Guy Hameiri will become CEO of the new fund and oversee the selected portfolio of projects.
Global production and distribution powerhouse Fremantle has formed a strategic alliance with Israel’s IBI Investment House to establish a €150m ($162.04m) fund dedicated to financing a portfolio of high-quality scripted television and film projects with international appeal and valuable intellectual property (IP).
The deal was initiated by Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe at Fremantle, and Guy Hameiri, co-founder of Fremantle’s Abot Hameiri. Guy Hameiri will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of the new fund and oversee the selected portfolio of projects.
Under the initial four-year agreement, Fremantle will introduce a diverse range of projects from its network of production companies to the IBI fund. This collaboration will create a tailored funding model to fast-track the production of each project.
The IBI Fund will closely collaborate with Fremantle, its portfolio of labels, acclaimed producers and directors, and talent to greenlight each project and ensure the best path to market. This model is designed to benefit talent, networks, and audiences alike.
Fremantle’s Global Drama team, led by CEO Christian Vesper, will provide creative oversight throughout the lifecycle of each production. Furthermore, all TV projects approved through the fund will be distributed by Fremantle International.
The first round of funding will support three projects: the six-part drama Shelter, the four-part mystery thriller Generation Loss, and Maria, a film centred around opera singer Maria Callas.
Commenting on the agreement, Jennifer Mullin, Group CEO of Fremantle, said: “At Fremantle, we are always focused on innovation, and this alliance with IBI is a perfect example of this ethos and approach. It is an extremely timely and exciting agreement with Dave Lubetzky (CEO of IBI Investment House) and the team at IBI. I would like to also thank Andrea, Guy and all involved at Fremantle for their vision and focus on this.”
Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe, Fremantle, added: “Securing this deal with IBI not only enables us to be extremely competitive in the marketplace, but also offers our world-class creatives and talent an ability to accelerate their projects while maintaining control in an ever-changing industry. I am thrilled that Guy, who spearheaded this innovative collaboration, will continue to be an important part of the Fremantle family while leading this incredibly exciting venture as its new CEO.”
Guy Hameiri, CEO of the new Fund and Co-Founder, Abot Hameiri, stated: “I am so excited by this new venture and am delighted to be heading up the Fund to work even closer with our amazing talent and producers to finance new projects. This is an exciting opportunity for the market and for our industry. Thank you to Dave Lubetzky and all the IBI team, and to Andrea Scrosati and everyone at Fremantle, for having the vision to launch this fund and make it happen.”
Dave Lubetzky, CEO of IBI Investment House, commented: “We’re excited about our entry into the growing international entertainment market, in collaboration with Fremantle, one of the leading entertainment groups in the industry. This presents a unique opportunity for our investors to participate in funding international productions with top talents for the first time.”
