_.._ ...._... �......-��._,. � INTERNATIONAL
UK-Brazil co-productions, adding that they could be a"potential British indies are set to take advan goldmine" for UK indies. tage of"goldmine" co-production The Portuguese-speaking exec opportunities in Brazil after a long made several trips to Brazil when awaited TV and film treaty between the treaty was first inked, but has the two countries was ratified by not returned in three years due to the Brazilian government. the lengthy ratification process. UK producers will now be "By ratifying the treaty, systems able to retain rights for the pro will be put in place that will hope fully allow British and Brazilian gramming they produce, having producers to do deals togethei;safe in previously had to relinquish the majority of IP in Brazilian co-pro lmowledge that there's a process and framework in place so they can ductions. Following the treaty, they will also have easier access to move fmward securely;' he added. Notman-Watt, who grew up Brazil's tax incentives and state support for TV production. in Brazil, pointed out that a The UK and Brazilian flourishing pay-TV sector governments first signed will present substantial the co-production opportunities for treaty in September British producers. 2012, with terms The Brazilian negotiated by the pay-TV market has UK TV exports to British Film Institute undergone a boom Brazil in 2015/16 (BFI) and the National since the sector was Source: Pact Cinema Agency of regulated in 2012. Brazil (ANCINE). As well as its six freeHowever, it was only ratified to-air channels, the country has this month after the process was 216 pay-TV channels, including delayed due to Brazil's political HBO, Discovery and A&E, and instability and economic recession. 19 million pay-TV subscribers. In addition, an indie quota David Notman-Watt, chief executive of Cars That Rock With requires pay-TV broadcasters to Brianjohnson indie Back2Back, air three-and-a-half hours of said the latest development is weekly local content produced by a"monumental first step" for Brazilian indies - a target that can BY MANORI RAVINDRAN
£3e6m
broadcastnow.co.uk
now be achieved via co-productions with UK indies. "There's an audience of[millions] in Brazil who have access to pay-TV and we will be able to keep our rights and produce for cable channels who, even a few years ago, didn't exist in Brazil;' said Notman-Watt. "The opportunities are mind-boggling." They are fantastic at doing telenovelas, but they want to get to a level where people outside Brazil consume their content MATTHEW LANE
FILM FACTORY PICTURES
Matthew Lane, founder of drama and film-focused indie Film Factory Pictures, has been going back and forth benveen London and Brazil for five years, and set up a Rio de Janeiro office in 2014. He said that another opportu nity for British producers in Brazil is global-facing drama, which the country is "hungry" for. "They are really trying to get good scripts and ideas for single dramas and two- and five-parters. They are fantastic at doing tele novelas and soap operas, and they do one- and two-part dramas, but they really want to get to a
level where people outside Brazil consume their content like Scandinavian dramas;' he said. Rachel do Valle, executive manager at indie trade body Brazilian Content, agreed that Brazilian broadcasters and pro ducers will look to UK firms to expand the existing drama land scape going forward. "We have a tradition in drama so our companies know how to do that, but mainly for the internal market. UK dramas can bring a more international perspective for new projects;' said Do Valle. She predicted that factual entertainment also stands to benefit from the treaty, and there will be a"very good interaction" around formats. Pact head of international devel opment Dawn McCarthy-Simpson said the challenge now is for the UK government to make Brazil a p1iolity again, and suppo1t indies looking to work on new projects in the countly. "In the creative industly, the contacts we had [in 2012] have all gone, so we need to give Brazil another crack;' she said. "It's important that UK indies get the funding they need to visit Bra�il and take advantage of the co-production funding and oppor tunities now available to them." Q 28 April 2017 I Broadcast I 9