World Screen November 2020

WSDIG_1120_COVER_.qxp_WSN_109_COVER 11/5/20 12:12 PM Page 1

NOVEMBER 2020

WWW.WORLDSCREEN.COM

THE MAGAZINE OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Media Res’ Michael Ellenberg / Lionsgate’s Agapy Kapouranis / Banijay’s Cathy Payne / Red Arrow Studios’ Tim Gerhartz eOne’s Stuart Baxter / ViacomCBS’s Guillermo Borensztein / DreamWorks Animation’s Peter Gal / MarVista’s Hannah Pillemer Innovation at Japan’s NHK / Off the Fence’s Factual Focus / In-Demand Reports

WSDIG_1120_calinos spread.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 10:25 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_calinos spread.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 10:26 AM Page 2

WSDIG_1120_TOC.qxp_1_05 WSN TOC 11/5/20 4:29 PM Page 1

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2020 6 WORLD VIEW By Mansha Daswani.

8 MEDIA RES’ MICHAEL ELLENBERG An executive producer on The Morning Show, Ellenberg discussed drama trends with Anna Carugati at MIA. 10 SPOTLIGHT MarVista Entertainment’s Hannah Pillemer talks about the company’s holiday slate.

12 HIT PARADE Lionsgate’s Agapy Kapouranis on how the studio’s sales division is thriving in the current landscape.

16 PRIME PICKS Cathy Payne talks Banijay Rights’ new super-sized slate.

20 PERFECT MATCH Red Arrow Studios International’s Tim Gerhartz on how the company is serving the varied needs of broadcasters and platforms.

24 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Entertainment One’s Stuart Baxter on the importance of keeping up to date with clients’ needs.

28 FEATURE-SIZED FUN DreamWorks Animation’s Peter Gal shares the strategy for bringing characters from the studio’s iconic film franchises to TV. 32 ON TARGET ViacomCBS International Studios’ Guillermo Borensztein reveals the drivers of the company’s content-sales business.

36 MADE IN JAPAN Fumina Koike and Yuki Yoshida reveal how NHK and NHK Enterprises are continuing to drive innovation.

40 DOCS IN FOCUS Stefanie Fischer and Loren Baxter (Syer-Willoughby) discuss Off the Fence’s positioning as a reliable source for factual content.

44 IN-DEMAND: HOLIDAY TV MOVIES New titles that are sure to deliver some Christmas cheer.

48 IN-DEMAND: FORMATS FROM GLOBAL AGENCY Spotlights five new formats from the indie distributor.

52 KIDS IN-DEMAND: PRESCHOOL & BRIDGE Spotlighting new content for the youngest viewers.

58 KIDS IN-DEMAND: 6-12 Action, adventure and comedy for the upper and older ends of the broad kids’ demographic.

62 DRAMA IN-DEMAND: MYSTERIES & THRILLERS These titles aim to hook viewers with compelling twists and turns.

66 DRAMA IN-DEMAND: BLUE-SKY SERIES A mix of action, upbeat crime and romance stories.

70 REAL IN-DEMAND: TRAVEL & ADVENTURE These shows take audiences to exotic destinations.

74 REAL IN-DEMAND: PEOPLE & SOCIETY The stories of real people continue to fascinate.

80 TRENDING ON WORLDSCREENINGS.COM The most-viewed clips on our video portal for the last 30 days.

WORLD SCREEN is a registered trademark of WSN INC., 1123 Broadway, Suite 1207, New York, NY 10010, U.S.A. Phone: (212) 924-7620 Fax: (212) 924-6940 Website: www.worldscreen.com ©2020 WSN INC. No part of this publication can be used, reprinted, copied or stored in any medium without the publisher’s authorization. For a free subscription to our newsletters, please visit www.subscriptions.ws.

4 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

Publisher Ricardo Seguin Guise Group Editorial Director Anna Carugati Editor Mansha Daswani Executive Editor Kristin Brzoznowski Associate Editor Chelsea Regan Editor, Spanish-Language Publications Elizabeth Bowen-Tombari Contributing Editor Elizabeth Guider Production & Design Director David Diehl Online Director Simon Weaver Art Director Phyllis Q. Busell Senior Sales & Marketing Manager Dana Mattison Sales & Marketing Coordinator Genovick Acevedo Business Affairs Manager Andrea Moreno Contributing Writers Steve Clarke Andy Fry Joanna Stephens Jay Stuart David Wood

Ricardo Seguin Guise President Anna Carugati Executive VP Mansha Daswani Associate Publisher & VP of Strategic Development

WSDIG_1120_Banijay.qxp_Layout 1 10/29/20 4:56 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_WORLD VIEW TEMPLATE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:19 PM Page 1

WORLD VIEW

BY MANSHA DASWANI

Hidden Gems If you had asked me in 2019 if I’d be a subscriber to a whopping eight SVOD services at any one time, I would have laughed and said, That will never happen. Indeed, as at the end of last year, I had four and was convinced that was all I needed.

And then, as we all know, a global pandemic happened and I subsequently signed up for pretty much everything. I need CBS All Access (soon to be Paramount+) for UEFA Champions League?

Done. Mr. Mercedes, an original for AT&T’s shuttered Audience Network, is now on Peacock Premium? Subscribed. There’s a trove of Hayao Miyazaki movies on HBO Max? Yes, please. And Baby Yoda on Disney+—who can resist? Every service has those big, subscription-driving titles, but what’s amazed me as of late is all the fantastic stuff I discovered that I perhaps wouldn’t have if I weren’t stuck at home. The Forty-Year-Old Version on Netflix is a fiercely funny gem of a film. Peacock has the classic Alfred Hitchcock Presents library, which is just marvelous. I devoured the brilliant Girlfriends (an unfortunate victim of the 2007-08 writers strike, so it was never given the dignified ending it so rightly deserved) on Netflix. I stumbled upon Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ on a Friday night and by Saturday had finished the whole thing. What happens when life returns to “normal”? We’ve seen the COVID-19 subscriber spikes begin to ease already, but I’m not sure if churn rates will rise dramatically once people aren’t at home so much. Services that are well-curated and that promote discovery should be able to maintain all those customers they gained during the shutdown. I, for one, am in no rush to give up on finding even more hidden gems.

6 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_Eone_.qxp_Layout 1 11/3/20 10:24 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_MIA PANEL.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:22 PM Page 1

Michael Ellenberg

Media Res M

ichael Ellenberg discussed Media Res’ focus on premium TV and opportunities for international collaboration in his keynote conversation with World Screen’s Anna Carugati at MIA. Ellenberg founded Media Res after several years at HBO, where he worked on such shows as The Leftovers and Big Little Lies. The company has begun production on season two of The Morning Show, exec produced by and starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, for Apple TV+. On how the series came to be, Ellenberg reflected on watching morning shows when he was growing up and following the news around Jane Pauley’s 8 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_MIA PANEL.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:22 PM Page 2

exit from NBC’s Today show in 1989. “There was the Megyn Kelly saga, the Kelly Ripa saga, and I was fascinated: these are some of the most powerful women in America, and yet it felt like every few years there was a ritual humiliation of one of them. I thought that was worth examining. I was also really interested in the question of, these are the last news shows in America that are still trying to appeal in New York and L.A. and Des Moines and Mississippi— what does it mean to still be trying to do that? To wake up to

“There’s a lot of competition, and audiences are demanding innovation, whether it’s in the pilot or episode 205.”

America when America is ready to rip itself apart every day? It seemed like an institution that was ripe for reexamination.”

On taking lessons from season one into season two, Ellenberg observed, “You can’t overlearn a lesson. In the past, television was, this works, we know what the formula is, so let’s do that. What’s exciting about modern television—but also harder—is once you understand the formula, you have to be rigorous about breaking the formula and reinventing it every year to keep a series vital.

Even with the talent we have, there’s a lot of competition for people’s attention, and audiences are demanding innovation, whether it’s in the pilot or episode 205.”

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 9

WSDIG_1120_WSCREENINGS _MARVISTA.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:34 PM Page 1

SPOTLIGHT

Hannah Pillemer

MarVista Entertainment

M

arVista Entertainment is a leading producer and distributor of movies to channels and nonlinear platforms worldwide. It has achieved this position by establishing close communication with its partners— learning their programming strategies and listening to their needs. Hannah Pillemer, the company’s executive VP of creative affairs, spoke to World Screen’s Anna Carugati via video conference about MarVista Entertainment’s latest endeavors.

Every year there is a significant demand for holiday movies, as the season represents a time of celebration for so many people. However, MarVista recognizes that there are 10 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_WSCREENINGS _MARVISTA.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 3:13 PM Page 2

different ways everyone celebrates the joyous time of the year.

