Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: Banijay Scripted

  1. Banijay Bolsters Scripted Division with Steve Matthews

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    Content powerhouse Banijay today announces the addition of Steve Matthews to its central scripted department. Appointed Content Partnerships Executive, the HBO Europe alumni will report to recently announced Global Head of Scripted, Christian Wikander. In the newly devised role, which commences on 1 February, he will act as a key facilitator in the group’s production development process, supporting in driving co-production opportunities across the Nordics, Spain and beyond, and generally building out the business’ pipeline and creative partnerships primarily across drama.

    Matthews joins the 22-territory organisation from HBO Europe, where he most recently served as VP, Executive Producer, Scripted, having joined the business back in 2014. In that post, he partnered with local teams across Central Europe, Spain and Nordics, to spearhead the development of original series and miniseries, as well as international adaptations. There he worked on productions including Pustina, Umbre, Blinded By The Lights, Uspjeh, The Sleepers, Foodie Love, Gösta; and from Banijay’s footprint specifically, 30 Coins (Pokeepsie), Beforeigners (Rubicon), and Beartown (Filmlance).

    Marco Bassetti, Chief Executive Officer, Banijay comments: “Scripted very much remains an area in which we want to grow our business, and over the past few years, we have really focused on nurturing a solid premium pipeline, further building our position reputationally in the market. Through organic growth and M&A, we will continue to strengthen our capabilities in this arena and in Steve, we have vast amounts of knowledge, and hands-on experience, which will be invaluable as we continue to expand our portfolio.”

    Steve Matthews comments: “Banijay has an impressive collection of scripted labels and some of the most anticipated and enjoyed titles in the world. Both locally and internationally, it has carved a name for itself as a go-to for quality and creativity. It will be great to be reunited with Christian in continuing to spur on the group’s catalogue potential and support its fantastic talent in taking even more shows from development to commission worldwide.”

    Prior to his eight-year stint at HBO Europe, Matthews was at Octagon Films in Dublin, where he produced four seasons of RTE’s award-winning gangster series, Love/Hate, and was Consulting Producer on all three runs of Showtime’s The Borgias starring Jeremy Irons. With a strong track record in premium scripted, he has also enjoyed periods as Head of Development at Ray Winstone’s Size 9 Productions, a script editor on the BBC’s long-running drama, Silent Witness, and as co-creator and producer of Urban Gothic for the UK’s Channel 5. Beyond the screen, he teaches regularly at the Midpoint writing programmes and has lectured at Serial Eyes and Series Mania.

  2. Banijay Benelux Partners with Topkapi

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    Banijay Benelux today confirms it has formed a strategic partnership with Amsterdam-based Topkapi. In officiating its relationship with the Flying Dutchmen and The Terrible Eighties drama producer, the group further expands its scripted portfolio and strengthens its footing in the international market, driving further development and co-production opportunities in the drama and film space.

    Behind films like Piece of My Heart and Close Topkapi is an established production company with more than 25 years of experience in development and production across drama and film. Creatively and business-led by Laurette Schillings, Arnold Heslenfeld and Frans van Gestel, the international entity has been at the forefront of 50 international co-productions, and has over 100 titles in its catalogue. Its award-winning offering includes Academy Award and BAFTA-winning film Another Round, and Close, which is currently in the running for four European accolades.

    Peter Lubbers, CEO Banijay Benelux: “We are very much looking forward to working with Topkapi, which has a great reputation for high-quality drama series and films both locally and internationally. With an impressive global creative network that fits seamlessly with our co-production ambitions beyond our national borders, the label is a perfect fit for our family.”

    Frans van Gestel, Producer Topkapi: “In Banijay Benelux, we have found an international operating partner that allows us to realise our ambition in the field of co-producing international series. The clout of its wider sales and distribution arm allows us to bring our new titles and catalogue, with more than 100 different films and series, to the attention of parties outside the Netherlands and also build new relationships with international writers, directors and producers.”

    Banijay Benelux has built a strong track record in scripted via NL Film, which to date has been behind hits including Penoza, Modern Love, Van der Valk and Commandos, and with EndemolShine Scripted, responsible for Bonnie & Clyde, Roombeek and daily drama, GTST.

  3. Banijay Studios France Partners with Fiction’Air, Belga Productions and RTBF, on New Premium Crime Thriller for TF1

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    Banijay today announces a new French co-production for TF1, Les Disparus de la Forêt Noire, produced in partnership with Banijay Studios France, Fiction’Air, Belga Productions and RTBF. The premium drama will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.

    Starring Hélène de Fougerolles, (Balthazar), Gregory Fitoussi (St Tropez, Spiral) and Tcheky Karyo (The Missing, Baptiste),  Les Disparus de la Forêt Noire is set in the heart of the Black Forest, at a binational military base near the French-German border, where twelve bodies, all men, are found in a mass grave. The victims are both French and German, with the murders committed over three decades.  Judge Camille Hartmamnn, played by Hélène de Fougerolles, has a connection to the case, but after a car accident she has lost her memory, and any recollections are side-lined, even though this macabre discovery revives memories Hartmann believed to be buried. Meanwhile, veteran French officer Franz Agerland (Tcheky Karyo) joins forces with young German police officer Erik Maes (Gregory Fitoussi) to investigate the case. Just how connected to the murders is Hartmann?

    Carole Della Valle, Executive Producer, Banijay Studios France says: “Les Disparus de la Forêt Noire is a tense and gripping thriller, with premium production values bringing a cinematic feel to the drama. With a big-name cast in place, known both here in France and internationally, we are confident the drama will engage the TF1 audience and beyond with the support of Banijay Rights. It has been a great experience to work with our co-production partners Fiction’Air, Belga Productions and RTBF, and together we have created a drama we’re all incredibly proud of.”

    Nagui, President at Fiction’Air says: “We are thrilled with this second collaboration with BSF and are looking forward a new scriptied project in the future. With Les Disparus de la Forêt Noire, Fiction’Air is confirming its ambition to offer new series on the national and international scene.”

    Banijay France, led by François de Brugada, encompasses a line-up of boutique creative scripted labels, including Marathon, Shine Fiction, Terence and Banijay Studios France, the company behind Marie Antoinette, which has sold to Australia, the US and UK with further deals to be announced soon. Also within Banijay France is Alain Goldman’s Montmartre Films.

    Banijay is home to the world’s best scripted producers, with over 50 diverse, award-winning labels across the footprint in the UK, US, Australia, Nordics, Germany, Benelux, Iberia, Belgium, Israel, Italy, Poland and India.