Latest news with #FederationStudios
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Imax, Federation & Imago Join Forces On Documentary ‘Patrouille De France'
Imax is embarking on its first-ever foreign language documentary, partnering with Federation Studios and Imago Production on Patrouille de France. The film will chronicle a year in the life of the aerobatics team of the French Air and Space Force, from the selection process and intense training to its signature elite aerial displays. The announcement was made today at the Cannes Film Festival where, three years ago, the troupe buzzed the Palais in a stunning tribute ahead of the Top Gun: Maverick premiere. Currently in production and set for an early 2026 release, Patrouille de France is being developed in partnership with Paris-based production giant Federation Studios and newly created indie production company Imago Production. Mathieu Giombini directs. More from Deadline Sarah Paulson, Toni Collette, Dianne Wiest & Toby Wallace Leading Cody Fern's 'Mother Courage'; Mk2 Launching At Cannes Market 'Snabba Cash' & 'Paradis City' Makers Team For Legal Thriller 'Burden Of Justice' From SVT, Strive Stories & Film i Vast; Scandi Pubcasters & DR Sales Attached Neon Taps Ryan Werner As President Of Global Cinema Distribution will be handled by Pathé exclusively in Imax across France, with select international locations to be added following its initial release. Federation Studios will handle non-theatrical distribution. Commented Imax CEO Rich Gelfond, 'Imax is synonymous with awe-inspiring experiences, and we're excited to expand our ever-growing portfolio of films and events with Patrouille de France… France continues to be one of our most exciting markets worldwide — with passionate audiences who've enjoyed everything from films to docs to concerts and sports in Imax — and Patrouille de France offers yet another new way to serve our audiences and grow our business.' Added Giombini, who also serves as Director of the Image Department at France's renowned film school La Fémis, 'Making an Imax film about the Patrouille de France means capturing excellence on a scale never seen before. It creates a total visual and sound immersion, and an unprecedented sensory experience.' Imago Production's Isabelle Dagnac said, 'We are particularly proud to produce this film, the first French documentary ever produced for Imax, which offers a unique and breathtaking opportunity to fly with the elite of the best pilots.' Best of Deadline Where To Watch All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies: Streamers With Multiple Films In The Franchise Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Federation Studios Strikes Deal With Taiwan's Content Agency
Federation Studios has struck a deal with the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). Unveiled at Series Mania, the partnership will 'offer a fast track for creators, producers, investors, and distributors from both sides to ensure market access in Asia and Europe,' according to the pair. More from Deadline Sally Wainwright Reveals How Her Band Of 'Riot Women' Learned To Play A Tune - Series Mania Gwyneth Paltrow's "Irresponsible" Intimacy Coordinator Remarks Criticized By North Road's Caroline Hollick - Series Mania BBC, ZDF Team On Darkly Comic Berlin-Set Spy Series 'Honey' From 'Killing Eve' Producer The 'strategic alliance' will see new projects and more networking between the two continents. It comes following renewed co-operation between European and Asian players of late. The agreement was signed by Pascal Breton, president of Federation Studios and TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai, while it was witnessed by Jérémie Kessler, European and International Affairs director from CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée) and Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Séries Mania. During a signing ceremony, Breton said: 'This agreement is a fantastic opportunity for Federation to develop films and series shot and co-produced in Taiwan, and to reinforce our distribution base for our European catalogue in the Asian territories. The exceptional expertise of Taiwanese professionals in technological innovation, as well as their creativity in the audiovisual industries, will be a major asset and we aim at combining and optimizing them with Federation's talents and know-how.' TAICCA chairperson Homme Tsai added that through this cooperative partnership with Federation Studios, Taiwan will be able to optimize the exchange of resources with Europe, while boosting the development potential of cultural and creative industries in the global market. The Bureau super-indie Federation is currently seeking hundreds of millions via a cash injection and was recently in L.A. courting buyers. Established six years back, the TAICCA facilitates the development of Taiwan's content industries including film and TV. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery How To Watch 'Wicked: Part One': Is The Film Streaming Yet? All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federation Studios Comes To Market: Owners Seek Hundreds Of Millions Via Cash Injection & Head To U.S. To Kickstart Next Phase Of Growth