Just as the company has innovated other classic movie categories—such as thrillers and romantic comedies—it is bringing in diverse talent and offering more inclusive perspectives on holiday stories than ever before.

As Pillemer explains, this year’s holiday slate includes three movies featuring LGBTQ+ stories, and one starring Broadway actress Ali Stroker, who uses a wheelchair.

Watch a clip of Brutal Bridesmaids on WorldScreenings.com.

In fulfilling its promise to deliver movies on time to its partners, MarVista has found ways to move into production safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Together with producers and unions, it has adapted shooting schedules and implemented safety guidelines. Pillemer has found the sharing of knowledge and collaboration between producers, executives and networks extremely rewarding.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 11

WSDIG_1120_LIONSGATE-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:41 PM Page 2

Lionsgate’s Hightown.

12 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_LIONSGATE-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:41 PM Page 4

HIT PARADE Agapy Kapouranis, the president of international television and digital distribution at Lionsgate, on the ingredients positioning the company to thrive in the current landscape. By Kristin Brzoznowski

T

he strength of Lionsgate’s content slate, and its flexibility to adapt to the needs of all platforms (be they linear or digital), have been on full display this year, as it has risen to meet the demands of a marketplace still reeling from the coronavirus crisis. “We have the ability to create bespoke business models for every platform and to find innovative windowing strategies for our series that meet the content needs of our partners, which is especially important during this time,” says Agapy Kapouranis, the president of international television and digital distribution at Lionsgate.

The company is showcasing one of its strongest scripted programming slates this year, with all six of Lionsgate’s new series already renewed for second seasons. “Our critically acclaimed Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is a fun, music-filled spectacle that is also emotionally powerful,” Kapouranis says.

“Love Life, starring the charismatic Anna Kendrick, is funny and very relatable, earning its place as one of HBO Max’s top-viewed shows.” She lists Hightown, P-Valley and Power Book II: 11/20 WORLD SCREEN 13

WSDIG_1120_LIONSGATE-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:41 PM Page 5

Ghost among the Lionsgate-produced shows for Starz that are performing very well. Ghost, which picks up shortly after the earthshattering events of Power, has set new viewership records on the Starz app. Meanwhile, Manhunt: Deadly Games follows as FBI agents hunt for a serial bomber after a deadly terrorist attack at the Olympic Games, while a wrongly accused, innocent man fights to clear his name. Lionsgate also has international distribution rights for Ramy, which has been a resounding hit for Hulu and earned multiple Emmy nods.

“Our focus is to continue to be a leading platform-agnostic supplier of premium content to broadcast, cable and streaming platforms alike.” —Agapy Kapouranis

“Our focus is to continue to be a leading platform-agnostic supplier of premium content to broadcast, cable and streaming platforms alike,” Kapouranis says. “We have a vast portfolio of premium content driven by a deep library, one of the biggest independent television businesses in the world and a robust film slate, to meet the increasing demand for content from an expanding array of buyers—a perfect storm of ingredients positioning us to thrive in the current landscape.”

14 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_Gusto.qxp_Layout 1 10/29/20 5:07 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120 BANIJAY-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:47 PM Page 2

Banijay Rights’ Temptation Island.

16 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120 BANIJAY-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 3:44 PM Page 4

PRIME PICKS Cathy Payne, the CEO of Banijay Rights, discusses what’s driving the company’s distribution business, which is powered by an 88,000-hour catalog. By Anna Carugati

A

s CEO, Cathy Payne is looking to the future drivers of Banijay Rights’ distribution business, after combining the programming assets of Banijay and the Endemol Shine Group to form a massive 88,000-hour catalog.

Payne is no stranger to combining sizable programming libraries. It’s a process she oversaw when Endemol purchased Southern Star, for which she headed distribution, and again when Endemol merged with Shine. When Banijay finalized its acquisition of the Endemol Shine Group, Payne was tasked with managing the joined content assets and sales teams.

Payne is now responsible for the monetization of a catalog that is home to some of the most successful global brands, including Big Brother, MasterChef and Temptation Island.

“The overall strategy for the distribution division is a territory-based focus; however, you’re exploiting content, whether it be formats or finished tape or new forms of VOD,” she explains. “Where we have a production com pany in a territory, we have a joined-up strategy and decide, do we go production first or finished program first?

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 17

WSDIG_1120 BANIJAY-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 12:47 PM Page 5

Most importantly, how do we successfully exploit these franchises to have a long broadcast life?

“While we execute a lot of delivery and contracting and servicing global clients centrally, we’re working from a territory strategy,” Payne continues. “We have people in distribution hubs globally. No one will know how to sell better than the person on the ground.”

When it comes to selling individual programs, Payne says, “My golden rule is, where does this show have the best chance of long-

“My golden rule is, where does this show have the best chance of longterm success?” —Cathy Payne

term success? Why and how will this program work for the broadcaster/platform to whom you are pitching?”

As Payne looks ahead to the next 12 to 24 months, she notes that not just for Banijay Rights but for the Banijay group worldwide, “we’ve brought all these production entities together and nearly all that is done. We’re focusing on processes so we can be efficient and plan a roadmap for the future. We’re budgeting for 2021 and 2022, looking at three-year plans in scripted and focusing on what are going to be the key drivers for us as a distribution business.”

Payne enjoys her work and the excitement that comes with reading a script that exceeds expectations. “That’s why I’m in the business because, ultimately, I like watching content,” she says.

18 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_Lionsgate.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 10:43 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120 RED ARROW-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:06 PM Page 2

Red Arrow Studios International’s Married at First Sight Australia.

20 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120 RED ARROW-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:06 PM Page 4

Perfect

Match

Tim Gerhartz, the senior VP of global sales at Red Arrow Studios International, on how the company is delivering programming that meets audiences’ needs during challenging times. By Kristin Brzoznowski

A

rmed with a broad range of content across various indemand genres, Red Arrow Studios International has been helping broadcasters to fill their schedules with the type of programming audiences are very much craving during these challenging times. “During the lockdown period, there’s been a definite demand for feel-good, positive, familyfriendly fare,” says Tim Gerhartz, senior VP of global sales. “So, on the scripted front, our catalog of TV movies has done particularly well; it’s easygoing, feel-good content that appeals to a broad family audience, and it’s easy and flexible for broadcasters to schedule.”

The company has been notching up tape sales for format brands such as Married at First Sight and Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds. “Married at First Sight, in particular, has many hours of finished tapes available across numerous languages, so we’ve generated a lot of business from that title, particularly with those broadcasters that also produce their own versions and were looking to extend the brand across their schedules 11/20 WORLD SCREEN 21

WSDIG_1120 RED ARROW-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:06 PM Page 5

and benefit from the halo effect of a hit show in a cost-effective way,” Gerhartz says.

Red Arrow Studios International has also seen strong demand for quick-turnaround formats, particularly high-volume, lowercost shows that can play in a variety of slots and can be produced easily under COVID-19 protocols. On the flip side, buyers are also interested in big brands, Gerhartz adds, “shows that can really make a difference to their schedules and will define their networks.”

“We are fortunate to have several returning premium dramas in our catalog that are all performing well.” —Tim Gerhartz

With regard to scripted, networks are being selective, Gerhartz says. “The willingness to take risks on series without a proven track record is lower; however, we are fortunate to have several returning premium dramas in our catalog that are all performing well.”

In the factual arena, Red Arrow Studios International is focused on supplying premium brands such as The Weekly, the acclaimed half-hour documentary series that recently won four awards at the News and Documentary Emmys, and The Weekly: Special Edition.

22 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_nbc universal.qxp_Layout 1 10/20/20 3:37 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_eOne2.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:11 PM Page 2

eOne’s La Garçonne.

24 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_eOne2.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:11 PM Page 4

Something for

Everyone

Stuart Baxter, the president of international distribution at Entertainment One, on the importance of remaining up to date with clients’ changing needs. By Anna Carugati

E

ntertainment One (eOne) has been providing broadcasters and streaming services with a whole host of content to satisfy viewers—with more people either homebound adjusting to new routines or merely seeking to escape the news cycle—from established franchises and long-running returning series to new scripted and factual programs. Acquired by global play and entertainment leader Hasbro last year, eOne has also begun developing many of the giant’s 1,500-plus brands for film and television.

As president of international distribution at eOne, Stuart Baxter leads a team that continues to work closely with their clients around the world. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been critical to remain up to date on their clients’ changing needs.

The coronavirus forced a hiatus of production and the postponement of sports events, which caused significant gaps in broadcasters’ schedules. “It’s about knowing their schedules, what might work, what their target audience is, and presenting the right shows,” explains Baxter. “Where before they were sourcing a lot of programming from their own commissions and recent 11/20 WORLD SCREEN 25

WSDIG_1120_eOne2.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:11 PM Page 5

U.S. studio shows, now they are also looking at indie distributors and asking, What do you have that’s fresh and upbeat?”

