The Formats Project

In its quest to find the next big international format success story, Global Agency has extended the deadline for The Formats Project, a competition hosted in partnership with World Screen.

Originally, the winning projects were going to be selected in time for MIPTV, but now there is even more time for creatives to send in their submissions. Entries are being accepted until August 1, with winners to be named at MIPCOM 2016.

***Image***Izzet Pinto, founder and CEO of Global Agency, says that he had heard from a number of creators and producers that they’re still working on new projects that wouldn’t be ready in time for the April closing. “We extended the deadline so that we can receive more projects and better ones!” he says.

This is the second time that Global Agency and World Screen have partnered for The Formats Project, and Pinto says that the submissions for this edition are of higher quality. He notes that more entries are coming in from Asia and Central and Eastern Europe for the 2016 competition, but that he’d like to see more submissions from Latin America and the U.S.

As for the types of formats being shopped this time, Pinto has seen more in the dating and cooking genres, in addition to factual entertainment. “There were a lot of talent formats submitted in the first edition; this time there are fewer talent formats and more of a diversity in genres. We have a good variety so far and a really good mix.”

The competition is open to projects at any stage of development, but Pinto notes that having a sizzle reel is always helpful. “We are one of the rare companies that believes strongly in paper formats,” he adds. “As long as you have a strong idea, we will back up the development. One format can change the destiny of a company. Since I am aware of that, we are always looking for the next big thing and it can come from anywhere.”

The aim of The Formats Project is to find the freshest new format concepts from the global market and support them in achieving international success. Global Agency’s acquisitions team will review all applications and choose 20 projects that will be analyzed by a jury of international industry experts—including executives from ProSiebenSat.1, Globo, MTG, CTC, ITV Australia and more—who will select the top three projects. The top three ideas will receive development funding from Global Agency to make a pilot or trailer. The winners will also receive Global Agency’s exclusive worldwide representation of their formats.

As for why Global Agency is the right partner to help these projects reach their full potential, Pinto points to the facts that the company has an aggressive, dedicated sales force, a 1,000-plus-strong client base and has good relationships with the major producing players in each market. “As an independent company, we work with all the majors,” he says. “Because of competition, the majors are unable to pass projects to their competitors. They don’t work with each other, but they work with us. That’s a big strength of ours.”

With the deadline for The Formats Project extended, Pinto is optimistic that submissions will kick into high gear. “For anyone who just learned about the competition, I urge them to quickly gather their ideas and send them to us. One of those could be the next big thing, and we are the right company to make it a global hit.”

Find out more information about the competition and how to enter here.