlantis was seen by 3.76 million (16.7%) at 8.15pm, followed by 3.92 million (17.4%) for Casualty.
BBC One's evening ended with 2.99 million (19.5%) for Match of the Day, which featured highlights from Hull vs Manchester United and Qpr vs Leicester.
A Dad's Army repeat was once...
Featuring dances from around the world, this week's show was seen by an average audience of 9.63 million (42.4%) from 7pm on BBC One.
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! was ITV's highest-rated show, entertaining 7.85 million (38.5%) from 9.45pm.
It was preceded by The X Factor, which drew an average audience of 7.55 million (33.1%). A further 133k watched on ITV+1, while 167k (0.8%) tuned into ITV2's The Xtra Factor.
ITV's evening began with 3.4 million (15.4%) for The Chase: Celebrity Special at 7pm and ended with 2.55 million (20%) for The Jonathan Ross Show at 10.50pm.
Back on BBC One, Atlantis was seen by 3.76 million (16.7%) at 8.15pm, followed by 3.92 million (17.4%) for Casualty.
BBC One's evening ended with 2.99 million (19.5%) for Match of the Day, which featured highlights from Hull vs Manchester United and Qpr vs Leicester.
A Dad's Army repeat was once...
- 11/30/2014
- Digital Spy
The National Television Awards 2015 longlist nominations have been announced and voting is now (October 14) open.
Hosted by Dermot O'Leary, the NTAs celebrate the best and most popular TV and are exclusively voted for by viewers. The 2015 awards take place at London's O2 on January 21.
The Nta shortlist will be announced in January when the final round of voting begins. Viewers can vote for free online at nationaltvawards.com or by calling the Nta vote form request line 0844 646 2060.
Full list of 2015 nominations:
Chat Show Host
Adam Hills
Alan Carr
Graham Norton
Jonathan Ross
Michael McIntyre
Paul O'Grady
Piers Morgan
Sarah Millican
Comedy
Benidorm
Big School
Birds of a Feather
Blandings
Boomers
Citizen Khan
Derek
Mrs Brown's Boys
Not Going Out
Outnumbered
The Big Bang Theory
The Wrong Mans
W1A
Daytime
Animal Saints and Sinners
Antiques Road Trip
Bargain Hunt
BBC Breakfast
Coach Trip
Escape to the Country
Father Brown
Fifteen to One
Flog It!
Hosted by Dermot O'Leary, the NTAs celebrate the best and most popular TV and are exclusively voted for by viewers. The 2015 awards take place at London's O2 on January 21.
The Nta shortlist will be announced in January when the final round of voting begins. Viewers can vote for free online at nationaltvawards.com or by calling the Nta vote form request line 0844 646 2060.
Full list of 2015 nominations:
Chat Show Host
Adam Hills
Alan Carr
Graham Norton
Jonathan Ross
Michael McIntyre
Paul O'Grady
Piers Morgan
Sarah Millican
Comedy
Benidorm
Big School
Birds of a Feather
Blandings
Boomers
Citizen Khan
Derek
Mrs Brown's Boys
Not Going Out
Outnumbered
The Big Bang Theory
The Wrong Mans
W1A
Daytime
Animal Saints and Sinners
Antiques Road Trip
Bargain Hunt
BBC Breakfast
Coach Trip
Escape to the Country
Father Brown
Fifteen to One
Flog It!
- 10/13/2014
- Digital Spy
In what will be the first fully-subtitled drama to air on the UK’s Channel 4 in 20 years, the net has acquired premiere broadcast rights to French supernatural series Les Revenants. Zodiak is handling international sales on the thriller that was produced by Haut et Court for Canal Plus and originally aired to record numbers last fall. The show, re-titled Rebound in the UK, centers on a group of people in a small Alpine village who find themselves in a state of confusion, trying to return to their homes. What they don’t yet know is that they’ve been dead for several years, and no one is expecting them back. Fabrice Gobert created the show based on the 2004 feature Les Revenants by Robin Campillo. Anne Consigny, Clotilde Hesme, Celine Sallette, Frederic Pierrot, Samir Guesmi and Guillaume Gouix star. The UK is no stranger to subtitled fare – BBC Four airs...
- 3/19/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
BBC Four has announced two new international drama acquisitions for 2013.
Swedish crime series Arne Dahl - based on a collection of five novels - revolves around a tight-knit team of elite specialists who investigate the dark side of society.