Buyers are also taking a fresh look at programs they may have previously not considered. If a show performed well in other markets, it’s worth exploring. “We are seeing new sales for shows that have had limited exposure in a market but performed well elsewhere,” says Baxter. “And we’re also seeing sales where maybe a streamer took a show the first time around, and broadcasters are now looking at taking second windows, or vice versa.”

“We are seeing new sales for shows that have had limited exposure in a market but performed well elsewhere.” —Stuart Baxter

Baxter says that given the current times, clients have been asking for lighter TV fare. “In recent years, there’s been quite a focus on dark and serialized, particularly from the streaming world. What we are hearing from broadcasters and streamers is that now they are looking for something a little bit more uplifting, affirmative, escapist, positive. We’re seeing everything from comedies and romance to escapist and fantasy programming.”

He notes that, in general, eOne is “trying to work with creators and producers of material we think is genuinely of the highest quality. We’re not in the volume game.”

26 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_NHK ENTERPRISES.qxp_Layout 1 10/20/20 3:45 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_DreamWorks.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:23 PM Page 2

DreamWorks Animation’s Fast & Furious: Spy Racers.

28 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_DreamWorks.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 3:51 PM Page 4

Feature-Sized

F U N

Peter Gal, chief creative officer of television at DreamWorks Animation, talks about bringing characters from the studio’s film franchises into stories made especially for TV. By Kristin Brzoznowski he TV roster from DreamWorks Animation features many familiar faces for kids and families, with beloved characters from a bevy of the studio’s movie franchises in fresh, fun stories made especially for television. Pushing boundaries in terms of both animation and storytelling has been part of its mission from the very start, and this continues today in its newest IP. “Going back to the early days at our studio, we wanted to change people’s perception of what TV animation could be, both in terms of the quality of the animation and in the level of storytelling,” says Peter Gal, chief creative officer of television at DreamWorks Animation. The first show to encapsulate that was Trollhunters from Guillermo del Toro. “We really did push beyond the type of animation that anyone else was doing for families, edging closer to feature-quality animation and also telling bigger, more epic stories that used to only live in the world of features; we brought them into the world of television,” Gal says.

That experience paid off as DreamWorks Animation moved into other ambitious projects, including the recently launched Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. “This was a very

T

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 29

WSDIG_1120_DreamWorks.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:23 PM Page 5

special opportunity to take a massive piece of IP, one of the biggest family titles in the history of cinema, and bring it into animation,” Gal says of the series extension of the Jurassic Park franchise.

Also sprung from a hit film franchise, TrollsTopia is coming soon to Peacock and Hulu. Additionally, the studio has taken some major DreamWorks Animation titles and brought them into the younger space, making them more preschool-oriented. This is the case with DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders and Madagascar: A Little Wild. Another innovative feature-to-TV adaptation is Fast

“We wanted to change people’s perception of what TV animation could be.” —Peter Gal

& Furious: Spy Racers, based on the high-octane adventures in the adult-focused Fast & Furious action films. A second season has just launched on Netflix.

There’s a wealth of original IP that sits alongside these franchise extensions as well. “We develop from all different sources, from comics and graphic novels to classic literature as well as original pitches and internal pitches at the studio,” Gal says.

“The first thing that generally gets us excited is a really unique voice in animation—an artist and creator who has a distinct style and the right idea at the right time.” Overall, he adds, “originality and uniqueness are key.”

30 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_off the fence.qxp_Layout 1 11/2/20 1:43 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_ViacomCBS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:26 PM Page 2

VIS’s The Internationals…

Connection Buenos Aires.

32 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ViacomCBS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:26 PM Page 4

On Target Guillermo Borensztein, the VP of content sales and co-productions at ViacomCBS International Studios Americas, talks about how the company is meeting the content needs of the marketplace. By Kristin Brzoznowski

A

mid productions being on hold and premieres delayed, the arrival of new players and the changing needs of established clients, ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) has adapted quickly to the challenges that have emerged.

Guillermo Borensztein, VP of content sales and co-productions at VIS Americas, lists three key factors that made this possible: “First, we have the advantage of owning our own content,” he says. “The second factor is the ability to be flexible to accommodate specific customer needs. Finally, rethinking the way we connect to our teams and leverage their expertise.”

In terms of meeting the content needs of the marketplace, Borensztein notes a “sustained and growing demand” for Nickelodeon content, as well as for Telefe family series and premium series from the studio. There is also a growing interest in content for young adults (such as that from AwesomenessTV or Ananey), and in local films in a variety of genres that go directly to the platform as a first window. “We have an advantage because we do not depend on a single catalog,” he says. “In fact, we always say that our catalog is a set of catalogs, which 11/20 WORLD SCREEN 33

WSDIG_1120_ViacomCBS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:27 PM Page 5

includes local productions in different countries of the region, U.S. productions and content for preschool kids, young adults and the family as a whole. The content is generated by our brands, coproduced with or directly from third parties, and ranges from films and series to documentaries and movies. It’s a unique position to occupy in the market in these times.”

Borensztein is optimistic about the prospects that 2021 brings.

He says, “What happened this year on a global scale once again demonstrates the power of the entertainment industry—and the

“At VIS, our objective is to become the premier studio in Latin America.”

—Guillermo Borensztein

content it creates—to entertain, inform and accompany people in their day-to-day lives. Through ViacomCBS International Studios, as well as the different ViacomCBS brands, we seek to engage our audience with the best content and the most flexible entertainment experience. At VIS, our objective is to become the premier studio in Latin America. We remain committed to producing locally more often, partnering with the best players and talent, maximizing the potential of our properties through their entire operating cycle, continuing to be global leaders in the distribution market and diversifying our lines of business. We want to continue being leaders, from Latin America to the world.”

34 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_red arrow.qxp_Layout 1 10/20/20 3:43 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120 NHK-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:30 PM Page 2

NHK Enterprises’ Awaiting Kirin.

36 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120 NHK-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:30 PM Page 4

Made in

JAPAN

Fumina Koike and Yuki Yoshida tell World Screen about how the Japanese public broadcaster NHK and its commercial arm, NHK Enterprises, continue to innovate. By Kristin Brzoznowski

s production speeds have slowed down around the world, including in Japan, many broadcasters have been relying on reruns and acquisitions to fill the gaps in their schedules. “Apart from providing a slate of quality programs for our partners abroad, we saw an increasing need for accurate information concerning COVID-19,” says Fumina Koike, deputy manager for international program sales at NHK Enterprises.

In COVID-19: Fighting a Pandemic, for example, NHK’s science team conducted an experiment to depict how microdroplets spread, providing insight on further precautions.

COVID-19: Battle on the Cruise Ship is an in-depth investigation into what happened on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was one of the first large clusters Japan faced.

“While the world struggles to adapt to the ‘new norm’—life with COVID-19—we feel that buyers are increasingly inclined to search for more uplifting programs to remind us that life is still not all bad,” says Koike. “Offering warmth, compassion and

A

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 37

WSDIG_1120 NHK-3pages.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:30 PM Page 5

laughter to NHK’s audience has always been an important element for our programming, and we believe this has become more significant than ever.”

In the way of finished dramas, NHK Enterprises is offering the latest version of the popular morning serial Yell, along with Why She Can’t R.I.P., a romantic comedy about two outsiders.

For factual entertainment, the company has three original titles that have proven popular for NHK’s audiences and are being released now as formats: The Late Night Show with Nitty & Gritty, 72 Hours and Chiko’s Challenge.

“Offering warmth, compassion and laughter to NHK’s audience has always been an important element for our programming.” —Fumina Koike

NHK has been a pioneer in 8K technology, and there are some new programs that showcase this cutting-edge work. The 80minute drama Gift of Fire, a co-production with Eleven Arts, turned a fresh spotlight on Japan’s wartime attempt to build an atomic bomb 75 years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Some of the world’s top creatives came together to work on it,” says Yuki Yoshida, senior producer of global content development at NHK. 38 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_VIACOMCBS NETWORKS LATIN AMERICA.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 12:43 PM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_Offthefence.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:34 PM Page 2

Docs i

Off the Fence’s America ’s Arctic— A Refuge Imperiled.

40 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_Offthefence.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:34 PM Page 4

s in Focus

Stefanie Fischer, Off the Fence’s managing director of sales, and Loren Baxter (Syer-Willoughby), head of acquisitions, on the company’s positioning as a reliable source for factual programming in the marketplace. By Chelsea Regan

A

360-degree factual content company, Off the Fence makes, acquires, localizes and distributes titles that cover a broad cross-section of nonfiction programming. With autumn and the corresponding market season—virtual or otherwise—upon us, the company has a catalog boasting fresh, compelling programming for keen buyers on the hunt for titles that can sate viewers’ healthy appetite for factual content.