EXCLUSIVE: Rumors have swirled that Federation Studios is on the block for more than a year now and today we can exclusively reveal that a hefty chunk of the French powerhouse producer-distributor is up for grabs. Bosses at the Around the World in 80 Days and The Bureau studio told us that they are seeking hundreds of millions of pounds in investment via the sale of a minimum 40% stake of the company, while valuing Federation at around the €500M to €600M ($513M to $616M) mark. Montefiore Investments, which in 2021 invested €50M in Federation for one third of the studio, is exiting, while BNP Paribas and Bpifrance remain minority investors. Founders Pascal Breton and Lionel Uzan, along with Group Co-MD Marco Chimenz, are heading to America to kickstart what they are calling their next growth phase, having appointed Morgan Stanley as advisor. More from Deadline Avalon-Backed The Agency Unveils Managing Directors Comcast & Paramount's Euro Streamer SkyShowtime Orders Spanish Comedy Original 'Nails' French TV Distributors Pin Hopes On New-Look Paris Screenings In Absence Of MIPTV 'The potential for growth is extremely strong, especially in Europe,' said Breton, who launched Federation just over a decade ago after selling his company Marathon. 'We have 55 producers [within the company] and feel we can double that in the next two to three years, so we want to replace Montefiore and find a stronger partner for the future.' Montefiore had a 33% stake but Federation is looking for an investor to take at least 40%. Bosses declined comment as to whether they would be happy selling a majority stake of more than 50%. At its current approximate valuation, a 40% stake in Federation would be worth around €220M. The firm has 250 employees with operations across Paris, Berlin, Cologne, L.A., London, Madrid, Rome and Tel-Aviv. Although things have stepped up as they head to the U.S., Breton said the company has been having these conversations for years. He rejected the notion that he and Uzan are selling Federation in the traditional sense of the term or that they will step back in any way. 'We are not 'for sale',' he said. 'A lot of people are talking to us but it has been like that for the past four years. This is not adding €10M there or €20M here – which is something we have done every six months or so because we are growing – it is bigger and more significant, but we are not for sale and we are considering every option.' Uzan added: 'If a sale means we are looking for additional capital then yes we are but in a bigger way. This is interesting for us because it is the first time we are talking about this in a precise and specific way.' Big TV slate needs capital What is Federation – a studio that Breton believes is 'probably the only company in Europe that can deliver 37 series in a year and 25 movies,' as it did last year – going to do with a big ol' capital injection? The answer is multi-pronged yet English language is at the forefront of the owners' minds. They are coming off the back of the launch of The Agency, Showtime's adaptation of French hit The Bureau that has already been recommissioned and is EP'd by Breton and George Clooney, amongst others. 'English-speaking shows are not easy to finance and this is the big topic of the moment,' said Breton. 'For that we need to raise capital.' Uzan added that the money will be used for a mix of 'creation, investment in companies and investment in specific projects, especially big English-speaking shows.' He flagged Around the World in 80 Days, the David Tennant-starring 2021 adaptation picked up by major European pubcasters. Intriguingly, Uzan revealed that Federation does not have just one more of these hefty international co-pros in the works but another eight to 10, all of which are in English and plan to start shooting in the next two years. A TV adaptation of Gulliver's Travels, made with Nautilus producer Moonriver, was unveiled last week. 'From one, four years ago we now have close to 10,' said Uzan. 'The blueprint was Around the World. From that we started to build projects but that takes time and we are coming to that moment where these projects have matured and found an anchor broadcaster.' Watch this space, was Uzan's signal over these projects, which will represent a huge amount of work for the studio. This work could be picked up by adding more labels to the group, which Breton said is pivotal for growth. We can reveal that Federation has opened a JV with storied French director-producer Jérôme Salle, whose credits include Anthony Zimmer (which spawned U.S. remake The Tourist starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp), Orlando Bloom-starrer Zulu and last year's Becoming Karl Lagerfeld series. Baxked with a majority Federation stake, his new company Syzygy will make international films and series and Breton said it is 'now in a position to produce three big-budget series of international scope.' Another Italian JV will be unveiled soon, according to Breton. The team forged a production banner with The Bureau creator Eric Rochant in late 2023. There are also 'new frontiers' of revenue to be sought, Breton added, pointing to animation (Federation recently acquired France's GO-N Productions), licensing, sport and digital exploitation of a growing catalog. He praised the way in which the team behind Golden Globe-sweeper Emilia Pérez partnered with Yves Saint Laurent and posited such deals could be a 'new avenue' for Federation. 'We are only 10 [years old] and used to have no catalog but now after 10 years we have a catalog that can be exploited in those areas, that long tail,' added Uzan. 'Envisioning how we could monetize or create multiple streams of revenue was theoretical, but it is becoming real.' Who's investing? As Federation's chats with investors and buyers ratchet up over the coming months, noise will of course grow louder over the identity of these outfits. Last year's biggest international M&A deal, the £1.15B sale of The Traitors maker All3Media, ended with a takeover by American-UAE private equity firm RedBird IMI. Meanwhile, Federation rivals ITV Studios and Fremantle are both rumored to be on the block, while Banijay remains acquisitive and newer players like North Road are part of this evolving conversation. Breton is holding his cards close to his chest but said the company has been 'speaking to the usual suspects in the last three to four years at least three to four times per year.' 