An entire day dedicated to film commissions: this is one of the principal new features of Mipcom, the Cannes world Entertainment market, the thirtieth edition of which will be held from October 13th – 16th, opening with the world premiere of “The Book of Negroes” , the eOnes mini-series based on Lawrence Hill’s novel “Someone Knows My Name”, which has sold over a million copies around the world, produced by Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, eOne and Idlewild Films.
“The number of participants has grown, with 13,500 professionals expected, including 4,700 buyers, 1,500 of which from the world of digital,” says Laurine Garaude , director of the television division of Reed MIDEM.
60 new companies have acquired a stand, including the Polish Pavilion (there is a strong Polish presence this year also in terms of the programs proposed), the Hungarian National Film Fund, the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA),the Writers Guild of America, the Russian National Film Centre, Italy’s Blue Box Entertainment and Twitter- France.
In addition to Film Commission Day (Tuesday October 14th), the other important big event this year will be Global Channel Distribution Day (Monday 13th), devised as a moment of encounter and interaction between new and old channels and platforms (cable, satellite, IPTV, OTT), a forum for discussing their future strategies and opportunities within international distribution agreements.
“Our ambition is to become the international business destination for the carriage ecosystem”, comments Garaude.
The theme of this edition “the global quest for original content” will be discussed in detail in the speeches delivered by James Murdoch, Chief Operating Officer of 21st Century Fox, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, who will be at Mipcom right at the time of the company’s ‘great European advance’ (in September Netflix arrived in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg), after it has commissioned its first French series, the political crime drama “Marseille”, to be released exclusively in all Netflix regions next year, Jill Wilfert, vice president licensing,of LEGO(“TurningToy Bricks into Screen Hits”).
There will also be the joint participation of David Stapf, president of CBS Television Studios, and Armando Nuñez, President and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group, Steve Mosko, president of Sony Pictures Television, and the CEO of Maker, Ynon Kreiz.
The personality of the year award will go to Simon Cowell, theatrical, television and musical producer (the creator, with his Syco Entertainment, of “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent” which, in April was declared to be the most successful television format in the world by the Guinness Book of Records).
The other screenings hosted at Mipcom, will include “Witness” (“Les Temoins”), produced by Cinétévé for France 2, “The Missing”, the story of a father’s desperate search for his missing son, produced by New Pictures and Company Pictures (All3Media), in association with Two Brothers Pictures and Playground Entertainment for the BBC, in association with Starz (the series has also been realized with the support of the Belgian federal government’s Tax Shelter, for VRT, the Flemish public channel), “Rescuing Santa,” the Finnish Christmas musical starring Santa Claus, created by Aito Media, Small World IFT and Yle, produced by Aito Media and Yle and distributed by e Yle Sales, and “The Librarian” (Electric Entertainment).
And this year will also feature MipJunior, the kids entertainment trade fair-market which will be held in Cannes on the two days preceding Mipcom (October 11th-12th) and that, for the first time, will be hosting a world premierescreening:“Thunderbirds Are Go!”, the relaunch of the famous 1950/60s kids’ show, produced by ITV Studios with New Zealand’s Pukeko Pictures
“This world premiere screening is a first for MIPJunior, and coincides with the event moving to its new, larger premises (Editor’s note: Palm Beach on La Croisette)”,comments Laurine Garaude,“It also underlines the importance of MIPJunior as the premier choice for launching new kids’ programs to international audiences”. These include the new “Peanuts” and “Star Wars Rebels”.
The guest of honor at this 30th edition of Mipcom will be Mexico.
