London TV Screenings Spotlight: NBCU’s Belinda Menendez

From buzzy dramas such as the Liane Moriarty adaptation Apples Never Fall to stand-out factual, including Action and The Americas, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution has a top-tier offering for the London TV Screenings. Belinda Menendez, president and chief revenue officer, tells World Screen about what’s in store.

WS: What is on the roster for the London TV Screenings?
MENENDEZ: Apples Never Fall is a gripping drama based on the globally popular New York Times best-selling novel from Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers). The rich narrative examining the cracks in a seemingly perfect family is beautifully told by an acclaimed, high-profile cast with international appeal: Golden Globe winner and five-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening; multi-Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominee Sam Neill; Primetime Emmy nominee Jake Lacy; and Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards nominee Alison Brie.

From David Leitch and Kelly McCormick, Action is an explosive docuseries that offers exclusive insight into the lives of the best stunt teams working today and what brought them to the stunt world in the first place. The series follows an incredible group of everyday individuals, bonded by their dreams and love of action-sports, martial arts and motocross. At a time when global interest in the multimillion-dollar business of action films is at an all-time high, Action will showcase unprecedented behind-the-scenes footage of the stunt work on some of the biggest action movies, including the upcoming film The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Action will show the highs and lows of working in such a high-octane, extremely skilled and often dangerous environment, all while balancing family life with a day job like no other. The series will leave audiences rooting for the success of these real-life action heroes!

Narrated by two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks and featuring a score by multi-Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, The Americas is a groundbreaking event series that teams the powerhouse of NBCUniversal with the world-renowned BBC Studios Natural History Unit. This incomparable project employs revolutionary filmmaking technology to deliver an 11-episode cinematic masterpiece that showcases the wonders, secrets and fragilities of the Americas. The series will also capture never-before-seen animal behavior while revealing incredible untold wildlife stories that will deeply connect with millions around the world.

WS: What are you hearing from buyers that they’re looking for?
MENENDEZ: We’ve found that buyers are currently looking for escapism, crime mystery and action. The upcoming film and TV slate we’re showcasing at London TV Screenings checks off each of those boxes. Buyers also know that the breadth and quality of NBCUniversal’s content portfolio is unrivaled and that by partnering with us, they will always be able to find content that appeals to their audiences.