“We’re a one-stop-shop for factual and factual-entertainment shows, which makes it easier for buyers to differentiate us from other companies, as we remain a specialist in this area,” says Loren Baxter (Syer-Willoughby), head of acquisitions at Off the Fence. “Each of our new shows offers a unique perspective into familiar stories or features new groundbreaking science and natural phenomena. We work with some of the best production companies from all over the world—from France to Canada to the U.K. to Austria; no country or partner is off limits to us. We work with these amazing partners to craft and create the best version for international audiences.”

The advantages of being in the factual business are hard to overstate. More than stable, the demand for nonfiction content is 11/20 WORLD SCREEN 41

WSDIG_1120_Offthefence.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:34 PM Page 5

enjoying an upward trajectory. “With advertising revenues and budgets on a decrease and factual content generally being more affordable, it’s certainly attractive to many clients, and even as a replacement for some scripted content,” says Stefanie Fischer, Off the Fence’s managing director of sales. “There is definitely a demand for family-friendly, feel-good shows—natural history for example. We’re also seeing a demand for content that is relevant to our day-to-day lives but also aspiring content about conservation, sustainability and climate change.”

“We’re a one-stop-shop for factual and factual-entertainment shows.” —Loren Baxter

Committed to distributing and producing high-quality and thought-provoking content, Off the Fence wants “broadcasters to rely on us to deliver factually correct, entertaining shows with good stories,” says Baxter, who notes that Ellen Windemuth, coCEO, created the company with passion and heart at its core.

“Whether that’s caring about the planet or the people who live on it, it’s something that’s instilled in every employee here at Off the Fence; we really care about the programs we distribute,” adds Baxter. “This, in turn, leads to increased sales activities and better client relationships, which is ultimately our most important mission.”

42 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_NATPE.qxp_Layout 1 11/9/20 10:01 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_ID-TVMOVIES.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:40 PM Page 2

In-Demand: Holiday Movies Broadcasters across the globe are clamoring for uplifting content to fill their grids in the coming months, and holiday TV movies are high up on programmers’ wish lists. This report includes four new offerings on the market: GRB Studios’ Miss Me This Christmas, MarVista Entertainment’s Christmas Unwrapped and Christmas at Maple Creek and Nicely Entertainment’s A Very Charming Christmas Town.

Miss Me This Christmas Commissioned By: TV One Produced By: Poke Productions Cast: Eva Marcille, Erica Ash, Redaric Williams Distributor: GRB Studios Description: Before finalizing her divorce on Christmas Day, Regina (Erica Ash) meets an eccentric millionaire who forces her to come to grips with the choice she’s facing.

Pitch Perfect: The perfect Christmas movie, starring Real Housewives alum Eva Marcille. Enjoy this heartwarming film with the whole family and celebrate the Yuletide season. GRB Studios has ten Christmas movies produced for TV One—each one is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Sales Contacts: Hud Woodle, Liz Levenson, Melanie Torres.

44 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ID-TVMOVIES.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:40 PM Page 4

A Very Charming Christmas Town Produced By: Nicely Entertainment and The Ninth House Cast: Natalie Hall, Jon Prescott, Kelley Jakle Distributor: Nicely Entertainment Description: Aubrey Lang is a city girl, travel and lifestyle blogger who goes to the little town of Solvang for her next holiday vlog piece after Solvang is voted “Most Christmassy Town� in the U.S.A. She soon meets Sawyer Larsen, a local community coordinator and chocolate shop owner assigned to show her around the small town. At first the unlikely pairing is at odds, but they soon start to fall for each other amid the twinkling lights of the romantic little Danish village backdrop.

Pitch Perfect: Set in the beautiful Danish village of Solvang in California, this holiday romance movie will take the audience on a tour of the Most Christmassy Town in the U.S. A Very Charming Christmas Town premiered on Lifetime in 2020, alongside our other releases, Lonestar Christmas, The Christmas Listing and Christmas on the Menu. These are perfect feel-good holiday movies in a year where most people will be home, not traveling for the holidays!

Slot Winner: The worldwide premiere was on Lifetime in the U.S. on November 8, 2020.

Sales Contacts: Vanessa Shapiro, Laura Hoffman.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 45

WSDIG_1120_ID-TVMOVIES.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:40 PM Page 5

Christmas Unwrapped Commissioned By: Lifetime Produced By: Neshama Entertainment Cast: Amber Stevens West, Marco Grazzini, Cheryl Ladd Distributor: MarVista Entertainment Description: When a journalist profiles a man who claims his charity is made possible by Santa, she rediscovers the magic of Christmas and falls in love.

Pitch Perfect: Executive produced by Tiffany Haddish, Christmas Unwrapped is a holiday rom-com. Cynical reporter Charity (Amber Stevens West) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when her boss, Janet (Cheryl Ladd), assigns her to profile Erik Gallagher (Marco Grazzini), a handsome bachelor who organizes millions of dollars to help the less fortunate every Christmas.

Erik claims his charity is all funded by Santa Claus, so Charity’s assignment is to discover where the money really comes from. Knowing this assignment could make or break her career, Charity is initially frustrated that Erik and his associates reveal hardly any information about his mysterious source of funding. But as Charity spends more time with Erik, she begins to appreciate his unwavering conviction that anything is possible if you just believe. With her article’s deadline approaching, Charity discovers the real source of Erik’s funding and must decide whether or not exposing the truth is worth ruining her newfound belief in the magic of Christmas and love for Erik.

Slot Winner: Aired on Lifetime in the U.S. for Holiday 2020. International package sale to Channel 5 in the U.K. and TF1 in France.

Sales Contacts: Jody Cipriano, Michol Hatwan.

46 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ID-TVMOVIES.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:40 PM Page 6

Christmas at Maple Creek Produced By: Neshama Entertainment Cast: Jeni Ross, Jake Epstein, Olivier Renaud Distributor: MarVista Entertainment Description: A romance novelist rallies her family and friends to save a beloved town by Christmas—and finds love in the process.

Pitch Perfect: This Christmas romance is one for the books! When romance novelist Diana (Jeni Ross) learns that Maple Creek, a charming pioneer village, is struggling to stay afloat, she uses her notoriety to help generate interest in the town by sponsoring a Christmas gala. The event allows visitors to experience Christmas the way the pioneers did. Diana rallies her family and friends to pitch in, but she’s challenged at every turn by the village blacksmith and town historian Carter (Jake Epstein). Sparks fly as the two must work together to save the village in time for Christmas. But when her gorgeous cover model and secret crush, Greg (Oliver Renaud), surprises Diana at Maple Creek the night before the big Christmas gala, she’s conflicted by her feelings and must take a page out of her novels to figure out her true “Happily Ever After.” Other new holiday movies available from MarVista include The Christmas Ball and A New York Christmas Wedding.

Slot Winner: International package sale to free-to-air broadcaster Channel 5 in the U.K. Sales Contacts: Jody Cipriano, Michol Hatwan.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 47

WSDIG_1120_GLOBAL AGENCY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:44 PM Page 2

In-Demand: Formats from Globa Global Agency, one of the world’s leading TV content distributors, offers a broad portfolio of innovative formats that continue to capture the imagination of audiences worldwide. With its powerful programs, trendsetting formats and innovative strategies, Global Agency is well placed to keep providing “Content that Creates Buzz.”

Good Singers Genre: Singing entertainment Slot: Prime time, weekly Description: Talented and untalented singers are going to try to impress our celebrities without actually singing in the first place! Two teams, with three celebrities each, compete against each other in this new musical contest and will have to use all their powers of perception to succeed. In each episode, 12 contestants will come onto the stage, each with a numbered label, and each of them pretending to be a “good singer.” While some of them may have great voices, others certainly won’t. The celebrities have one goal: to distinguish the fakes from the genuine articles among the candidates. The two teams will face each other over the course of four rounds, each funnier than the next. In order to win money for charity they must find the most beautiful voices. Which team will win its charity the most money?

Which team will be able to identify the good singers?

48 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_GLOBAL AGENCY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:44 PM Page 4

Global Agency Save My Style Genre: Fashion competition Slot: 90-minute episodes Description: Bloggers create new looks for women in need of an update, in a battle for a $10,000 prize. Once chosen by the woman, they will have four hours and a budget of $3,000 to update her style and look, discarding unfashionable parts of the woman’s wardrobe, restyling outfits and buying new ones. Disagreements between the woman and the blogger keep the audience entertained, while a tailor, hairstylist and makeup artist work to complete her look. The real fun starts when the other blogger contestants are brought in to pass judgement, leaving one of them eliminated, one richer, and an audience looking forward to the following week’s show.

