THE INTERNATIONAL DRAMA CO-PRODUCTION BREAKFAST

from MIPTV 2023 MAGAZINE

GERMANY'S FIRST & FINEST SERIES EVENT

THE INTERNATIONAL Drama Co-production Breakfast is MIPTV’s annual gathering of leading creative and business leaders shaping today’s international drama. For 2023 the focus is on Co-Producing With The World; co-production experts and key industry executives will address ways in which to work and co-produce with specific regions to a room comprising primarily producers. “Co-production means many things — depending on who you ask,” according to Nicola Merola, president and owner of Montreal-based Pixcom Productions. “But one thing is certain and universal: it is about putting resources together. Finance, of course, but also creative. It is about sharing the risk. It is about not being alone in an adventure.” He advised always “to go into co-production with someone you could be friends with. Because should merde hit the fan, you’ll be pleased you found a partner that will work out a solution with you, not create more problems.”

Executive director of the Ukrainian Motion Picture Association and CEO of Film.UA Group, Victoria Yarmoshchuk, likens co-production to a marriage. “And any marriage, including a co-production, cannot be successful unless based on mutual benefits and a win-win strategy,” she said, adding that bringing new players into the business could bring benefits. “The new kids on the co-production block could bring more flexibility and speed, plus cost efficiency,” she said. “In addition, newcomers sometimes can come up with unu- sual creative ideas and production know-how which are not used in more developed markets. So if you mix energy and fresh views with proven mechanisms and experience, the result could be oneplus-one equals three. This is what is happening now in my country,” despite the fact that Ukraine is being “torn by the war. Last month two international co-productions began shooting in Ukraine. They are commercial projects aimed at the international market, backed by international distributors and broadcasters from Europe. And this is not charity, it is business.” She added: “Look for opportunities that are beneficial for all parties. Find what you can bring to your partner, not what your partner might bring to you.”

Also speaking at the breakfast, Amanda Groom heads up The Bridge, which brings together the international media markets of east and west, specialising in TV and film co-productions. “The paper walls that once divided English-speaking drama in the west and Asian drama in the east have largely evaporated today,” Groom said. “We need only to consider the success of Squid Game to realise this. The flow of authentic local drama from Asian regions is increasing into global markets but a still greater opportunity presents itself through co-production. It’s sometimes claimed that that there are no new stories, only new ways of producing stories. Nonsense! Asia is a rich mine of fascinating, illuminating and new stories that would help us better understand our world today and that provide amazing opportunities for co-production for global audiences.”

Speakers at the Breakfast also include Ijeoma Onah, CEO of Nigeria’s SuperTV and founder, Nigerian International Film & TV Summit; Anke Stoll, vice-president, acquisitions and co-production, Keshet International; Marie Lora-Mungai, founder & CEO, Restless Global, Nigeria; Karin Marelle, vice-president, programme acquisitions, Starz, US; and Esther Sánchez, head of strategy, Grupo Ganga Producciones, Spain.