Fremantle Invests in Latinx & Hispanic Scripted Market

Fremantle has made an equity investment in the production company The Immigrant, which produces premium dramas that focus on Hispanic and Latinx content.

Fremantle has acquired a 25-percent stake in the company, with a plan to grow equity participation in the next years. The deal marks Fremantle’s first major equity investment in the Latinx and Hispanic scripted market. BRON Ventures, the venture arm of BRON Media Corp., will also invest in The Immigrant, acquiring a minority stake in the company.

Co-founded by Camila Jimenez and Silvana Aguirre, The Immigrant has multiple projects in active development, including a co-production with Fremantle’s Wildside (My Brilliant Friend, The New Pope), with Lucia Puenzo (La Jauria, The German Doctor) attached as the showrunner. The company is based in Los Angeles, with offices in Mexico and Spain. A new office is opening in Colombia in 2020 and further Latin America expansion is planned.

Jimenez was previously the content officer for Fusion Media Group, heading up Story House and executive-producing projects such as Netflix’s El Chapo and Murder Mountain. Aguirre was the creator and showrunner of El Chapo and previously held the role of creative director at Story House.

“Over the past several years Silvana and I have been working to change the paradigm around Latinx television focusing on creative talent, both established and emerging and stories that connect with the audience, regardless of where they take place,” said Jimenez. “We are very excited about this partnership: Fremantle’s established brand, international footprint and strong network of creative outlets, coupled with BRON’s bold support of creators, perfectly align with our strategic vision. Together we will build on our initial success and transform The Immigrant into an IP and international production powerhouse.”

Andrea Scrosati, COO of Fremantle, added, “Camila and Silvana are exactly the type of talent that Fremantle was born to be home to. Their unique multicultural approach to storytelling is very impressive, and it is an approach we believe is incredibly relevant in the times that we are living in. Our partnership with The Immigrant marks our first equity investment in Latin America, a vibrant region in terms of creativity, culture, and commercial potential, and confirms our commitment to continue to invest in this area. We welcome The Immigrant to the Fremantle family.”

“We’re delighted to have The Immigrant join the BRON Ventures group of companies and to expand our reach to an ever-growing global audience,” said Ashley Levinson, BRON’s chief strategy officer.