Star Queens Genre: Reality singing show Slot: Prime time, weekly Description: Ten celebrities are transformed into drag queens and perform hit songs.

Professional drag queens coach the contestants, and viewers watch their transformations and training. They perform for a jury of three celebrity judges who mark them on costume, makeup, choreography and humor. With the lowest scoring celebrity eliminated at the end of each episode, Star Queens heads towards a finale that offers spectacular family entertainment.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 49

WSDIG_1120_GLOBAL AGENCY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 1:44 PM Page 5

Love Stories Genre: Factual reality Slot: Prime time, daily/weekly Description: Three couples describe the blossoming of their romance in Love Stories. Each person tells their story separately in episodes divided into key moments such as how they met, the first date, then maybe the wedding and the birth of children.

As the second partner gives their account, viewers will be fascinated to see they have contrasting memories or views of the same events. The show captures the imagination with stories everybody can identify with and tempts the viewers to predict: are they still together?

The Tupper Club Genre: Cooking reality show Slot: Prime time, weekly Description: Celebrity chef Javi Sierra guides three famous people in preparing meals at home for their rivals to judge. Viewers gain fascinating insight into the contestants’ characters, homes and families, as well as their culinary skills, with a new cooking theme selected each week. A surprise awaits the celebrities when they arrive at the club to find out who their rivals are, before voting for the best dish that will earn its maker the “Golden Tupperware” award. The Tupper Club cordially invites viewers to enter the kitchen of the show’s celebrities and enjoy an entertaining and fun time in the company of some charming hosts.

50 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WS_1020_ATF.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 10:54 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_PRESCHOOL-BRIDGE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:01 PM Page 2

Kids In-Demand: Preschool & Br New preschool and bridge properties on the market include PBS International’s Elinor Wonders Why, Jetpack Distribution’s Master Moley, Lacey Entertainment’s Kiva Can Do!, ZDF Enterprises’ Space Nova and Superights’ Clay Time.

Elinor Wonders Why Commissioned By: PBS Produced By: SHOE Ink Rights Available: All rights available worldwide from PBS International.

Description: Elinor Wonders Why encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions, figure out the answers, and learn about the natural world around them using their science inquiry skills. Aimed at kids 2 to 6, the series consists of 74x11-minute episodes (delivered as 37x25 minutes) and a 55-minute special.

Pitch Perfect: The warm, funny main characters—Elinor, Ari and Olive—are curious about the things all preschoolers are curious about. Why do birds have feathers? Who or what is making those “whoo hoo” sounds at night? In finding the answers, they explore the remarkable ways that our everyday lives are connected to nature. Preschoolers relate to this desire to explore and feel empowered to make these same kinds of connections in their own lives.

Slot Winner: One of the top-rated PBS KIDS shows on broadcast and digital.

Sales Contacts: Betsy LeBlanc, Anna Alvord, Nanci Church.

52 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_PRESCHOOL-BRIDGE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:01 PM Page 4

& Bridge Master Moley Acquired By: WarnerMedia Produced By: Nottage Productions Rights Available: All audiovisual from Jetpack Distribution, excluding pay TV in EMEA. Description: Heartwarming GGI animated family show based around the adventures of Master Moley, who lives in the bustling city of MoleTown underneath Windsor Castle. The 52x11-minute series, The Misadventures of Master Moley, and 30-minute family special, Master Moley By Royal Invitation, are targeted to kids 4-plus and families. Tony Nottage of Nottage Productions is producer, with James Reatchlous and Warwick Davis as executive producers.

Pitch Perfect: “Lovable, charming and relatable, Master Moley has huge appeal for kids and families globally,” says Dominic Gardiner, CEO of Jetpack Distribution. “The animation is timeless. It really shines as a passion project based on original stories James [Reatchlous] created and read to his children.

Full of heart and humor, it has a real star quality and a stellar A-list cast.”

Slot Winner: Master Moley features an award-winning cast, including Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, Gemma Arterton, Richard E. Grant, Togo Igawa and Charles Dance. The 30-minute animation has already created buzz with audiences through touring the short film festival circuit in 2019, picking up several awards at the Latitude Film Awards, Independent Shorts Awards and Global Shorts Awards.

Sales Contacts: Dominic Gardiner, Sophie Prigent, Marie-Laure Roche.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 53

WSDIG_1120_PRESCHOOL-BRIDGE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:01 PM Page 5

Kiva Can Do! Commissioned By: Screen Ireland, Broadcast Authority of Ireland, RTÉjr; developed with support from Creative Europe & Screen Ireland Produced By: Kavaleer Productions Rights Available: Free TV, all forms of VOD, pay TV in select markets and L&M, via Lacey Entertainment.

Description: Along with her best friend, Saul, and her cardboard dog, Angus, Kiva conceives some amazing adventures that bring them around the world and well beyond. The 52x11-minute series is targeted to kids aged 3 to 5.

Pitch Perfect: Each day after school, grandmother Nanni brings Kiva to her home where Kiva, Saul and Angus have the run of the living room. Using whatever odds and ends are found around Nanni’s home, Kiva and Saul quickly transform these items into fantastic props for their adventures. Kiva is an especially aspirational character helping to encourage constructive development.

The ensemble cast of characters, most notably the very affectionate relationship with grandmother Nanni, helps to infuse a genuinely authentic transgenerational appeal to the series. Featuring a colorful and multitextured animation production design combined with magical storytelling, the Kiva series will deliver a strong and loyal viewing audience. The stories and dialogue are playful and fresh with just the right comedic touch that makes for compelling children’s entertainment. Available in 25 languages.

Slot Winner: Airing on Nick Jr. (worldwide excluding U.S.), Gulli, Discovery Italy, RTÉ.

Sales Contact: Brian Lacey.

54 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_PRESCHOOL-BRIDGE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:01 PM Page 6

Space Nova Commissioned By: ZDF Enterprises Produced By: SLR Productions Rights Available: All rights worldwide, except Australia and New Zealand, from ZDF Enterprises.

Description: The year 2162 has been a blast for the Aussie space exploring Nova family, especially when they discover the first-ever proof that humanity is not alone in the universe. During a routine research mission, the Novas stumble across an abandoned alien spacecraft trapped in a celestial butterfly.

Even more incredible, this craft— made entirely out of rock— appears to be fueled by a rainbow substance that is so powerful the alien craft escapes at speeds beyond anything they’ve ever seen. Although the Novas are unable to capture the alien rock ship, or the Star Dust that powers it, they now know for certain that an advanced, intelligent species does exist. One that is able to travel the universe in the blink of an eye. The Novas must follow the trail of clues left behind to find it! And so, the quest begins. Aimed at kids 6 to 10, the series consists of 26x22-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: Space Nova is an exciting and captivating space adventure which follows the Nova family’s search for alien life throughout the universe. It is a great collaboration between SLR Productions, Super RTL, ABC ME, Nine Network, Giggle Garage, Screen Australia, Create NSW, ZDF Enterprises and Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

Sales Contacts: Arne Lohmann, Katharina Pietzsch, Jan-Frederik Maul, Marei Bruckmann.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 55

WSDIG_1120_PRESCHOOL-BRIDGE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:01 PM Page 7

Clay Time (Season 2) Commissioned By: France Télévisions Produced By: Reaz - JLA Group Rights Available: Contact Superights for more details.

Description: Through a series of sweet 3-minute stories, the narrator helps viewers to discover a fun world with all kinds of animals made of clay in a wide palette of colors. The tutorials come along with the series, allowing kids to create their own clay world at home. Two seasons are available with more than 60 episodes of 4.5 minutes, including 60 1.5-minute tutorials.

Pitch Perfect: In Clay Time, aimed at 3- to 5-year-olds, young viewers are invited to develop their imagination with a universal activity: modeling clay. Each episode features a new animal and a new story. Each animated episode of 3 minutes is delivered with a tutorial of 1.5 minutes. This is a gender-neutral preschool show that fits European quota requirements.

Slot Winner: Partners on season two include Télé-Québec (Canada), JY Animation (China), Daekyo Kids (South Korea), Now TV (Hong Kong), LTV (Latvia), Artmotion (Kosovo), TV5MONDE, RTS (Switzerland) and RTV (Slovakia), with many more on season one. On France Télévisions, where Clay Time is available on the linear channel and on Okoo, the series is among the seven most-watched series since the start of the school year 2020. In Canada, the show has been available on Coucou and Telequebec.tv since December 2018, with a total of 67,116 cumulative viewings through September 2019.

Sales Contacts: Nathalie Pinguet, Jérômine Ader, Pedro Citaristi, Louise de Staël.

