Fernando Szew

CEO, MarVista Entertainment

Founded in 2003, MarVista Entertainment has focused on quality made-for-television movies as well as family and children’s programming that has sold throughout the world thanks to the company’s worldwide distribution organization. CEO Fernando Szew talks about the appeal of MarVista’s diverse programming slate for MIPCOM.

WS: What are some of the trends you’re seeing in today’s TV market?
SZEW: For the last five years, we’ve grown our catalogue and expanded our relationships across the world. During that period, we’ve witnessed an increase in need for female-oriented thrillers and romantic comedies. In response, we’re bringing to the market movies like Crimes of the Past and House Under Siege.

We’ve also seen a growing demand for reality series and animation series. Consequently, we’re offering international buyers the teen reality series In Real Life and a new animated series called Cloud Trotters.

MarVista has become well established as a provider of television movies to leading cable networks in the U.S. The success of these movies has translated into extensive program sales across the world on numerous terrestrial and pay-TV platforms.

Broadcasters across the world have also come to rely on us for animated content and children’s programming, such as the acclaimed series Prank Patrol and Zula Patrol.

WS: What are some of the TV movies you will be highlighting at MIPCOM?
SZEW: We have a range of movies, from Eva, an epic love story set during World War I in Europe, which we are offering as a 90-minute feature or two-part mini-series, to the 90-minute thrillers House Under Siege and Crimes of the Past. We are also launching a teenage coming-of-age film in Chatterbox and a romantic comedy, Tricks of a Woman, which is a Cinderella story that explores the transformation of a woman from an ugly duckling to a high-fashion model and how love conquers all. 

These features offer a complete range of genres that have proven cross-border appeal—comedy, romance, suspense and mystery. Production values are high and the stories are compelling.

WS: Tell us about the children’s programming you will be highlighting at the market.
SZEW: Chatterbox, a family/teen movie, is very much on target with the teenage audience like our successful Taking 5. This movie will appeal to the whole family and to a wide audience and play well across lots of channels.

In Real Life is an exciting new reality series format, which follows the trend of teen reality shows. The series just got picked up for a second season, which is a reflection of messits success.

There’s also continued demand for animation and we’re proud to bring to MIPCOM three new properties: the animated series Cloud Trotters, the animated special Bunny Tales, which consists of six classic fairy tales, from Hansel and Gretel to Little Red Riding Hood, and a collection of animated features from Perennial Pictures, the successful U.S.-based animation studio.

WS: What do you expect the mood to be at MIPCOM?
SZEW: We’re bringing a very strong slate of quality programming that we are confident will continue to satisfy our core clients and attract new buyers with effective and efficient programming that delivers to specific target audiences. Between our current slate and the projects in the pipeline, we are looking to be the bearers of good and exciting news at MIPCOM and into 2010.

WS: What else will be new for MarVista at MIPCOM?
SZEW: Attending MIPCOM with us this year is our strategic partner in Latin America, SNAP TV. We’re very excited about this new venture and look forward to expanding our production-and-distribution capabilities in this exciting region.