Ellen Windemuth launched OFF THE FENCE from her basement 25 years ago. In this week’s podcast, Ellen: Looks back at her company’s launch. Reflects on the particular challenges then for women in a male-dominated industry. Explores how Off The Fence grew into an industry-leading independent distributor / producer with a turnover of around $20 million. Describes her …
With MIPDoc and MIPTV only a few days away, here is a sneak preview of what’s coming up from ZDFE.unscripted, the factual department of ZDF Enterprises. ZDFE.unscripted is heading to Cannes with an impressive slate of new programs and two sessions not to be missed: ZDF Enterprises’ Ralf Rueckauer and Off the Fence’s Ellen Windemuth …
Today I learned that Russ Kagan had passed away after a brief illness. Russell played an outsize role in Discovery’s journey from struggling new channel to factual behemoth by introducing promising new sources of programs. He tutored Discovery’s fledgling programmers (and consultants) on how to execute numerous deal types that weren’t then considered possible for …
United Skates won the 2018 Tribeca Audience Award, attracted John Legend as an executive producer, and earned a deal with HBO. It’s a great achievement for the producer / director team of Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown: They worked for five years on their first documentary feature. Tina Brown shared the filmmakers’ inspirational story for …
by Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting. The most important change at Sundance this year was the unprecedented success of women. US Dramatic Competition included nine films directed or co-directed by women and eight films directed or co-directed by men. This was a remarkable change from the consistent selection in each of the previous four years of …
Quibi is showing up in my conversations as an active buyer that is outbidding legacy networks. The ‘Quibi’ brand name does not refer to a Vietnamese appetizer: It is short for ‘quick bites.’ Funded by Disney, Alibaba, Comcast and others, it is a video streaming venture run by corporate heavyweights Meg Whitman (CEO) and Jeffrey …
Don’t miss the opportunity to pitch buyers and funders at the internationally-renowned documentary marketplace in La Rochelle from 24 to 27 June 2019. Each June, Sunny Side of the Doc creates a unique opportunity for the most exciting non-fiction concepts to be pitched in front of 300 top-level international buyers, commissioners and distributors. Through 5 …
The feature documentary is booming. That’s the message from Sundance 2019. Reported bids for rights approach $20 million. Topping the list is Knock Down the House, the Sundance Audience Award winner that captures the run for Congress in 2018 of the “AOC” superstar Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The SVOD giant reportedly bid $10 million for worldwide rights. That’s …