56 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WS TV Kids Festival house mech.qxp_Layout 1 11/4/20 9:36 PM Page 1

TV KIDS FESTIVAL, a virtual summit from February 2 to 4, 2021, will feature keynotes and panels with leading executives and creatives discussing the importance of alliances in producing and distributing top-notch kids’ programming today.

Gold & Silver Sponsorship Packages are available!

For more information, please contact Ricardo Guise at rguise@worldscreen.com or Dana Mattison at dmattison@worldscreen.com.

WSDIG_1120_KIDS-6-12.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:06 PM Page 2

Kids In-Demand: 6-12 These shows, which span the younger and older ends of the 6-to-12 kids’ demo, feature elements of action, adventure and comedy.

Matt Hatter Chronicles Commissioned By: Premiered on CITV. Produced By: Platinum Films, Dream Mill Rights Available: Worldwide TV, VOD, inflight and home video.

Description: When ordinary schoolboy Matt Hatter discovers a hidden portal in his family’s movie theater, he is transported to a mirror dimension where he becomes defender of the Multiverse. With his friends Roxie and Gomez, the new Hatter Hero must battle Super Villains, defend the realms and save his Grandpa! This animated action-adventure series distributed by Serious Lunch consists of 52x26-minute episodes and a 50-minute movie.

Target Demo: 6-9 Pitch Perfect: There are four seasons and a movie released in U.K. cinemas in 2018/19. We look forward to developing new partnerships in those markets where we can offer our foreign-language versions.

Slot Winner: The series enjoyed early success when launched on CITV: seasons one and two pulled 3.5 million individuals and an episode high of 327,000 viewers, up 92 percent on the slot average. It has sold to 85 markets.

Sales Contacts: Leila Ouledcheikh, Genevieve Dexter.

58 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_KIDS-6-12.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:06 PM Page 4

Meet the Walkerz Produced By: Shadow Valley Productions Rights Available: All rights are available with the exception of licensing rights (Firefly Brand Management).

Description: Meet the Walkerz is a family-friendly animated comedy series about a wonderfully unusual vegan zombie family that wins a game show and gets a rare opportunity to be the first family of their kind to live a “life” in human society.

The Walker family, led by noble dad Ed, features grandma Betty, son Ryder, fun-loving daughter Gigi and, of course, their outrageous trouble-making, meatloving zombie dog named “JJ.” The series is based on the popular The Adventures of Zombie Dog comic books by Jonathan Sanborn. The animated comedy is set to feature 4x22-minute/16x11-minute episodes.

Target Demo: 6-11 Pitch Perfect: Meet the Walkerz is a fun-filled 3D animated comedy featuring friendly vegan zombies who move into a terrified neighborhood defended by a legendary ex-zombie hunter who doesn’t believe they are “harmless,” especially not their obviously meat-loving zombie dog! Meet a wonderful ensemble of diverse characters that are all ready to share some captivating (and humorous) stories on what life is like on the other side of the fence. “From fear to friendship” is the message. Bible, episode synopses and trailer are available.

Sales Contact: Jeremy Christensen at Shadow Valley Productions on info@meetthewalkerz.com.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 59

WSDIG_1120_KIDS-6-12.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:06 PM Page 5

My Hero Academia Produced By: Toho Rights Available: All forms of audiovisual from Crunchyroll for European and African territories.

Description: What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age 4? Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. Then he encounters All Might, the greatest hero of them all. This superhero action/adventure/comedy series consists of 90 26-minute episodes. A fifth season is coming in spring 2021. There are also two movies.

Target Demo: 10-12 Pitch Perfect: With more than 3 million manga sold in France alone and a very committed fan community, My Hero Academia is the fastest-growing manga and anime brand of the last ten years. The TV show has four seasons now, broadcast on many major TV channels and streamed in 200-plus countries across Europe and Africa. The brand universe of My Hero Academia has been extended to many merchandising products thanks to its 20-plus licensing partners, such as two multiplatform video games edited by Bandai Namco Entertainment, as well as toys and figures developed by Bandai.

Slot Winner: My Hero Academia won the Sugoi Japan Awards 2017 in the manga category. In 2017, the TV series won two anime awards at IGN Summer Movie Awards. In France, My Hero Academia won the Daruma/Japan Expo Award for best manga in 2017, and the best shōnen and best series awards in 2018. In 2019, the manga received the Harvey Award for best manga.

Sales Contact: business@crunchyroll.com 60 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

17 NEWSLETTERS.qxp_Layout 1 11/4/20 9:36 PM Page 1

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR 17 NEWSLETTERS

IT’S FREE!

Daily Online Newsletters

•• •• •

World Screen Newsflash TV Kids Daily TV Drama Daily TV Real Daily Diario TV Latina

Weekly Online Newsletters

•• •• •• •• •• •

World Screen Weekly TV Kids Weekly TV Drama Weekly TV Formats Weekly TV Real Weekly WorldScreenings TV Latina Semanal TV Niños Semanal TV Series Semanal TV Canales Semanal TV Latina Screenings

Monthly Online Newsletter

•

Social Wit List

WSDIG_1120_ID-MYSTERIES-THRILLERS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:13 PM Page 2

Drama In-Demand: Mysteries & These compelling drama series aim to have viewers hooked with their intricate twists and turns: ZDF Enterprises’ The Crimson Rivers, all3media international’s The Sounds, RTVE’s The Department of Time and The Mediapro Studio’s Caminantes.

Caminantes Commissioned By: Orange TV Produced By: 100 Balas (The Mediapro Studio) Cast: Daniel Ibáñez, Alexandra Pino, Carlos Suárez, Songa Park, Lucas Miramón, among others.

Writer: José A. Pérez Ledo Director: Koldo Serra Rights Available: Distributed by The Mediapro Studio.

Description: In August 2019, five teenagers disappeared while on their ‘Road to Santiago’ pilgrimage. Their track was lost in the mountains on the French-Spanish border. Two weeks after their disappearance, the police found their phones buried in the middle of the mountain along with their backpacks and various personal objects. Thanks to the videos recorded on their phones, we can now retrace the 40-hour-long nightmare they lived as preys of a maniac family. This horror/thriller consists of 7x20-minute episodes.

Sales Contact: themediaprostudio@mediapro.tv 62 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ID-MYSTERIES-THRILLERS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:13 PM Page 4

es & Thrillers The Crimson Rivers (Season 2) Produced By: Storia Television in co-production with Maze Pictures for France Télévisions and ZDF in cooperation with ZDF Enterprises Cast: Olivier Marchal, Erika Sainte, Ken Duken, Nora Waldstätten, among others.

Writers: Jean-Christophe Grangé, Albin Michel, David Neiss, among others.

Rights Available: Worldwide excluding France from ZDF Enterprises.

Description: Set in a macabre world of gruesome crimes and harrowing rituals, this series is based on the best-selling novel from Jean-Christophe Grangé. It follows detective Pierre Niémans and his partner Camille Delauney as they investigate a series of bizarre crimes in remote regions of France.

Encompasses 16x50-minute or 8x100-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: “Every once in a while, a drama comes along that is so brilliantly written and acted, it transcends language barriers and has audiences begging for more,” says Robert Franke, the VP of ZDFE.drama at ZDF Enterprises. “The Crimson Rivers definitely belongs in that category. Each case has a mystical touch, based on regional myths or forgotten customs, with Olivier Marchal portraying a striking Pierre Niémans.”

Slot Winner: The Crimson Rivers has been sold to Netflix, NBCUniversal, Canal+ France and Poland, Edel, FTV Prima, GSN (Walter Presents), Ivi.ru, LNK TV, SBS, Showjet, Radio Canada, TV3 Russia and many others.

Sales Contacts: Mirela Nastase, Sebastian Krekeler, Yuliya Fischer, Susanne Frank.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 63

WSDIG_1120_ID-MYSTERIES-THRILLERS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:13 PM Page 5

The Sounds Commissioned By: CBC (Canada), Prime TV (New Zealand), Acorn TV (U.S.) Produced By: South Pacific Pictures, Shaftesbury Cast: Matt Whelan, Rachelle Lefevre, Matt Nable, Emily Piggford, among others.

Writers: Sarah-Kate Lynch, Samuel E. Shore Rights Available: All media outside of Australia/New Zealand, Canada and the U.S., from all3media international.

Description: A terrified woman struggles against an overpowering attacker beneath the crystal clear water of New Zealand’s remote Marlborough Sounds.

This is Maggie Cabbott and she’s fighting for her life. Cut to: a sleek yacht alone in a vast empty sea. An angry environmentalist spitting on the ground. A jumble of human bones unearthed in a landslide. And a handsome man grinning at his adoring wife as he declares she’s going to get everything she ever wanted. This is Tom Cabbott and he’s about to disappear. Set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s gorgeous but sinister Marlborough Sounds, the 8x60-minute The Sounds charts the demise of a picture-perfect marriage.

