The inaugural MIPDrama Screenings showcased 12 high-end drama series from 10 countries. Each series made its international première in Cannes supported by talent and production executives. More than 350 television acquisition and studio executives from 55 countries are supporting the programme. The MIPDrama Screenings are organised by Reed MIDEM and took place in the JW […]
The inaugural MIPDrama Screenings showcased 12 high-end drama series from 10 countries. Each series made its international première in Cannes supported by talent and production executives. More than 350 television acquisition and studio executives from 55 countries are supporting the programme. The MIPDrama Screenings are organised by Reed MIDEM and took place in the JW Marriott in Cannes on Sunday, April 3. The day-long event culminated with a Coup de Coeur award which went to Public Enemy, produced by Playtime Films/Entre Chien et Loup for Belgiums RTBF and distributed by Zodiak Rights.
The Coup de Coeur winner was chosen by the MIP Markets Drama Buyers Advisory Board made up of Ignacio Barrera (Head of Acquisitions Albavision, LATAM), Rüdiger Böss (EVP Programming & Acquisitions PROSIEBENSAT1, Germany), Aline Marrache-Tesseraud (SVP International SVOD Global Acquisitions CANAL+, France), Anette Romer (Head of Acquisitions and Formats TV2, Denmark), Zelda Stewart (Head of Acquisitions Mediaset, Italy) and Sarah Wright (Director of Acquisitions Sky, UK).
Commenting on the inaugural MIPDrama Screenings, Aline Marrache-Tesseraud noted: The quality of the selection made it incredibly difficult to choose a Coup de Coeur. Each presentation made us want to watch the complete series. This event has been a unique opportunity to see international series and it has to be repeated next year. As a buyer, it gave me the chance to get an overview of the big picture in international drama production.
Aline Marrache-Tesseraud added that she expected to hold acquisition discussions on several of the MIPDrama series during MIPTV this week. Other senior acquisition executives commented that given the quantity of drama in the market, accessing a high-end selection of international drama, made by leading showrunners and programme-makers, was an excellent way to fast-track MIPTV business discussions.
Having officially launched at MIPCOM 2015, Paris-based Wild Bunch TV is distributing event series Medici: Masters of Florence, starring Dustin Hoffman and Richard Madden, which featured in the MIPDrama Screenings. The historical murder mystery is due to air on RAI later this year and has already been commissioned for a second season. Diana Bartha, who is handling international sales for Wild Bunch TV, described the MIPDrama Screenings as Great exposure for Medici as the event helps build momentum and makes the show more visible. We were particularly proud to be in a selection that is of such high quality.
With the series in post-production, Diana Bartha commented that she expected to close rights deals during MIPTV, helped by the exposure provided by the MIPDrama Screenings. The 12 finalists were selected by an all-star jury comprised of leading showrunners and programme creators Teresa Fernández-Valdes & Ramón Campos Sáez (Showrunners for The Refugees, Velvet and Gran Hotel Spain), Chris Long (Director and Executive Producer The Americans and The Mentalist USA), Sarah Phelps (Writer and Executive Producer And Then There Were None, Casual Vacancy and Great Expectations UK), Søren Sveistrup (Creator and Writer Forbrydelsen/The Killing Denmark) and Anna Winger (Writer and Co-Creator Deutschland 83 Germany).
MIPDramas invited buyer audience included global heavyweights such as Canal +, BBC, Entertainment One, Sky, ORF, TV Globo, A+E Networks, Showtime Network, DirecTV Latin America and Lionsgate. With more than 4,000 buyers attending MIPTV, the MIPDrama Screenings were strategically created to open an international window for production studios worldwide to premiere new dramas in Cannes ahead of MIPTV and ahead of the U.S. studio-led May Screenings in Los Angeles.
Were delighted with the extremely positive reaction of buyers and distributors alike to the inaugural MIPDrama Screenings. This is the first of what we expect to become a signature event at future MIPTVs, said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEMs TV Division.
The success of the MIPDrama Screenings confirms the need for a curated, high-end drama showcase prior to MIPTV. Given the wealth of premium drama in the market, buyers have been asking us to help them identify some of the outstanding international series that they will focus on during their MIPTV meetings. In addition to being a business accelerator both for buyers and distributors, the MIPDrama Screenings offer a platform for creators and talent to reach a wide range of media that covers the vibrant drama genre.
