Toledo, Spain — The tide has changed. Just one year after Disney+ dazzled with “Santa Evita,” a banner title from its extraordinary swathe of Latin American originals, the 7th Conecta Fiction & Entertainment caught the mood of a larger international market with panelists in its conference strand focusing often on market challenges, when a feeding fever for premium content dominated conversations in recent editions. That said, running June 26-29 in Toledo, in market attendance and insight and shows brought to market, Cf&e fairly rocked.
10 takeaways from this year’s edition:
Conecta Fiction Booms
Despite Toledo’s sweltering in a hot snap, even by Spanish standards, Conecta Fiction’s attendance sky-rocketed to 1,031 accredited professionals, an all-time record and 42% up on figures announced at the end of 2022’s edition. Reasons abound. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas, to touch base with production partners, new ideas. It’s really interesting to see...
10 takeaways from this year’s edition:
Conecta Fiction Booms
Despite Toledo’s sweltering in a hot snap, even by Spanish standards, Conecta Fiction’s attendance sky-rocketed to 1,031 accredited professionals, an all-time record and 42% up on figures announced at the end of 2022’s edition. Reasons abound. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas, to touch base with production partners, new ideas. It’s really interesting to see...
- 7/3/2023
- by John Hopewell and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Endemol Shine North America is making some changes at the top.
Sharon Levy has been promoted from Chief Content Officer to Chief Executive Officer as the company segues into becoming a standalone production company.
Endemol Shine North America was previously both a production division and the holding company for a number of production divisions across the group. Following Banijay’s acquisition of Endemol Shine, the company created Banijay Americas to house all of its ten production studios, run by new CEO Ben Samek.
As part of the changes, Levy has been upped to oversee all aspects of Endemol Shine North America’s business, which includes both unscripted and scripted series including Lego Masters, MasterChef, Wipeout and upcoming drama series Ripley.
Levy joined Endemol Shine North America in 2017 as President, Unscripted and Scripted TV. She was previously EVP, Original Series at Spike TV.
Banijay Americas is now comprised of ten production...
Sharon Levy has been promoted from Chief Content Officer to Chief Executive Officer as the company segues into becoming a standalone production company.
Endemol Shine North America was previously both a production division and the holding company for a number of production divisions across the group. Following Banijay’s acquisition of Endemol Shine, the company created Banijay Americas to house all of its ten production studios, run by new CEO Ben Samek.
As part of the changes, Levy has been upped to oversee all aspects of Endemol Shine North America’s business, which includes both unscripted and scripted series including Lego Masters, MasterChef, Wipeout and upcoming drama series Ripley.
Levy joined Endemol Shine North America in 2017 as President, Unscripted and Scripted TV. She was previously EVP, Original Series at Spike TV.
Banijay Americas is now comprised of ten production...
- 2/9/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Unscripted production label Banijay Mexico & U.S. has signed up actor-comedian José Eduardo Derbez to co-develop and host a number of new unscripted series.
The Banijay-owned studio, launched in September 2021, has already developed two new shows for Derbez to host: “Jinxed” and “Mexico Oscuro” with Derbez co-developing and co-producing the latter.
Derbez is best known for his turn in Amazon Prime Video comedy “Mi tio,” which scaled to the #1 slot for the streaming platform in Mexico. He has participated in Amazon’s unscripted family travel series, “De viaje con los Derbez,” led by his father, Eugenio Derbez. He has also starred in Televisa series “Mis Xv,” “Que pobres tan ricos,” “Amores con trampa,” “Renta congelada,” among others.
“As we continue to ramp up our development efforts in our first year, we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with someone as talented as José Eduardo on these compelling new series,...
The Banijay-owned studio, launched in September 2021, has already developed two new shows for Derbez to host: “Jinxed” and “Mexico Oscuro” with Derbez co-developing and co-producing the latter.
Derbez is best known for his turn in Amazon Prime Video comedy “Mi tio,” which scaled to the #1 slot for the streaming platform in Mexico. He has participated in Amazon’s unscripted family travel series, “De viaje con los Derbez,” led by his father, Eugenio Derbez. He has also starred in Televisa series “Mis Xv,” “Que pobres tan ricos,” “Amores con trampa,” “Renta congelada,” among others.
“As we continue to ramp up our development efforts in our first year, we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with someone as talented as José Eduardo on these compelling new series,...
- 11/8/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Banijay Mexico & U.S. Hispanic launched last year with seasoned showrunner Marie Leguizamo and the company has revealed its first moves.
The company has teamed with singer and actress Becky G to develop an unscripted docuseries following an emerging all-female Latin group Angel22. The project will be co-produced with 2Ws Films and Becky G, who stars as a judge in MTV’s Becoming A Popstar, will serve as an executive producer and will also appear in the series.
