Banijay Kids & Family Expands Footprint

Banijay Kids & Family has acquired Kindle Entertainment in the U.K. and Italy’s Movimenti Production.

Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO of Banijay Kids & Family, noted, “Kindle Entertainment and Movimenti Production will be complementary additions to the family, both bringing their own unique expertise, with consistent track records in delivering premium shows. This is a pivotal moment for Banijay Kids & Family, as we continue to grow our footprint and remain a key player in this competitive market.”

Banijay Kids & Family now owns six production labels across France, the U.K. and Italy, alongside its distribution, marketing and licensing arm, Zodiak Kids & Family Distribution.

Kindle Entertainment, led by Melanie Stokes and Anne Brogan, is known for its lineup of YA and family dramas, including Little Darlings on Sky and The A List and Ivy & Bean on Netflix.

Movimenti Production’s credits include Topo Gigio and Tear Along the Dotted Line. It is led by Giorgio Scorza and Davide Rosio.

Di Sabatino added, “I look forward to working with such passionate and creative producers as Melanie, Anne, Giorgio, Davide and their incredibly talented teams, as we embark on the next phase of our journey. From pre-schoolers to the whole household, we are proud to offer a wide range of live and animated premium shows to broadcasters all around the world.”

Marco Bassetti, CEO of Banijay, noted, “Since joining Banijay, Benoît has had huge ambitions for the kids’ portfolio. Gradually building a healthy collective of labels, an impressive slate of content and its own independent distribution engine, the division has gone from strength-to-strength. Adding the award-winning drama capabilities of Kindle Entertainment and the animation might of Movimenti Production will only further broaden the burgeoning group’s capabilities and appeal in this space.”

Stokes, managing director of Kindle Entertainment, added, “We are so thrilled to be joining Benoit and his team at Banijay. Kindle Entertainment is passionate about creating premium YA and four-quad drama for a global audience. It’s a hugely exciting time to be in this space, and we can’t think of a better partner to help us realize our ambitions to create ever better, bigger hit shows.”

Scorza and Rosio, CEOs of Movimenti Production, noted, “We’re thrilled to join a family with whom we share core values such as the focus on story making and the constant search for the best way to do it. From now on, we will work in synergy with our new partners within Banijay Kids & Family to give even more strength to our production of original, innovative and high-quality content, capable of conquering the international market. Local first remains key, and we will continue to bet on the extraordinary professionals we work with now, and hope to in the future, in order to bring the excellence of Italian talent in animation to an increasingly global level.”