Phoenix Rise Selected as MIPJunior World Premiere

The British school drama Phoenix Rise, sold by Sinking Ship Entertainment, has been chosen as this year’s MIPJunior World Premiere.

The MIPJunior World Premiere is slated for the first day of the market, October 15, at 5:45 p.m. Phoenix Rise follows a diverse group of six teens taking their first steps back into mainstream education after exclusion and the unlikely friendships they form. It depicts their opportunity to rise from the ashes and prove that sometimes, being an outsider means belonging to the best club of all.

The series was commissioned by the BBC and is produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions. The 20×30-minute live-action show is set to debut exclusively on BBC iPlayer in 2023, with Sinking Ship Entertainment handling international distribution.

Lucy Smith, director of MIPCOM CANNES and MIPJunior, said: “MIPJunior is back! Returning on a wave of overwhelming sign-ups and positive sentiment from a global kids’ community clearly keen to reconvene and reprise international deal-making in person. We’re delighted they will be the first to see this courageous, diverse and original production and are grateful to Sinking Ship and BBC Studios Kids & Family for helping make this world premiere possible.”

Kate Sanagan, head of sales and distribution at Sinking Ship Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with BBC Studios on Phoenix Rise and honored to be bringing it to MIPCOM this year. It’s an excellent example of a localized story with universal themes, and we know the authenticity of the characters’ experiences will resonate with kids all over the world.”