FremantleMedia International Unveils MIPCOM Slate

LONDON/CANNES: FremantleMedia International (FMI) is heading to Cannes with a catalogue that features drama, factual, lifestyle and entertainment shows.

Based on the best-selling novels by Anne Holt, Modus is a suspenseful crime show from Miso Film that touches on such topics as religion, human rights and love. “This series is sure to keep viewers entertained and surprised with quite a few twists in the story along the way,” said Jens Richter, the CEO of FremantleMedia International.

Other scripted content from the company includes Kudos Production’s Capital, about the interconnected lives of a group of Londoners linked to a fictional street in the city. “Adapted by BAFTA winner Peter Bowker from the best-selling novel by John Lanchester, [Capital] cleverly interweaves a vivid and unforgettable ensemble cast of urban characters in a story bursting with unfailingly piercing and funny observations on modern life and urban existence,” commented Sarah Doole, FremantleMedia’s director of global drama.

In the drama category, the company is also highlighting Mary: The Making of a Princess, the spy thriller Deutschland 83 and the police procedural No Offence.

“We are confident in our upcoming [drama] pipeline and have a multitude of projects that we are very excited about,” Doole added.

Meanwhile, one factual highlight is Soundbreaking, an eight-part program featuring exclusive footage and interviews with a variety of music innovators. “The series has very broad appeal, is very promotable and would be a nice fit for TV schedules globally,” Richter commented.

Also in the factual realm, following the success of iconic I Am titles, which have celebrated the lives of Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, Evel Knievel and Chris Farley, FMI will offer the brand new additions, I Am Johnny Cash and I Am Dale Earnhardt. Meanwhile, Badlands is a true-crime docuseries that delves into the eccentric world of Terlingua as its citizens struggle to reconcile the killing of a dear friend and fight to hold the town together as it grapples with change.

Simply Nigella looks on as celebrity chef Nigella Lawson shares easy recipes and helpful cooking tips. “Simply Nigella is a close-ended, repeatable series fronted by a star personality; this type of factual content is universally successful,” adds Richter. Another culinary title on the company’s slate is Jamie’s Super Food.

Hairy Bikers’ Northern Exposure is a lifestyle highlight that sees the Hairy Bikers embark on a Baltic adventure in search of new cuisines to explore, traveling from Germany to Sweden via Poland, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

With sales for The X Factor UK reaching more than 168 territories, FMI has added the accompanying Xtra Factor to its entertainment portfolio.

There is also Celebrity Family Feud, in which famous families compete in the popular game show, and which the company is hoping will find audiences in international markets such as Asia Pacific. “Family is the cornerstone of most Asian societies and there’s a general resurgence of celebrating the family unit, so this will be a great brand for the region,” said Ganesh Rajaram, the company’s executive VP of sales and distribution for Asia. “Our sales and distribution business in Asia is continuing apace, with lots of interest from broadcasters in the shows we brought to MIPTV in April as well as our long-running formats.” These shows and To Tell the Truth, a format that asks a celebrity panel to guess which of three contestants is really who they claim to be, will be offered to buyers in the MENA region.

“Since expanding the remit of the Dubai office in March 2014, our business [in MEA] has gone from strength to strength,” said Anahita Kheder, the company’s senior VP for MEA and Southern Europe.

In regards to market goals, Richter stated: “We’re continuing to build relationships with some of the world’s best TV talent and we’re excited about working closely with them to invest in, develop and distribute their content to the world.”

Richter added: “We’re thrilled to be heading to MIPCOM with a catalogue of outstanding and diverse programming across all genres. The range features stunning series from some of the best producers in the world with great on and off-camera talent including Emmy Award-winning drama writers and BAFTA Award-winning TV personalities. We've had an exciting year so far and with the new additions to our portfolio, we’re confident in continued success over the coming months.”