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Tag: Wildside

  • FremantleMedia acquires French scripted producer Kwai

    FremantleMedia acquires French scripted producer Kwai

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has acquired a majority stake in French scripted producer Kwai. The Paris-based fiction company specialises in TV films and series and is headed up by writer and producer Thomas Bourguignon, creator of Femmes de Loi, the popular French detective series that ran from 2000-2009.

     

    Together with the recent acquisition of Fontaram, the deal gives FremantleMedia more scripted prowess in France and adds another prominent creative talent to its global network. Bourguignon has extensive experience and success in France and has the ambition to produce series that appeal beyond the French borders.

     

    The deal was brokered by FremantleMedia France CEO Monica Galer, who will also be the CEO of Kwai.

     

    Galer said, “Thomas Bourguignon is a brilliant writer and producer and we look forward to creating some really exciting scripted projects with him, in France and beyond.”

     

    Kwai has recently delivered two TV films, Un Fils and Meurtre a Carcassonne, as well as pilot Le Zebre, all on air earlier this year. Upcoming series include Republican Gangsters for Canal+ and Godzilla for Arte.

     

    Prior to founding Kwai, Bourguigon was a film critic for Positif as well as a member of Gilles Jacob’s selection committee for the Cannes Film Festival for five years. He also worked as a TV program counsellor for M6; then joined Alizés Films where he created and produced the series Femmes de Loi. In 2002, Bourguignon set up BB Films with Patrick Benedek. Together, they produced many series for various French TV channels.

     

    This is the latest in a number of acquisitions and creative talent partnerships by FremantleMedia including Corona, Wildside, Fontaram, Naked Entertainment, No Pictures Please and Skylark.

  • FremantleMedia acquires majority stake in Wildside

    FremantleMedia acquires majority stake in Wildside

    MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has acquired Italian television and feature film producer Wildside. Under the deal, FremantleMedia will have a 62.5 per cent holding with the opportunity to acquire the remaining shareholding in the future. 

     

    Wildside is currently producing The Young Pope, a joint Sky, HBO and Canal + production, directed by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino, and starring two time Academy Award nominee Jude Law and Academy Award winner Diane Keaton. FremantleMedia International is distributing the title in the non-partner territories. 

     

    Founded in 2009, Wildside established itself as one of the most prominent high end drama producers for the Italian and international markets. Recent successes include the Italian version of In Treatment Season 1 and 2 (Sky) and 1992 (Sky), which premiered to critical acclaim at the Berlin Film Festival this year. On the big screen, Wildside Cinema’s successes include award-winning Hungry Hearts, directed by Saverio Costanzo and starring up and coming talent Adam Driver (recently cast in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens), the EFA Best Comedy 2014 winner The Mafia Kills Only in Summer directed by Pif, the award winning Me and You directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and The Solitude of Prime Numberswhich was nominated for the Golden Lion at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival in 2010. 

     

    FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz said, “This is a key strategic acquisition for FremantleMedia as we continue to strengthen our prime-time scripted presence. Wildside is fast becoming one of Europe’s most sought after drama producers and will complement our existing prime-time drama businesses in the US, Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Australia and the UK. The team have an impressive track record of attracting world class creative talent and delivering award winning drama so I’m really excited that they are joining our family of production companies.” 

     

    Based in Rome, the company was founded in 2009 by producers Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, script writers and directors Marco Martani, Fausto Brizzi and Saverio Costanzo following the merger of Wilder and Offside production companies.