'You know the guys, we know the guys, they are the same people in the market,' he added. He floated whether a 'hybrid company that is strategic' or a 'big private equity fund' would work as investors in the current climate, stressing that 'we don't want someone who never did anything in movies or series because they need to understand [the business].' The investor needs to be 'complementary' and an 'interesting fit strategy wise,' Uzan added. If or when a suitor jumps aboard, they will become part of a company that is 'really profitable' and has 'fantastic' projections for next year based on shows and movies in production, according to Chimenz, who was speaking to the press for the first time since joining from Gomorrah studio Cattleya a year ago. Federation's 2023 turnover was reported to be €260M and profits have grown 28% per year over the last three years, the company says, with the studio projecting similar for 2025 and 2026. Chimenz, who mainly oversees strategy for Federation's labels outside France, said it is 'testament to the success of our first generation' that Montefiore is exiting after less than four years, as this demonstrates Federation 'has grown and can monetize' in Europe. 'Federation is a strong European company and we sense this vibrancy in the old continent,' he added. 'There are possibilities for companies like ours who have found ways to put together ambitious series even in an apparent moment of scarcity of financing.' The start ups that Federation bought three or four years ago are now producing and delivering big series on their own, Chimenz added, while he believes the company powerfully integrates its distribution arm with its 'galaxy of production entities around Europe.' Chimenz has been focusing on the States, where The Agency has given Federation a serious dose of momentum. Federation's JV with storied producer Patrick Wachsberger has meanwhile birthed four movie projects that are seeking studio and streamer funding including Emilia Jones-starring romance Charlie Harper, Sian Heder's Impossible and high-profile Jeneva Rose adaptation The Perfect Marriage. Storied movie producer Wachsberger will, however, now be simultaneously focusing efforts on a new film production and sales banner opened with Legendary Entertainment, news that broke after Federation's interview with Deadline. According to Uzan, IP is key to continuing to crack the American market. He pointed again to Federation's 'long tail' and noted that the streamers' more flexible rights position has allowed shows and remakes to 'live together' concurrently in the landscape, citing the example of Israel's Your Honor, which has been remade in a number of key territories including on Showtime in the U.S. The 'philosophy' To that end, 'sales companies are back,' according to Chimenz. He spotlights Federation's launch of international theatrical sales division Ginger & Fed in late 2023 – seller of movies like apocalyptic thriller Survive – as evidence Federation is leaning in to movie sales. 'We have a sales company [in Ginger & Fed] that really completes and combines the work of co-pro execs to help make projects happen,' said Chimenz. 'This is very hard to accomplish but it is easier if you have indies that work as part of the group and producers at the top [of Federation] who lead this system. The people in the middle obviously then understand the philosophy of both and work in the same direction.' That Federation 'philosophy' is raised multiple times during our hour-long interview and is reflected in chats we have with those who work for the studios' labels. Insiders tell us the Federation bosses take a genuinely collaborative approach and are heavily immersed in content strategy yet simultaneously happy to pass over responsibility for big individual projects. One says they are sometimes pleasantly surprised by how transparent Breton chooses to be with information-sharing about the wider company. 'They run it as a collective in a way that I've never experienced,' this insider told us. A 'collective' approach will be needed more than ever in these times of market contraction but the Federation bosses believe there is plenty room for optimism as Europe has a strong foundation for international co-pros and a solid regulatory system. 'In the U.S. there has clearly been contraction over the last two years but Europe has not really diminished in terms of investment,' explained Uzan. 'I think it is not contracting but it is more difficult, which in a way we believe is good news in the sense that only the most skilful and focused will thrive and survive. The package has to be stronger, IP has to be stronger, creativity has to be at the top and every single broadcaster and streamer requires profitability.' He added: 'With all the skills we have and great people, we believe we can solve that Rubik's Cube.' In a year's time, Federation could be solving that Rubik's Cube with a fair bit more money at its disposal. Best of Deadline How to Watch The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Online And With Cable 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More The 2025 Oscars: Everything We Know So Far About The Nominations, Ceremony, Date & Host Sign in to access your portfolio
