TV Drama Festival Preview

After hosting four successful virtual summits for the kids’ business over the last few years, we at World Screen knew it was time to curate an event just to serve our community of readers in the drama industry. The TV Drama Festival, running from June 28 to 30, joins our already impressive portfolio of assets for this segment across a range of platforms: our dedicated website TVDrama.com; the email newsletters TV Drama Daily, TV Drama Weekly and TV Drama Breaking News; print and digital editions of TV Drama and the TV Drama Guide; plus the pre-market TV Drama Screenings Festivals and TV Drama In-Demand reports that allow distributors to put their best shows in front of buyers from across the globe.

We have some 20 speakers lined up to discuss what’s powering the global drama business today, including those coming up with the complex financing structures needed to get these shows made, the commissioners on the hunt for breakthrough ideas and the creative minds pioneering new narrative techniques.

Sign up for your free registration here.

We open the virtual conference next Tuesday with a spotlight on one of the world’s most prolific drama export markets: the U.K. In this superpanel, Banijay Rights’ Cathy Payne, All3Media International’s Louise Pedersen, Entertainment One’s Stuart Baxter and ITV Studios’ Ruth Berry weigh in on commissioning and financing trends in British drama. Our opening creative keynote, meanwhile, comes from the acclaimed writer and producer Howard Gordon, who will discuss his impressive body of work, including his latest show, Accused, based on the U.K. drama of the same name. Next, we’ll hear from Argentinean television and film director, writer and producer Juan José Campanella, whose exclusive deal with VIS includes the Paramount+ series The Envoys (Los Enviados). The crime procedural Midsomer Murders has traveled across the globe, and we’re absolutely delighted to be hearing from the show’s star, Neil Dudgeon, who has portrayed DCI John Barnaby since 2010. As Viaplay Group continues its global expansion, we’ll hear from Filippa Wallestam, executive VP and chief content officer, about her approach to commissions and acquisitions. Day one wraps with Banijay’s Lars Blomgren and Kudos’ Karen Wilson spotlighting the company’s prowess in producing drama across the globe.

The second day of the festival opens with the presentation of the TV Drama Pioneer Award to Walter Iuzzolino, curator and co-founder of Walter Presents, the streaming platform that has created a wealth of new opportunities for distributors of foreign-language scripted series. Next, we’ll explore how co-production models are evolving in a panel featuring ZDF Studios’ Robert Franke, Dynamic Television’s Daniel March and LEONINE Studios’ Caroline Kusser. The award-winning writing team of Robert and Michelle King will discuss their long-standing collaboration that has resulted in hit series such as The Good Fight and Evil. Then, Lionsgate’s Sandra Stern will outline how the independent studio is partnering with established and new talent to serve the needs of commissioners across broadcast, cable and streaming. Later, Fremantle’s Bob McCourt will discuss the trends shaping the new golden age in European scripted. The day’s final keynote will be delivered by creator and executive producer Miranda Kwok, whose The Cleaning Lady has been renewed for a second season on FOX.

We put some new and returning content in the spotlight on our Screenings Day on Thursday, which will feature ZDF Studios’ Sløborn and All3Media International’s Dalgliesh, The Brokenwood Mysteries and Van der Valk.

All the sessions will be available live and on-demand next week, and stay tuned for details on a podcast version that will be downloadable after the event wraps. Don’t forget to register to receive your access details before Tuesday!