mipcom
NEWS STUDIO 100 DEAL BRINGS BESSON’S SERIES TO LIFE STUDIO 100 Media and Studio 100 Animation have concluded a co-production and distribution agreement with EuropaCorp Television, the TV-production arm of the French film studio EuropaCorp, founded by French director, screenwriter and producer Luc Besson, for the new CGI animation Arthur And The Minimoys — The Series. Paris-based Studio 100 Animation will co-produce the new kids series with EuropaCorp Television, with the participation of Gulli and Tiji (Lagardere Group). Studio 100 Media will be the exclusive distributor. Patrick Elmendorff, CEO of Studio 100 Media said: “We are more than happy to collaborate with EuropaCorp and Luc Besson who has created a truly fantastic character. With a strong co-production and distribution team in place, Arthur And The Minimoys promises to entertain kids around the globe.” Known in North America as Arthur And The Invisibles, the animation is based on Luc Besson’s children’s book and the feature film, which he also produced. Targeted at five- to nine-year-olds, the series follows the adventures of an average little boy who falls into a vivid world of magic, fantasy and action.
Daro’s Rochat looks back on 33 years of ‘doing something right’
Daro’s inaugural stand in 1984. Included in the photograph are Monique Rochat (left), PierreAndre Rochat (second left) and Larry Harmon, better known as Bozo The Clown (far right)
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ARO FILM Distribution was formed in 1982 by Pierre-Andre Rochat and his wife Monique Rochat. Thirty-three years on, the Monaco-based company represents more than 100 production companies and has a catalogue of 5,000 hours, ranging from blockbuster films and action series to TV movies, cartoons and documentaries. According to (Pierre-Andre) Rochat: “Our primary focus this year will be promoting and selling our slate of new action and thriller TV movies for which we hold the worldwide distribution rights, excluding North America. But as always, we continue to bolster this offering with our exceptional library of classic movies, including The Shawshank Redemption and Papillon. A particular highlight for our buyers this year will be our new Steven Seagal action title Killing Salazar, which I am very excited to present.” Looking back on how the market has changed over the last three decades, Rochat said: “It’s very simple. In the early days, we would sell free-TV rights. They were the only rights that
existed. Now we have over 30 different kinds of diversified media rights, so you can imagine the market has evolved significantly to accommodate this.” Rochat recalled that his first deal was with Ireland’s RTE for a mixture of children’s cartoons. “To this day, I’m proud to say we are still working with RTE, so I must have done something right,” he added. It isn’t just Daro’s content catalogue that has changed over the years. Technology has also moved on: “We would use a three-quarter inch U-matic tape machine [for screening], which was a predecessor to the VHS format,” he said. “At the time it was considered to be the absolute height of technology.” Coming up to the present day, what would be his advice for companies at their first MIPCOM? “Be organised and make sure your schedule is full before the market. Don’t rely on walk-by traffic. And do everybody a favour — be on time, because you have no idea how much you can screw up everyone’s diary because you spent too long on your morning coffee.”
Eurocinema launch has OTT appeal
Arthur And The Minimoys — The Series
EUROCINEMA, the North American VOD channel dedicated to European cinema, plans to expand its global footprint with the launch of Eurocinema World, a 24/7 live channel and SVOD service featuring award-winning European films and select Euro-centric lifestyle segments. Showcasing winners and nominees from the global film-festival circuit, Eurocinema World will launch early next year in the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Operators will have the option to add Eurocinema World as
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a 24/7 live channel and/or a SVOD service. “Considering the rapidly growing demand for high-quality programmed channels, Eurocinema World is perfect for the new OTT platforms that are emerging around the world,” said Eurocinema’s president/CEO Sebastien Perioche. “We’ve recently witnessed a change in consumer demand from TVOD to SVOD, while linear remains a classic choice. We’re delighted to see that there’s still a real need for quality 24/7 live channels.”