MIPTV Unveils 2019 Médailles d’Honneur

EbonyLife’s Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu, writer and showrunner Ilene Chaiken, Banijay’s Stéphane Courbit and Sky Vision’s Jane Millichip have been selected to receive the 2019 Médailles d’Honneur at MIPTV.

Abudu is the CEO of EbonyLife Media. One of the most prolific producers in Africa, Abudu launched Nigerian broadcaster and producer EbonyLife TV in 2013, producing over 1,000 hours of original programming each year.

Best known for creating the Showtime series The L Word, Chaiken received an Emmy, among other awards, for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. She was the showrunner for the first four seasons of Empire and serves as EP for The L Word reboot, which was recently picked up by Showtime.

French entrepreneur Courbit is the chairman of Banijay Group. He created Banijay Group in January 2008, and in 2016, he triggered the merger between Banijay and Zodiak Media, creating a production and distribution powerhouse that is responsible for global hit brands such as Temptation Island, Survivor, Wife Swap and Versailles.

Millichip is the managing director of Sky Vision. Since 2013, she has spearheaded the company’s investment in nine U.K. and U.S. production companies and expanded the distribution business into high-end dramas and prime-time factual.

The four will receive their MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur at a cocktail and awards ceremony taking place at the InterContinental Carlton Hotel in Cannes on Monday, April 8.

The MIPTV Médailles d’Honneur are awarded to senior executives who have, through their talent, leadership and passion, made a significant contribution to the world of television and the development of the international TV community.

Laurine Garaude, director of the TV division at Reed MIDEM, said: “It is a great honor to recognize these four exceptional industry figures, who have each, in their own way, made and continue to make major contributions to the international entertainment content sector, and whose vision and leadership set the standards in their respective fields.”