Four-part Italian drama Inspector Da Luca - which charts the exploits of its "brutal", "uncompromising" lead character in Bologna - has also been acquired.
Watch a promo reel for BBC Four's new international film and drama acquisitions below:
"These acquisitions are part of BBC Four's on-going mission to give viewers an excuse to stay in on a Saturday night by offering an entertaining alternative to Saturday television viewing," said Richard Klein, Controller of BBC Four.
"Arne Dahl continues in the tradition of The Killing and Wallander in portraying a social hinterland through the prism of the day-to-day of police investigation; and Inspector Da Luca is a clever and hugely entertaining drama...
Swedish crime series Arne Dahl - based on a collection of five novels - revolves around a tight-knit team of elite specialists who investigate the dark side of society.
Four-part Italian drama Inspector Da Luca - which charts the exploits of its "brutal", "uncompromising" lead character in Bologna - has also been acquired.
Watch a promo reel for BBC Four's new international film and drama acquisitions below:
"These acquisitions are part of BBC Four's on-going mission to give viewers an excuse to stay in on a Saturday night by offering an entertaining alternative to Saturday television viewing," said Richard Klein, Controller of BBC Four.
"Arne Dahl continues in the tradition of The Killing and Wallander in portraying a social hinterland through the prism of the day-to-day of police investigation; and Inspector Da Luca is a clever and hugely entertaining drama...
- 3/11/2013
- Digital Spy
Easy online access to foreign films of all eras has broadened the horizons of British cinema fans
It was no shock to see Michael Haneke's Amour on the best foreign film list for this year's Oscars. What did surprise pundits was Hollywood's recognition of this unflinching Austrian film about ageing as a candidate for best picture, among such expected contenders as Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Ben Affleck's Argo and Tom Hooper's Les Misérables.
Academy voters appear to be hinting at a new openness to other cultures and the growing acceptability of subtitled entertainment. "It really is unusual for a foreign language film to do this well and to be nominated in two other main categories too, for best adapted screenplay and best director," said Charles Gant, film editor of Heat magazine.
Not since Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, shot almost entirely in Japanese, was nominated...
It was no shock to see Michael Haneke's Amour on the best foreign film list for this year's Oscars. What did surprise pundits was Hollywood's recognition of this unflinching Austrian film about ageing as a candidate for best picture, among such expected contenders as Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Ben Affleck's Argo and Tom Hooper's Les Misérables.
Academy voters appear to be hinting at a new openness to other cultures and the growing acceptability of subtitled entertainment. "It really is unusual for a foreign language film to do this well and to be nominated in two other main categories too, for best adapted screenplay and best director," said Charles Gant, film editor of Heat magazine.
Not since Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima, shot almost entirely in Japanese, was nominated...
- 1/13/2013
- by Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
It’s Monday, so we all know what that means! Yes, it’s time for another rundown of DVDs and Blu-ray’s hitting stores online and offline this week. It’s a very light week this week, so let us breakdown the new releases and highlight what you should – and shouldn’t – be buying from today, January 7th 2013.
Pick Of The Week
The Imposter (DVD/Blu-ray)
In 1994, 13 year-old Nicholas Barclay disappears from his home in Texas. Three years later he is found in Spain, disorientated and quivering with fear. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not what it seems. Whilst he bears many of the same distinguishing marks and tattoos, the boy looks decidedly different and now speaks with a strange accent. Why doesn’t the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It’s only when an investigator starts asking questions that this astonishing...
Pick Of The Week
The Imposter (DVD/Blu-ray)
In 1994, 13 year-old Nicholas Barclay disappears from his home in Texas. Three years later he is found in Spain, disorientated and quivering with fear. His family is overjoyed to bring him home. But all is not what it seems. Whilst he bears many of the same distinguishing marks and tattoos, the boy looks decidedly different and now speaks with a strange accent. Why doesn’t the family seem to notice these glaring inconsistencies? It’s only when an investigator starts asking questions that this astonishing...
- 1/7/2013
- by Phil
- Nerdly
★★☆☆☆ For those seeking a brighter, more light-hearted alternative to the pervading gloom and near-suicidal despair of recent Nordic crime drama, the sun, sea and stunning Sicilian scenery of Inspector Montalbano must seem like a welcome change. Adapted from the best-selling novels by Andrea Camilleri, Inspector Montalbano features Luca Zingaretti as the macho sleuth, for whom solving crime is merely a distraction from indulging in the more simple pleasures of life.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 9/3/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
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