Tag Archive: Paolo Bassetti

  1. Banijay Italia Partners with Premium Start-Up, Greenboo Production

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    Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay, today announces Banijay Italia is partnering with Greenboo Production, a recently established Italian label, founded by award-winning producer Marco Belardi. Launched in 2022, the company has quickly become known for its diverse portfolio of premium scripted series, documentaries and films for linear, streamers and cinema, and via the agreement, will look to further build growth and audiences, both locally and beyond.

    Marco Belardi’s recent credits include A casa tutti bene, a series by Gabriel Muccino, inspired by his 2018 film of the same name, which was filmed last year, and Lions of Sicily, coming up for Disney. Elsewhere, his renowned film repertoire includes Immaturi, Immaturi – Il Viaggio and Tutta Colpa di Freud, along with recent hits Perfetti Sconosciuti, The Place, Supereroi, Il Primo giorno della mia vita, Italiano Medio by Maccio Capatonda, Il Professor Cenerentolo by Leonardo Pieraccioni, La Pazza Gioia by Paolo Virzì and Gli anni più belliby Gabriele Muccino.

    Paolo Bassetti, President and Country Manager of Banijay Italia Holding says:  “Greenboo is a promising new venture, which, thanks to the experience of its founder, Marco, has already launched numerous high-profile projects with great writing and directing talent attached. For us at Banijay Italia Holding, partnering with this rising force represents a significant stride to expand our industry position in scripted, feature films and cinema.”

    Marco Belardi, founder and CEO of Greenboo Production says: “I’m immensely proud that a powerhouse like Banijay is investing in a company I founded, and I thank Marco and Paolo Bassetti for the trust shown. I am sure that together, Greenboo will continue to flourish and hit even more significant milestones.”

    Marco Bassetti, Chief Executive Officer of Banijay says: Marco Belardi is a great creative whose entrepreneurial spirit aligns with our core values at Banijay. This strategic partnership is an exciting step as we look to further expand our presence in Italy, especially in feature films, building Banijay Italia’s premium scripted and documentary offering. This collaboration will allow Greenboo to tap into the expertise of our labels and teams across the world, maximising their creative potential, and building our library of local language content, as well as amplifying our position as a significant partner for talent, broadcasters and platforms internationally.”

    Banijay Italia Holding has gradually grown its portfolio of scripted labels, which are behind numerous successful titles like documentary Ferro, the docu-reality The Ferragnez and the film Pausini – Piacere di conoscere ti, all for Amazon Prime Video. Its production companies’ credits also include Un Professore, Lea – Un Nuovo Giorno, La Sposa, Cuori, Il Paradiso delle Signore for Rai, and Luce dei miei occhi and Fosca Innocenti for Mediaset. It also acquired high-end Italian scripted label Groenlandia last year, bringing a slate of productions including Rose Island, The Law According to Lidia Pöet, The Law and Mixed by Erry, all for Netflix, as well as two seasons of Romulus for Sky, and the recently announced projects for Amazon Prime Video,Antonia and No Activity.

  2. Banijay Italy Strengthens Commercial and Digital with New Senior Appointment

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    Banijay today announces Banijay Italy has appointed Vincenzo Piscopo as Chief Commercial & Digital Officer. Within his role, Piscopo will explore new opportunities within the world of digital content and coordinate the commercial and digital activity across the Italian labels.

    A leading talent in the market, Piscopo has worked within the digital sector for over a decade, and joins Banijay Italy from Ciaopeople. There since 2011, he served in numerous senior roles, overseeing branded video content and originals for Fanpage.it, The Jackal Geopop, Cookist and Ohga. This was in addition to his work as Director of The Jackal and Ciapeople Studios, which he successfully launched in 2010. In 2021, he became a member of the board of directors of OBE Osservatorio Branded Entertainment, and Vice President of the Union of Digital Publishers and Creators in Anica, of which he is a promoter.

    Paolo Bassetti, President and Country Manager of Banijay Italy says:With Vincenzo’s extensive experience, full of successes and creativity, we are certain we can give the perfect boost to the important and competitive digital sector.”

    Fabrizio Ievolella, Chief Operating Officer of Banijay Italy comments: “One of Banijay’s most important goals is to ensure that digital activities increasingly become an integral part of our core business. The arrival of Vincenzo will be a fundamental driving force in progressing further in this direction.”

    Vincenzo Piscopo, Chief Commercial & Digital Officer of Banijay Italy adds: “In recent years, the use of content has strongly evolved and continues to do so; social media and all digital assets have become central languages in the user’s viewing experience and brand communication. It’s exciting to be working with all the companies at Banijay Italy to strategically grow in a sector that is so full of opportunity.”

