MIPCOM Spotlight: FremantleMedia

CANNES: Based on a book by Louise Doughty, Apple Tree Yard is a provocative drama series that FremantleMedia is offering up to international buyers in Cannes.

“Apple Tree Yard is an absorbing grown-up thriller that transports the viewer on an emotional journey full of unexpected twists and turns,” says Sarah Doole, the company’s director of global drama. “Its gripping exploration of the difficult moral choices we face is portrayed brilliantly on-screen by a superb cast, and we’re sure it will resonate with audiences across the globe.”

The Heart Guy, meanwhile, is a family drama about a disgraced surgeon. “The Heart Guy is a modern, prime-time drama that takes place in a beautiful setting and features a stellar cast,” says Doole. Another MIPCOM highlight from FremantleMedia is the scripted series Chewing Gum. “We’re well on our way to establishing FremantleMedia as a home for top-notch drama,” adds Doole.

One hundred strangers cram into an average-sized home and compete to become the last man standing in Get the F*ck Out of My House, another one of FremantleMedia’s MIPCOM highlights. “It’s a subversive and intriguing social experiment that compresses different characters with bold personalities in a very provocative environment,” says Rob Clark, the company’s director of global entertainment.

FremantleMedia is also promoting Match Game, in which two contestants attempt to match the answers of celebrities by filling in the missing blank. Clark calls the format “fun, fool-proof and family-friendly.”

There is also Families Gone Wild, a reality format set in the wilderness, where dysfunctional families must learn how to support each other. “Families Gone Wild takes a novel approach to reconciliation, and it’s a rollercoaster ride for the audience,” says Clark.

He adds: “Our MIPCOM slate is packed with a diverse mix of formats, from provocative and noisy reality through to tried-and-tested classics.”