IM Global, Film.UA ink co-dev pact

MIPCOM: IM Global Television’s unscripted arm has agreed a co-development deal with Ukrainian studio Film.UA Group, it was announced in Cannes.

Phil Gurin

US format veteran Phil Gurin, president of unscripted and alternative programming at IM Global Television, sealed the deal with Kateryna Vyshnevska, head of development and coproduction at the Kiev-based company.

Film.UA produces shows including drama The Sniffer, which has been sold to Netflix and adapted in France and Japan, and The Red Queen. It is also behind feature film Battle for Sevastopol, acquired by 20th Century Fox, as well as high-tech talkshow format World of Humans.

The pact comes soon after Gurin signed a similar deal with French prodco Newen and coproduction and development deals with format-focused Spark Media, factual entertainment specialist Double Yellow TV and Denise Harrop’s prodco 3 Magic Monkies. IMGTV also has long-standing co-development alliances with CBC in Canada and Fuji TV in Japan.

“As we grow our international formats and production business, we are thrilled to collaborate with one of Eastern Europe’s leading creative teams,” Gurin said of the Film.UA deal.

“The exclusive content we will develop together assures IM Global Television a unique pipeline and an exciting initiative in this part of the world – and beyond. Together we can bring exciting new concepts to the market.”

Vyshnevska added: “IM Global Television is exactly the kind of partner we were looking for to take the ideas that we are developing in non-scripted, digital and VR/AR technology and CGI-driven space internationally.”

In related news, IM Global TV has acquired North and South American production rights to Kite Entertainment series Fittest Family. The show is going into its fifth season on RTÉ1 in Ireland and Magnify Media has worldwide distribution rights.

“We have seen many physical competition shows, but the unique storytelling of families competing and working together to earn the title is original and compelling. Excellent storytelling meets thrilling challenges in a fresh narrative format,” said Gurin.