    This follows recent news that Banijay Italy strengthened its business with the move of Fabrizio Ievolella to Chief Operating Officer and Francesco Lauber to Chief Creative Officer, from previous roles in the group. The roles now further support Paolo Bassetti in the strategic, operational, and creative supervision of all the companies in Italy.

    With 11 production companies, the group has an extensive slate from non-scripted hits such as MasterChef, Celebrity Survivor, Big Brother, Celebrity Hunted, and Dinner Club, to scripted titles, The Hanging Sun, The Bride, Ladies’ Paradise, and My Ballerina to name a few.

  3. Banijay Elevates Premium Scripted Offering in Italy with Grøenlandia Group

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    Banijay today confirms Italian premium scripted producer, Grøenlandia Group, will join its local holding – Banijay Italy. Led by film directors and producers, Matteo Rovere and Sydney Sibilia, the label has an outstanding reputation for films realised for cinema, television, streamers and also for the creation of TV series, and in joining the business, further cements its international expanding ambitions.

     

    Grøenlandia also encompasses Ascent Films, founded and managed by Andrea Paris, who will keep operating in the Group, in which it has had a majority stake since 2014. The latter is an award-winning producer of theatrical releases, short films and documentaries, which is focused on identifying and establishing new talent and unearthing stories yet to be told.

     

    Born in 2014, Grøenlandia was built on the mantra – ideas beyond borders – and since its inception, has been dedicated to creating quality content that can travel the world. In just a few years, it has already enjoyed success via a host of high-profile film titles including Romulus & Remus: The First King (Il Primo Re) by Matteo Rovere; Masterclass and Ad Honorem – the two sequels of the I Can Quit Whenever I Want (Smetto Quando Voglio) saga by Sydney Sibilia, also author of Rose Island (L’Incredibile Storia dell’Isola delle Rose); films directed by Simone Godano, Husband & Wife, An Almost Ordinary Summer, and Marilyn has black eyes; The Champion by Leonardo D’Agostini; The Beast, an elevated action movie directed by Ludovico Di Martino and, many others. The entity is also behind TV series Romulus, winner of the Nastro d’Argento 2021 award as best series and TV movie, Carosone, the biopic of the great musician Renato Carosone, directed by Lucio Pellegrini, as well as many other upcoming films and series.

     

    Matteo Rovere, Chief Executive Officer of Grøenlandia Group comments: “Grøenlandia continues its adventure by joining the Banijay group, a world giant of independent production and distribution with an Italian heart, both in the management and in the shareholding; characteristics that are fundamental for us in making a choice that I hope will give us new working tools and relationships with colleagues from many countries, who like us, try to do their best to reach audiences around the world. We want to give even more strength to our ideas, but also to maintain the objectives now established, including the discovery of young talent, the centrality of the theatre, linguistic innovation, inclusiveness and sustainable productions.”

     

    Paolo Bassetti, President and Country Manager of Banijay Italia Holding comments: “We feel privileged to be welcoming such a wealth of dynamic talent into the group via Grøenlandia, which truly shares our vision for independent, cross-border storymaking. With an exceptional track record and impressive slate in-play for 2022 alone, Matteo and Sydney, along with Ascent Films, bring huge value to our world-class creative hub here in Italy. Signalling our first move into film, this new partnership will rapidly expand our already diverse client base and broaden the horizons for us in the premium scripted market.”

     

    Marco Bassetti – Chief Executive Officer, Banijay comments: “Banijay has made no secret of its ambitions to increase its foothold in the premium scripted space and by welcoming Grøenlandia, we are making a significant move in widening our capacity to deliver high-end TV as well as feature-length films. Entrepreneurs, as well as directors and showrunners, Matteo and Sydney are strong leaders and we hope the group will provide an independent and supportive home for them free of any creative restraint, where they can deliver premium material that crosses clients, as well as borders.”

     

    Banijay Italy has already built a strong track record in the scripted field, with works realised both for Rai, such as A Professor (Un Professore); Lea – A New Day (Lea – Un Nuovo Giorno); The Bride (La Sposa), Hearts (Cuori), Ladies’ Paradise (Il Paradiso delle Signore), and for Mediaset: Light of my eyes (Luce dei miei occhi), Fosca Innocenti. For Amazon specifically, Banijay has produced Ferro, The Ferragnez and Laura Pausini – Pleased to Meet You.

     

    Dedicated to retaining IP, Grøenlandia already has 10 new titles in development for 2022 alone. The scripted deal is the latest for Banijay, which recently sealed a partnership with award-winning French producer, Alain Goldman via his production entities, Pitchipoï Productions and Montmartre Films (previously Légende Films).

