Ex-Prime Video Exec To Rainbow; AI Film ‘Echo Hunter'; MGM Alternative Makes BBC Show; HiddenLight Producer Joins Sky News Unit
Marco Azzani, the former Country Manager for Prime Video Italy, has joined Rainbow Group as Executive VP of Digital Channels and Distribution. He had exited Amazon in February after a decade and his appointment at Italy-based animation house Rainbow comes at a crucial time following investment from TEC Movie, an indie vehicle formed by members of The Equity Club, which operates on behalf of ultra-high net-worth individuals connected to Mediobanca. The cash injection was part of a plan to expand internationally. Azzani, a 20-year industry veteran, led Prime Video between 2021 and 2025, having previously joined as Country Manager for Audible. He oversaw the local launch of comedy entertainment format LOL: Last One Laughing and acquired UEFA Champions League rights. 'The arrival of Marco Azzani represents a very important step for our group, which for years has undertaken a path of expansion and development in terms of quality and content offering,' said Iginio Straffi, founder and President of Rainbow, which is best known as the company behind the Winx Club brand. 'His experience in the digital and international media sector will be extremely valuable in developing new business lines and pushing Rainbow towards unprecedented goals in the world of entertainment.'
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AI Filmmaker Kavan The Kid Making Dystopian Thriller
EXCLUSIVE: A 30-minute dystopian sci-fi thriller from AI filmmaker Kavan Cardoza, aka 'Kavan the Kid', is headed to a new artificial intelligence-powered streaming platform. Echo Hunter will roll out after production on Arcana AI, a new platform operated by Arcana Labs that provides provides production tools. The film will be set in a dystopian future, where the elite harvest clones for spare parts. Per the synopsis, it follows a relentless clone hunter, who begins to unravel when echoes of his former life surface, leading him to a harrowing truth that could destroy the very world he protects. Cardoza's AI films have generated millions of views to date. Breckin Meyer (Robot Chicken) stars, with Taylor John Smith (Warfare, Where the Crawdads Sing), Danielle Bisutti (God of War, Insidious), Gedeon Burkhard (Inglourious Basterds), Hanna Balicki (The Wolf and Lamb), and Xander Bailey among the cast. Meyer is represented by IAG, Artists First, Danis, Panaro, Nist Talent, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. 'Echo Hunter is a project I hold deep in my heart,' said Cardoza. 'Telling this story through the combined power of Arcana AI and traditional filmmaking – alongside phenomenal performances from an incredible cast – has made this experience truly unforgettable. This film not only highlights what AI can achieve, but also offers a glimpse into the future of cinema and the emerging voices shaping its direction.' Let's see if the industry agrees. The film is powered and produced by Arcana Labs in association with Phantom X, with Mike J Mitch serving as producer and Arcana Labs CEO Jonathan Yunger as executive producer. Footage from the film played at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday with a digital premiere expected later this month. Last month, we revealed Arcana Labs had secured $5.5M from a funding round that allowed the company to launch Arcana AI.
MGM Alternative Making BBC Daytime Series
MGM Alternative UK's latest series is a BBC Daytime series, The Marvellous Miniatures Workshop (working title). BBC TV and radio presenter Sara Cox will front the series, in which professional model makers bring place, people and iconic moments to life via miniature models. MGM Alternative is planning to use new tech and microscopic cameras to get up close to the mini-models, as audiences are introduced to the people who want their special moment captured. The series will run on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, ordered the show. Nicki Stoker is the series producer. MGM Alternative, which is part of Amazon MGM Studios, already makes The Apprentice and Gladiators for the BBC. 'This show taps into our fascination with the tiny, from fantasy film to classic literature and as a naturally very nosey person, I personally can't wait to find out the beautiful backstory that inspires each creation,' said presenter Cox.
HiddenLight's Siobhan Sinnerton To Lead Full Story Films
Siobhan Sinnerton, the HiddenLight Productions producer with credits for Netflix's In Her Hands, is joining a new long-form doc label within Sky News. She will be Creative Director of Full Story Films, reporting into Sky News Group Executive Chairman David Rhodes. The unit will focus on developing long-form programs out of Sky's new coverage and archive. Sinnerton will shape and implement the editorial and creative strategy, working to complement the Sky Documentaries division and strike partnerships with talent from across the doc industry. 'This new production unit with Siobhan Sinnerton at the helm will epitomise the premium offering from Sky News,' said Rhodes. 'We see tremendous editorial and commercial opportunities in long-form journalism online and on TV. We're very fortunate to have Siobhan guiding and developing a slate of bold projects as the new Creative Director of Full Story Films.' Besides working at the Clintons' HiddenLight, Sinnerton was a commissioner at Channel 4 in the UK, where she commissioned the BAFTA-winning Myanmar's Killing Fields and the Oscar-nominated For Sama.
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