Cineflix MBO results in new prodco

Two Cineflix Productions executives have launched their own indie after completing a management buy-out (MBO) of the international producer and distributor’s UK-based operations.

Camilla Lewis, who was MD at Cineflix Productions UK, and Rob Carey, the firm’s creative director, have formed Curve Media after striking the MBO with Cineflix Media.

Lewis and Carey will be joint CEOs of Curve and have appointed former Cineflix Productions exec Iain Taylor as director of development and Paul Day as director of production.

The firm will focus on factual and factual entertainment content for broadcasters in the UK and North America and already has a number of projects on its slate.

As part of the MBO, Curve has acquired a slate of programming and shows in development from Cineflix, including BBC1’s Claimed and Shamed, Salvage Hunters on Discovery Quest, Trauma Doctors: Every Second Counts on Channel 5 and CBBC’s Pet School (CBBC).

It has also revealed two new commissions, Going For A Drive with Richard Wilson for ITV1 in the UK and My Strange Pregnancy, which will air on TLC International.

Curve has also agreed a five-year output deal with BBC Worldwide, handing the commercial arm of the UK pubcaster global distribution rights to all new projects commissioned during the period.

Cineflix Rights will continue to distribute Cineflix Productions UK content, including Going For A Drive, and also has a first look option on further renewals of existing shows.

Glen Salzman and Katherine Buck, co-founders and co-CEOs of Cineflix Media, supported the move and added: “Cineflix Media remains committed to the UK, focusing our production activity through Buccaneer Media, our joint venture with Tony Wood, and our growing international distribution division Cineflix Rights.”

The ongoing restructure at Cineflix has already seen senior VP of acquisitions Noel Hedges leave the firm for London’s DRG. That followed the exit of Cineflix Productions CEO Simon Lloyd, who quit as part of Cineflix Media’s plan to scale back its Canadian activities to focus more on the US and the UK.