The label has also taken over production of Amazon’s Mexican comedy series Lol: Last One Laughing. Leguizamo has exec produced the series, which stars and is exec produced by Eugenio Derbez, via Endemol Shine Boomdog,
The company is also creating a Latin American production hub for Lol that will be based in Mexico City to be overseen by Leguizamo. Production recently wrapped on the show’s third and fourth seasons.
The company has teamed with singer and actress Becky G to develop an unscripted docuseries following an emerging all-female Latin group Angel22. The project will be co-produced with 2Ws Films and Becky G, who stars as a judge in MTV’s Becoming A Popstar, will serve as an executive producer and will also appear in the series.
The label has also taken over production of Amazon’s Mexican comedy series Lol: Last One Laughing. Leguizamo has exec produced the series, which stars and is exec produced by Eugenio Derbez, via Endemol Shine Boomdog,
The company is also creating a Latin American production hub for Lol that will be based in Mexico City to be overseen by Leguizamo. Production recently wrapped on the show’s third and fourth seasons.
- 4/26/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
One of Reed Midem’s most successful TV events, the fast growing MipCancun has stood out for its efficient one-to-one meeting coordination, a carefully curated conference program and the bigger picture of an exploding premium series production sector in Latin America, offering as sense of real commercial opportunity and larger artistic ambition.
As MipCancun director Bénédicte Touchard de Morant reminded delegates on Tuesday night at this year’s inauguration, MipCancun remains in essence a mass networking event. Its very setting, at just one part of a monumental all inclusive hotel on the shores of the Caribbean, in itself encourages ad hoc encounters, as do its drinks events and parties. So delegates will benefit immensely from an on-site MipCancun, after last’s year online edition. Compared even to Nov. 2019, the sector’s moved on dramatically, however.
Below, key takes on this year’s MipCancun reunion:
The New Big Picture
Since the...
As MipCancun director Bénédicte Touchard de Morant reminded delegates on Tuesday night at this year’s inauguration, MipCancun remains in essence a mass networking event. Its very setting, at just one part of a monumental all inclusive hotel on the shores of the Caribbean, in itself encourages ad hoc encounters, as do its drinks events and parties. So delegates will benefit immensely from an on-site MipCancun, after last’s year online edition. Compared even to Nov. 2019, the sector’s moved on dramatically, however.
Below, key takes on this year’s MipCancun reunion:
The New Big Picture
Since the...
- 11/17/2021
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In response to the growing demand for premium content across the Americas, Banijay Americas has launched a new unscripted production studio in Mexico with Emmy-nominated producer Marie Leguizamo serving as its managing director.
To be known as Banijay Mexico & U.S. Hispanic, the new studio will be based in Mexico City where Leguizamo will be based part of the time as she shuttles between the offices in Los Angeles and Mexico City.
The new studio will mainly focus on unscripted original content in both English and Spanish for broadcast, cable and streamers in the Mexican and U.S. Hispanic markets. “With the Latinx market taking off and the proliferation of streamers and broadcasting networks launching their own streaming platforms, there is an increased demand for premium content,” Leguizamo told Variety. “It’s an incredibly exciting time in this space right now,” she said.
Leguizamo, who is the sister of actor-comedian John Leguizamo,...
To be known as Banijay Mexico & U.S. Hispanic, the new studio will be based in Mexico City where Leguizamo will be based part of the time as she shuttles between the offices in Los Angeles and Mexico City.
The new studio will mainly focus on unscripted original content in both English and Spanish for broadcast, cable and streamers in the Mexican and U.S. Hispanic markets. “With the Latinx market taking off and the proliferation of streamers and broadcasting networks launching their own streaming platforms, there is an increased demand for premium content,” Leguizamo told Variety. “It’s an incredibly exciting time in this space right now,” she said.
Leguizamo, who is the sister of actor-comedian John Leguizamo,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
In an unprecedented move, Kate del Castillo’s Cholawood and Fabrica de Cine’s Gaston Pavlovich, producer of Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and “Silence,” have teamed up with Endemol Shine Boomdog (Esb) to co-produce “El Agente Mexicano” (“The Mexican Agent”).
The series is loosely based on the true story of Francisco García, a young photographer who is recruited by the CIA after inadvertently saving President Kennedy from an assassination attempt during a 1962 visit to Mexico.
In the first season, now being penned by Rodrigo Ordoñez, the naive photographer transforms into a genuinely ruthless spy. Carlos Bolado is attached to direct what promises to include elements of action, suspense and a good dose of romance. Esb’s head of scripted, Leo Zimbron oversees the production, which will likely run for multiple seasons.
