Global content producer and distributor Fremantle has formed a strategic alliance with Israeli based IBI Investment House, which will launch an €150m fund to finance a portfolio of scripted television and film projects.
Under the initial four-year deal, Fremantle will bring a diverse range of projects from its network of production companies to the IBI fund, creating a bespoke funding model to fast-track the production of each project.
IBI Fund will work closely with Fremantle, its portfolio of labels, producers and directors, and talent, to greenlight each project.
The projects be overseen by Fremantle’s Global Drama team, led by CEO Christian Vesper. All TV projects approved through the Fund will be distributed by Fremantle International.
The deal was spearheaded by Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle Group COO and CEO Continental Europe, and Guy Hameiri, co-founder of Fremantle company Abot Hameiri. Hameiri will become Chief Executive Officer of the new Fund and oversee the selected portfolio of projects.
Read more IBC Changemakers Podcast episode 3: a new deal for climate change, and how to get involved
Three Fremantle projects across both television and film have been targeted to form the first wave of projects for the Fund:
Maria is a biopic of opera singer, Maria Callas, starring Angelina Jolie in the lead role. The film is written by Steven Knight (Spencer, Peaky Blinders) and directed by Pablo Larraín (Spencer, Jackie), and will be produced by Juan de Dios Larraín for Fabula Pictures, Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment Pictures and Jonas Dornbach for Komplizen Film.
Shelter is six-part revenge drama created and written by Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton (Thorne, Silent Witness) with Abot Hameiri and Sarah Condon from Fair Harbor attached to produce, and Jeremy Webb (The Last of Us, The Umbrella Academy) set as director.
Generation Loss is four-part returning mystery thriller written by Sarah Dollard (Bridgerton, Doctor Who, Cara Fi) based on the best-selling book series by Elizabeth Hand. Producers are Hilary Martin for Fremantle, Sarah Condon from Fair Harbor and Euston Films.
Jennifer Mullin, Group CEO, Fremantle said: “At Fremantle we are always focused on innovation, and this alliance with IBI is a perfect example of this ethos and approach. It is an extremely timely and exciting agreement with Dave Lubetzky (CEO of IBI Investment House) and the team at IBI. I would like to also thank Andrea, Guy and all involved at Fremantle for their vision and focus on this.”
Read more IBC2023 Accelerator Project: Gallery Agnostic Live Media Production
No comments yet