Keo eyes US, formats push

UK indie Keo Films, the prodco behind award-winning series Hugh’s Fish Fight, aims to push into the US and format sales.

Keo enjoyed a successful 2011, scooping Baftas and Grierson awards for its Fish Fight campaign and Terry Pratchett-fronted doc Choosing to Die.

The company recently appointed Debbie Manners, chair of producers’ body Pact, as a non-executive director to oversee its expansion.

MD Zam Baring told C21 he is keen to see the company make an impact in the US. “We get the odd commission from the US but have not really nailed a proper returning series, and we’re making a big focus on that this year. I want us to get a couple of commissions away and begin to target America,” he said.

“We may possibly partner with other production companies in terms of setting up offices, although not immediately.

“We think that our Living With The Amish brand might have legs in America, and Three Hungry Boys probably has some legs as a format.”

Manners told C21 she was keen to see Keo’s brand and programme-making reputation develop into an international format sales business.

She said: “It would be good to expand and do more projects that could be formats for other parts of the world. Keo programmes sell incredibly well around the world. We can definitely grow that revenue line.”