Pitch Perfect: From the producers of The Brokenwood Mysteries, a new female-led thriller set against a stunning New Zealand landscape. When Canadian Maggie Cabbott’s husband disappears during a local boat trip to Marlborough Sounds, her world falls apart. But as we dive deeper into the story, more secrets are discovered. Anguished wives, philandering husbands, grieving mothers and sabotaged business deals are all in the mix.

Sales Contact: Stephen Driscoll.

64 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ID-MYSTERIES-THRILLERS.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:13 PM Page 6

The Department of Time Commissioned By: RTVE Produced By: RTVE, The Mediapro Studio, Globomedia Cast: Rodolfo Sancho, Aura Garrido, Hugo Silva, Nacho Fresneda, Macarena García, among others.

Writers: Javier Olivares, Pablo Olivares, Marc Vigil, Isabel Sánchez, Daniel Corpas Rights Available: Worldwide free-to-air, cable and streaming, distributed by RTVE’s international sales area.

Description: Different journeys back in time are undertaken by a special unit at the Department of Time, which has a key mission: to prevent the past from changing.

Four seasons available for a total of 42 70-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: The series encompasses numerous landmark moments in history, ranging from the negotiations for the return of Picasso’s masterpiece, Guernica, to Spain, to the picaresque Spain of Lazarillo de Tormes, and from Dalí and Lorca at the Residencia de Estudiantes to the young Lope de Vega enlisted for the Spanish Armada. The main characters are not superheroes, but ordinary people who are exposed to extraordinary circumstances.

Slot Winner: This year’s season four appeared in the TV Time top ten ranking of “Shows on the Rise,” which includes the audience’s favorite fiction series. Honors include the Panda Award, China 2015; Ondas Awards, 2015; New York Festivals, 2016; Platino Awards, Mexico, 2018.

Sales Contacts: María Jesús Pérez, Rosalía Alcubilla, Tony Perez, María José Loranca, David Priego.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 65

WSDIG_1120_BLUE-SKY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:20 PM Page 2

Drama In-Demand: Blue-Sky Seri From action-packed procedurals to lighthearted mysteries and romantic dramas, viewers are seeking out escapism, and these shows aim to deliver.

Forbidden Fruit Commissioned By: FOX TV Turkey Produced By: MEDYAPIM Cast: Talat Bulut, Şevval Sam, Onur Tuna, Eda Ece, Sevda Erginci Writers: Melis Civelek, Zeynep Gür Rights Available: All rights available from Calinos Entertainment.

Description: Yıldız and Zeynep are two sisters whose lives will take an unexpected turn when Istanbul socialite Ender asks Yıldız to seduce her husband.

There are 223 hours of this drama currently available.

Pitch Perfect: Forbidden Fruit is one of the very few Turkish dramas to have a fourth season, proving its huge success. The new season is in itself more powerful, intriguing and entertaining than ever.

Slot Winner: Forbidden Fruit is now being aired on TV Vijesti in Montenegro, after sales in Israel, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Paraguay, Greece, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Romania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique, as well as Vietnam.

Sales Contacts: Melis Idil, Duda Rodrigues, Asli Serim Guliyev.

66 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_BLUE-SKY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:20 PM Page 4

y Series Queens of Mystery Commissioned By: ZDF Enterprises Produced By: Sly Fox Productions for Acorn TV Cast: Olivia Vinall, Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Sarah Woodward, among others.

Writers: Julian Unthank, Matthew Thomas Rights Available: Worldwide rights outside of English-speaking territories from ZDF Enterprises.

Description: Queens of Mystery, a 3x90-minute murder mystery series created for television by Doc Martin writer Julian Unthank, follows a perennially single female Detective Sergeant (Matilda Stone) and her three aunts (Cat, Beth and Jane), who are well-known crime writers that help her solve whodunit-style murders, as well as set her up on blind dates. In addition to her weekly murder investigations, Mattie is preoccupied by the fact that her mother, Eleanor, disappeared without a trace when Mattie was 3.

Pitch Perfect: The U.S. launch of Queens of Mystery was accompanied by recommendations from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times (“a surefire crowd-pleaser,” “a cheery mystery series”), as well as Woman’s World magazine and News Talk Florida (“a masterpiece,” “The storyline is very fun, the acting is brilliant, and it is the most original mystery series that I have seen in years.”).

Sales Contacts: Mirela Nastase, Sebastian Krekeler, Yuliya Fischer, Susanne Frank.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 67

WSDIG_1120_BLUE-SKY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:20 PM Page 5

Professionals—Danger Pays Commissioned By: Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT) Produced By: Most Media, Subotica, Spier Films, Roadside Attractions in association with Jeff Most Productions, LEONINE, NENT Group and The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Cast: Tom Welling, Elena Anaya, Brendan Fraser, Ken Duken, among others.

Writers: Michael Colleary, Jeff Most, Paul Walker, among others.

Rights Available: LEONINE has appointed Rainmaker Content as the distributor of the show (outside the Nordic region and Germany).

Description: Set against a backdrop of international espionage and corporate sabotage in the privately funded space race, the 10x60-minute series stars Tom Welling as a hardened former counterintelligence officer, Captain Vincent Corbo. After their advanced medical satellite explodes on deployment, billionaire futurist Peter Swann (Brendan Fraser) and his fiancée, medical visionary Dr. Graciela “Grace” Davila (Elena Anaya), turn to Corbo, who assembles a team to investigate the incident.

Pitch Perfect: “This show is tailor-made for the worldwide marketplace,” says Greg Phillips, co-CEO of Rainmaker Content. “Created with really great production values and shot in some amazing locations, it’s fantastic to have such a broad, blue-sky action series that has been able to complete production and is ready to go, thrilling to watch and just the escape that audiences are looking for right now.”

Slot Winner: Sold to NENT (Nordic region), RTLZWEI and TNT Film (Germany).

Sales Contacts: Greg Phillips, Vicky Ryan, Graham Begg.

68 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

DIG0620_blue worldscreenings house ad.qxp_Layout 1 11/4/20 9:38 PM Page 1

Pitch your content in an exclusive environment!

WorldScreenings Click here for full list of benefits and examples of previous Exclusive Reports.

WSDIG_1120_ID-TRAVEL-ADVENTURE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:25 PM Page 2

Real In-Demand: Travel & Adven Amid COVID-19-related restrictions, these inspiring travel and adventure titles give viewers the chance to experience the wonders of the world—from the comfort of the living room: all3media international’s Race Across the World, Off the Fence’s The Tourist, PBS International’s The Frozen Chosen and Beyond Rights’ Edges Unknown.

The Frozen Chosen Produced By: Steven J. Boettcher Productions Rights Available: All rights worldwide from PBS International.

Description: This one-hour special brings you face to face with giant prehistoric fish and shoulder to shoulder with the people obsessed with hunting them.

Pitch Perfect: For 16 days each winter, hunters venture out on a vast frozen lake armed with seven-foot spears on a quest for a prehistoric fish. Danger exists in every direction. A single miscalculation can cost their lives. The Frozen Chosen follows these brave hunters on a sporting event that tests their incredible courage and their patience.

Sales Contacts: Betsy LeBlanc, Anna Alvord, Nanci Church.

70 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_ID-TRAVEL-ADVENTURE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:25 PM Page 4

dventure Race Across the World Commissioned By: BBC Two, all3media international Produced By: Studio Lambert Rights Available: All rights available from all3media international.

Description: Five teams experience the adventure of a lifetime, racing down Latin America.

Skill, ingenuity and determination, as well as friendships and the kindness of strangers, give teams the best chance of winning. Two seasons available, with season one consisting of 6x60-minute episodes and season two with 9x60-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: Race Across the World pits five pairs of travelers against each other to get from point A to B fastest without flying and all on the budget of a one-way flight. No mobile phones, no credit cards, the contestants just have the cash provided and a map.

Format also available if we can ever travel again!

Slot Winner: Season two is currently the second-highest-rated program on BBC Two this year, attracting 3.7 million viewers, growing its audience by 46 percent. Season one ended on a high with 3.2 million viewers, exceeding the slot average by 62 percent. The format was adapted in Denmark by TV 2. A third season of the show in the U.K. is in the works.

Sales Contact: Sally Habbershaw.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 71

WSDIG_1120_ID-TRAVEL-ADVENTURE.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:25 PM Page 5

The Tourist Produced By: Canary Financial Investments Rights Available: All rights worldwide from Off the Fence.

Description: Cesar Sar, “The Tourist,� embarks on a trip around the world, taking us to 60 countries and across every continent, over 46x60-minute/92x30-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: Cesar brings so much fun and energy to our screens. Viewers will see their travel dreams come to life.