  4. Banijay Studios Italy Seizes New Police Drama for Mediaset

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    Banijay Studios Italy, a Banijay company, today announces a new four-part drama, FOSCA – A Tuscan Policewoman (Fosca Innocenti) for Canale 5.

     

    The new series for Mediaset marks the return of Vanessa Incontrada to Canale 5. With filming already underway in Rome, the majority of the shoot will take place in Arezzo, the setting of the show.

     

    Against the stunning landscape of Tuscany, the police drama follows Fosca Innocenti (Vanessa Incontrada), a Deputy Commissioner, who heads up an all-female investigative team. Guided by an infallible instinct at solving intricate cases, Innocenti does have a weak point: her best friend Cosimo (Francesco Arca). Is it really just friendship between them or is there something more? Cosimo’s decision to leave for New York will suddenly call everything into question.

     

    Massimo Del Frate, Head of Drama for Banijay Studios Italy, comments: Fosca Innocenti boasts strong and engaging storytelling that highlights the characters’ personal lives, amidst gripping crimes. With Vanessa Incontrada at the helm, we are proud to bring this ambitious show to Italy, that will have audiences hooked from the-off.”

     

    Directed by Fabrizio Costa, FOSCA – A Tuscan Policewoman (Fosca Innocenti), is produced by Massimo Del Frate for Banijay Studios Italy. The screenplay has been written by Dido Castelli and Graziano Diana.

     

    Banijay Rights will handle international distribution for this series.

  5. Banijay Lifts Lid on Leadership for Iberia & Italy

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    Banijay today reveals it has tapped Chief Executive Officer, Pilar Blasco, to lead all operations for Banijay Iberia, while Paolo Bassetti remains in post for Banijay Italy. Both will spearhead their respective regions’ leading collective of production labels and creative talent, with Iberia’s main activities spanning Madrid, Barcelona, Galicia, Vitoria and Lisbon and Italy’s through Milan and Rome.

     

    Across Iberia, Blasco’s footprint will include eight labels. Incorporating Gestmusic, Diagonal, Shine Iberia, Cuarzo Producciones, Zeppelin Television, DLO Magnolia, Endemol Portugal and Tuiwok, it will be the group behind the best entertainment brands – MasterChef, Radio GagaTu Cara Me Suena, La Isla De Las Tentaciones, Big Brother – and original scripted titles – HierroAmar Es Para Siempre and The Idhun Chronicles. Comprising ten production entities including Banijay Italia, Endemol Shine Italy and Banijay Studios Italy, Banijay Italy will be the home of some of the country’s top brands including Grande Fratello(Big Brother), MasterChef Italia, Temptation Island, L’Isola dei Famosi(Celebrity Survivor), El legado, Identity, Che tempo che fa, Il paradiso delle signore and Bake Off Italia.

     

    Marco Bassetti comments: “In Pilar and Paolo we have two exceptional leaders. Well-versed in driving innovation, encouraging out-of-the box creativity and navigating the new world of content creation, they are best set to capitalise on the opportunities presented by our recent acquisition. In the months to come, they will work to combine the footprint in the regions they control, while strengthening client relationships and putting Banijay’s operations in pole position for the future.”

     

    Pilar Blasco comments: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead Banijay in Iberia; teaming up with the most talented Spanish and Portuguese producers. This is the right place to be for innovation and for developing the amazing creativity of our teams. I am looking forward to working closely with everyone in the Banijay family.”

     

    Paolo Bassetti comments: “I am honoured to work in a group like Banijay; a dynamic and creative environment, where I have both extraordinary management and colleagues. I hope the business will continue on its successful path worldwide and in Italy, we will do all we can to further our unique creative capabilities and high production capacity. Having known the team at Endemol for many years, I am very happy to meet them again and wish Pilar all the luck – she is certainly the best guide Banijay can have in Spain.”

     

    Blasco, former CEO of EndemolShine Iberia, has led the group there for five years. Building a multi-genre and multi-platform business, she is credited with driving the roll-out of Your Face Sounds Familiar, which first launched in 2011 and has since been sold to 40 territories, including the U.S., U.K. and China, and across Europe, Latin America and Asia. Between 2011 and 2015, she was managing director of Endemol Spain, having also led the company’s Madrid-based arm, Zeppelin TV.

     

    Bassetti has been CEO of Banijay Italy for two years. Previously, he served as CEO and Chairman of Endemol Shine Group’s Italian arm and was a member of the International Board. During these years he brought successful shows such as Grande Fratello(Big Brother), La prova del cuoco(Ready Steady Cook), Caduta Libera(Still Standing), Avanti un altro(Next One), Affari Tuoi (Deal or no Deal), I Soliti Ignoti (Identity), Tale e Quale show(Your Face Sounds Familiar) and scripted titles Vivere,Centro Vetrineand L’Allieva.