In this series, we highlight our clients to help them build connections that count, and shine ahead of MIPCOM.
Newen Connect is the trusted distribution business of Newen Studios, part of the TF1 Group of companies. We have undergone major change in the last four years, and we now have a library of 10,000 hours of quality content across all genres, and 1,000 films. We position ourselves as a key provider of quality European content, from top rating procedural crime series to cutting edge premium platform content, to quality specialist factual and probing investigative documentaries, captivating animation and European films.
As Chief Commercial Officer I’m in charge of the revenue generating part of the business, across all rights and territories. The sales team work on maximising the value of our content but also, in association with our colleagues in acquisitions, look to support producers in finding the right co-production partners internationally. Our role as distribution has evolved from selling content to playing a key role in shaping the financing of projects.
What are you bringing to MIPCOM?
We have an exciting selection of content which we’re launching at Mipcom this year!
- 12 new dramas, as well as 7 additional returning dramas. Highlights include Cat’s Eyes, an exciting and ambitious live action series produced for TF1 by Big Band Story, based on the original manga by the same name. The series retraces the adventures of the three very different Chamade sisters who find themselves having to devise and implement a series of incredible art heists among the most be secure and beautiful monuments in Paris. The Teacher : Body in the Lake, 4-part British thriller produced by Clapperboard starring Kara Tointon as a teacher who tries to keep her world from falling apart when a boy goes missing on a school trip. And Moresnet a tense 6 part drama from Caviar TV, Flare Films and Pupkin about a group of childhood friends who find themselves in a race against time to defy the path of fate and their predicted demise.
- 9 new documentaries including new projects “Roman Empire: Beyond the Myths” and “Catacombs, Empire of the Dead”
- 3 animation series, more details below in last question
What are you looking for at MIPCOM?
We are looking to close deals on our new slate of content and introduce buyers to new projects for 2025 for which we are searching for financing. This is true across all genres, although the focus on fiction will mainly be on the content launching on channels and platforms in 2024 or early 2025.
What is your favourite MIPCOM memory?
I’ve been coming to Mipcom for quite a few years! My favourite memory is actually my first day of my first job– I worked for a small indie production company called Quartier Latin, in Paris. I was flown down to Nice, and went to stay on a yacht in Cannes. It was the smallest yacht in the port, but boy was it glamorous for a first job! I worked on a little stand in the “bunker” of the Palais, feeding the VHS machine with our latest productions. Deals were struck then and there based on a promo, with a handshake, I wish it was still that easy!
An interesting company news:
This year we are preparing a pre Mipcom Virtual screening of our content on 8th October – we will present 12 new fiction series, introducing new promos and footage and make full episodes available on our website the same day. The idea being that we give our clients a chance to screen ahead of the market to allow us more opportunity for an engaging discussion around our content.
We are also going to be promoting our Children’s content, with the availability of more episodes of our IP based series Azuro (Produced by La Chouette), the launch of a new series produced for TF1 from Blue Spirit Studios (it’s called Mille Bornes in French, the English title is still work in progress, Sandra) and a new project series from our Danish colleagues Tall & Small, entitled Flora & Lars. Jerome Alby recently joined Newen Connect as SVP Distribution Kids & Family to bolster this activity.
