MIPTV Spotlight: Banijay Rights

Four celebrity-led teams of top athletes and parkour pros vie for victory in “catch”-inspired games in the aptly titled Banijay Rights format Catch!

“The games at the heart of Catch! are universally appealing and recognizable, and the show can be scaled up or down as required,” says Andrew Sime, VP of formats at Banijay Rights.

Other format highlights the company is showcasing are the paradise-set Shipwrecked and Temptation Island reboots. While the former is a battle-of-the-islands popularity contest to win over new arrivals and become the biggest tribe, the latter puts couples’ commitment to the test by throwing them into the single life surrounded by available men and women. “The production values [for Temptation Island] are extraordinary, and it is one of the highest-rated programs in Belgium and the Netherlands,” says Sime.

He adds, “Rebooted for a new generation, while remaining true to the original format, Shipwrecked feels very current.”

Meanwhile, selected as the best project at Berlinale’s first CoPro Series pitching session, Banijay Rights’ Hierro is a thriller starring Candela Peña (Princesas, Torremolinos 73) and Darío Grandinetti (Wild Tales, Talk to Her), shot on location in the Canary Islands.

Wisting, which also benefits from an all-star cast, follows a homicide detective wrestling with a case like none he’s ever been on. “Wisting is expected to command a high level of interest from the global market, confirming the continual rise in commissions and acquisitions of non-English-language and multilingual dramas,” says Chris Stewart, commercial director of scripted at Banijay Rights.

In Hidden, based on Filip Alexanderson’s critically acclaimed novel Förstfödd, the supernatural meets gritty realism for a suspenseful series that delves into what it means to be an outsider.

“Our drama highlights for MIPTV all have strong, international appeal,” Stewart says.