BossaNova’s Bespoke Approach: Curated Slates & Producer Returns

The sixth edition of BossaNova Media’s successful Development Day initiative (and tenth for CEO Paul Heaney) is taking place this week, convening buyers and producers to talk out projects, matchmake and get a clear sense of what commissioners are actually looking for.

“Development Day has been instrumental—it’s the key tool for how we built our slate,” says Tatiana Grinkevich, head of sales (alongside Holly Cowdery) of BossaNova Media, founded by Heaney and part of the Night Train Media group. “We had over 300 submissions this year.”

Grinkevich, Cowdery, acquisitions chief Claire Runham, Heaney and others on the team have been diligently reviewing every submission. “We need to be sure about every project that we bring onto the list,” Grinkevich says. “The number of submissions has doubled from the first year. But we’re still as careful in the way we approach the task, as always.”

The team at BossaNova has been firmly focused on tailoring its offering to meet buyers’ needs, continuing to roll out the types of shows the company has become known for: “History and mystery, tough jobs, blue light, etc.,” Grinkevich says.

On that front, Ancient Autopsy, with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, leads off the MIPCOM highlights, with Grinkevich expecting several presales to be concluded by the time the team arrives in Cannes. Lipscomb uncovers the truth behind the deaths of four legendary ancient figures using cutting-edge digital technology, original sources and reconstructions.

Read more in BossaNova’s Showcase here.