In 2019, the Spanish-language division of Endemol Shine North America inked an overall development and production pact with Pavlovich.
The series is loosely based on the true story of Francisco García, a young photographer who is recruited by the CIA after inadvertently saving President Kennedy from an assassination attempt during a 1962 visit to Mexico.
In the first season, now being penned by Rodrigo Ordoñez, the naive photographer transforms into a genuinely ruthless spy. Carlos Bolado is attached to direct what promises to include elements of action, suspense and a good dose of romance. Esb’s head of scripted, Leo Zimbron oversees the production, which will likely run for multiple seasons.
In 2019, the Spanish-language division of Endemol Shine North America inked an overall development and production pact with Pavlovich.
- 5/21/2021
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
“The Irishman” producer Gaston Pavlovich and his Mexico City-based production company Fabrica de Cine have inked an overall development and production deal with Endemol Shine Boomdog, the Mexican outpost of Endemol Shine North America.
The deal comes as “The Irishman” opens the Los Cabos International Film Festival on Wednesday. The screening marks the Latin American premiere of Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed mob drama, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.
Under the deal, the companies will develop and produce scripted TV drama series aimed at both Spanish- and English-language audiences. The first joint project centers on the story of arts patron, pioneering writer and women’s rights activist Antonieta Rivas Mercado, and the fascinating and turbulent times of early 20th-century Mexico.
Fabrica de Cine has been developing the series for about two years. “We discovered more letters written by her and about her as well as diaries,...
The deal comes as “The Irishman” opens the Los Cabos International Film Festival on Wednesday. The screening marks the Latin American premiere of Martin Scorsese’s Netflix-backed mob drama, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.
Under the deal, the companies will develop and produce scripted TV drama series aimed at both Spanish- and English-language audiences. The first joint project centers on the story of arts patron, pioneering writer and women’s rights activist Antonieta Rivas Mercado, and the fascinating and turbulent times of early 20th-century Mexico.
Fabrica de Cine has been developing the series for about two years. “We discovered more letters written by her and about her as well as diaries,...
- 11/13/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s TV news roundup, a premiere date is announced for upcoming drama series “King Ester” and Starz acquires six new titles to premiere this fall/winter.
Dates
Drama series “King Ester” is slated to premiere on Issa Rae Presents: Issa Rae Productions Youtube channel on Oct. 17, Variety has learned exclusively. Starring “Pose’s” Angelica Ross, and Janet Hubert of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” the series follows an audacious transgender woman named Ester (Rowin Amone) in New Orleans as she navigates her sexual identity and journey to fame while the wrath of Hurricane Katrina terrorizes the city and lives around her. Following its premiere, new episodes will air every Thursday for the next seven weeks.
Apple TV Plus announced “Servant,“ from director M. Night Shyamalan will premiere Nov. 28. The show follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the...
Dates
Drama series “King Ester” is slated to premiere on Issa Rae Presents: Issa Rae Productions Youtube channel on Oct. 17, Variety has learned exclusively. Starring “Pose’s” Angelica Ross, and Janet Hubert of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” the series follows an audacious transgender woman named Ester (Rowin Amone) in New Orleans as she navigates her sexual identity and journey to fame while the wrath of Hurricane Katrina terrorizes the city and lives around her. Following its premiere, new episodes will air every Thursday for the next seven weeks.
Apple TV Plus announced “Servant,“ from director M. Night Shyamalan will premiere Nov. 28. The show follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the...
- 10/3/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Two-time International Emmy-nominated executive producer Marie Leguizamo is expanding her relationship with Endemol Shine Boomdog, a division of Endemol Shine North America, signing an overall development deal with the studio. Under the pact, Leguizamo, who will work out of the company’s Los Angeles offices, will jointly develop and produce unscripted content with Endemol Shine Boomdog. She is also working with Endemol Shine North America’s English-language team on a variety of potential series, as well.
Leguizamo has produced such Spanish-language hit series as La Voz Kids for Telemundo, Pequeños Gigantes USA for Univision and Endemol Shine Boomdog’s upcoming second season of Last One Laughing – Mexico for Amazon Prime.
“We are thrilled to have such a talented producer as Marie joining our team here at Endemol Shine,” says Rincon. “She did a great job for us on the upcoming second season of Last One Laughing for Amazon Prime...
Leguizamo has produced such Spanish-language hit series as La Voz Kids for Telemundo, Pequeños Gigantes USA for Univision and Endemol Shine Boomdog’s upcoming second season of Last One Laughing – Mexico for Amazon Prime.
“We are thrilled to have such a talented producer as Marie joining our team here at Endemol Shine,” says Rincon. “She did a great job for us on the upcoming second season of Last One Laughing for Amazon Prime...
- 10/3/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
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