Sales Contacts: Stefanie Fischer, Rebeca Fernandez, Antoine Paul.

Edges Unknown Produced By: 4East Media Rights Available: Worldwide rights excluding Canada from Beyond Rights.

Description: A fresh new twist on the survival genre. Consists of 7x60minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: Brett Rogers and Cliff Quinn head back in time to challenge themselves to take on the original toughest jobs: from logging to prospecting, ranching and fishing. Following the footsteps of their pioneer heroes, they enter remote locations with nothing but basic tools, facing challenging conditions and extreme weather.

Sales Contacts: Simona Argenti, Lenneke de Jong, Sherry Fynbo.

72 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_APOS.qxp_Layout 1 11/6/20 11:39 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_PEOPLE-SOCIETY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:36 PM Page 2

Real In-Demand: People & Society Stories about real people continue to fascinate, from famous and infamous personalities to everyday individuals on remarkable missions.

Turquoise Fever Commissioned By: Produced for INSP Produced By: Glassman Media Rights Available: All rights are available exclusively worldwide, excluding the U.S., from GRB Studios.

Description: For the Otteson family, every day is an adventure. Follow them as they hunt for the most sought-after turquoise in the world. Season one consists of 7x60-minute episodes.

Pitch Perfect: This action-packed docuseries will keep audiences fully engaged as they delve into the dangerous world of turquoise mining. Not only is each episode an adventure, but audiences will also fall in love with the Otteson clan as the series follows the ups and downs of their family business.

Slot Winner: The show’s debut marked INSP’s highest-rated original series premiere. The series also held the network’s highest rating for a single episode of an original series as well as the highest L+3 and L+7 ratings for an episode of an original series.

Sales Contacts: Hud Woodle, Melanie Torres, Liz Levenson.

74 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_PEOPLE-SOCIETY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:36 PM Page 4

ociety Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip Commissioned By: Channel 4, all3media international Produced By: Swan Films Rights Available: All rights available from all3media international.

Description: In this 3x60minute production, Grierson Award-winning broadcaster Grayson Perry travels across the U.S., using his unique artistanthropologist’s eye to explore underlying divisions of this nation, finding extraordinary in the ordinary.

Pitch Perfect: Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip sees the acclaimed artist and broadcaster unpicking the tribal and cultural conflicts that underlie this deeply divided nation. As the U.S. elections approach, Grayson spends time with people from diverse backgrounds to explore how Americans today view issues of identity, race, money and class.

Slot Winner: The show attracted an average 798,000 viewers with a 5.8 percent share, exceeding the slot average by 21 percent. Seventy percent of the audience were adults ABC1, 17 percentage points above the channel average profile. The show performed best among adults 45-plus with a 6.3 percent share of adults 45 to 54 and a 5.7 percent share of adults 55-plus.

It appealed to men and women, outperforming the slot average by 20 percent for men 4-plus with a 5.4 percent share.

Sales Contact: Stephen Driscoll.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 75

WSDIG_1120_PEOPLE-SOCIETY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:36 PM Page 5

Salman Rushdie, Death on a Trail Commissioned By: ARTE Produced By: Flach Film Production Rights Available: Rights are still available in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway and Asia, from distributor Terranoa.

Description: Director William Karel (Dark Side of the Moon, Philip Roth Unmasked, Hillary: A Woman on the Edge) draws a 1x52minute intimate portrait of one of today’s most free-minded and significant writers of literature. Based on rarely seen personal and historical archives and exclusive interviews shot in his house in New York, the film revisits Rushdie’s life and literary work and questions the place of novelists in the era of fake news. From his youth in multicultural Bombay and his studies at Cambridge to his 15 years of forced hiding after the fatwa, Rushdie set his sharp eye on Trump’s America in his book The Golden House.

Pitch Perfect: “Rushdie brilliantly embodies the cosmopolitan mindset of our times and the rise of postcolonial literature as a visionary writer questioning what defines our identity in a globalized world and shedding light on the rise of radical Islam,” says Isabelle Graziadey, the executive director of international co-productions, sales and acquisitions at Terranoa. “Spending an hour with Rushdie is enough to be resilient for a decade.”

Sales Contacts: Isabelle Graziadey, Laetitia Doyle, Marine Gombart.

76 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_1120_PEOPLE-SOCIETY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:36 PM Page 6

Very Scary People Commissioned By: HLN in the U.S. Produced By: HLN Original Series Rights Available: Exclusive worldwide rights, excluding the U.S., from Rive Gauche Television.

Description: Very Scary People chronicles the twisted lives of some of the most frightening, diabolical characters in recent history. Each individual is chronicled in two hour-long episodes that trace the heinous, criminal acts of these elusive miscreants and the eventual road to justice. Two seasons available for a total of 24x60-minute episodes. Killers profiled in the series include John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson, Aileen Wuornos, the Zodiac Killer, Jim Jones, David Richard Berkowitz (aka Son of Sam), Dennis Lynn Rader (BTK), Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker), Edmund Kemper (the Co-Ed Killer), Robert Durst and Dr. Death, Dr. Christopher Duntsch.

Pitch Perfect: “Very Scary People chronicles some of the most wellknown serial killers around the world, and it sheds new light on them through creative storytelling and archival footage sometimes only available to the HLN/CNN production team,” says Marine Ksadzhikyan, the COO and executive VP of sales at Rive Gauche Television. Jon Kramer, CEO of Rive Gauche, adds, “Very Scary People’s high production value paired with riveting storytelling shows viewers a different side to these diabolical crimes. The two-hour event format is also very appealing to the international audience.”

Sales Contacts: Jon Kramer, Marine Ksadzhikyan, Justina Hemperek.

11/20 WORLD SCREEN 77

WSDIG_1120_PEOPLE-SOCIETY.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:36 PM Page 7

Relative Race Commissioned By: BYUtv/BYU Broadcasting Produced By: Lenzworks Productions Rights Available: All rights available worldwide, excluding the U.S., from Boat Rocker Studios.

Description: In this race unlike any other, four teams take a ten-day journey across the country to discover new relatives and compete for a $50,000 grand prize. Armed with only paper maps, a loaner car and a flip phone with a camera, each day the teams receive instructions via text message to navigate to a designated city and complete a challenge that leads them to their previously unknown relatives. The last team to finish each day receives a strike, and after three strikes, a team is eliminated. A total of 60x60-minute episodes, with five seasons available and one in production.

Pitch Perfect: Using the contestants’ DNA as a road map, this firstof-its-kind, genealogy-based reality show is all about meeting family and completing challenges. The producers’ vision was to blend narrative elements into the unscripted series format and tell honest stories of discovering family. Lenzworks wanted to create a series that the entire family could watch. Lenzworks spends ten days filming across the country, venturing from subjects’ homes to various locations across the U.S., each day a surprise for the subjects as they meet a relative they’ve been looking for their entire life, or finding a relative they didn’t even know existed.

Sales Contacts: Jon Rutherford, Natalie Vinet.

78 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

WSDIG_820_WIT.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 11:20 AM Page 1

WSDIG_1120_Trending.qxp_REAL_408_NIGHT 11/5/20 2:39 PM Page 2

Trending on WorldScreenings.com The most-viewed clips on WorldScreenings in the last month.

Standing Tall (Crime/suspense, 4x100 min./8x50 min.) Valerio is an ex-cop who, after losing his job and the affection of his only son Ettore, had isolated himself from everything and everybody. Right in the middle of this self-imposed shunning of the world, he receives the most awful news imaginable: Ettore is dead.

Fireman Sam (Preschool, S12: 13x11 min. & 1x60 min., S13: 26x11 min.) Series 12 follows the adventures of Fireman Sam and newcomer to Pontypandy, Police Constable Malcolm Williams. Whether it’s a forest fire or the case of a missing lunch, Fireman Sam and PC Malcolm can face any adventure together, big or small.

Guitar & Drum (Kids 3-5 CG, 52x5 min.) Follows the adventures of two musical instruments who are also best friends. The series celebrates diversity as an essential part of who we are through a wide range of characters.

LIKES! Mr. Genji (Drama, 8x29 min.) Saori’s roommate is a handsome aristocrat from fiction written in another era in this millennium-bending romantic comedy based on a popular manga series.

Professionals—Danger Pays (Blue-sky action, 10x60 min.) A series about the world of private military contractors, showing what it really takes to hold your place in the business: loyalty, trust, friendship, a touch of humor and lots of ammunition.

80 WORLD SCREEN 11/20

TVLIST_1019_House worldscreenings.com.qxp_Layout 1 11/4/20 9:39 PM Page 1

WS_1120_DISCOP.qxp_Layout 1 11/5/20 1:03 PM Page 1