The London TV Screenings Hot List: What Buyers Need To Know About The Distributors Selling ‘Wolf Hall’, Jenna Coleman & Elizabeth Taylor Shows
Welcome to Deadline’s London TV Screenings list, our definitive look at next week’s buzzy event taking Soho by storm. If you’re wondering who’s exhibiting, what’s on offer and want to dive deeper into the distribs’ strategy, we’ve done the hard work for you, presenting profiles from nearly 30 exhibiting sales houses. Below, check out profiles for all the London TV Screenings founders, along with the outfits based in the UK. Read on, and find all our London TV Screenings content throughout the week here.
THE FOUNDERS
ALL3MEDIA INTERNATIONAL
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Key shows
Parenthood – Silverback Films’ natural history series about the extreme lengths parents go to to ensure the survival of their offspring.
The Underdog – Truman Show-style guessing game format that sees social media influencers compete in a popularity contest alongside one person without an online following.
Protection – ITV thriller based on the first-hand experiences of a long serving witness protection officer.
Screening: Thursday, 12.30pm-4.15pm, Odeon Leicester Square
BANIJAY
Key shows
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – Based on the final novel in Hilary Mantel’s trilogy and directed by Peter Kosminsky, this six-part BBC and PBS series follows Thomas Cromwell as he continues to navigate the moral complexities of the Tudor court following the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife.
Front Row – Exec produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, this premium doc follows a group of Ukrainian ballet dancers in exile as they take a message of peace and identity through dance.
Deal or No Deal Island – Iconic spin-off show set on the banker’s private island.
Key genres: Scripted, premium documentary, entertainment, reality, formats.
Strategy: Banijay says its mission is to deliver another high-quality event for international buyers at its ‘Banijay at BAFTA’ screening. With more demand than ever for tentpole dramas, formats and premium documentary fare, the day is divided across three dedicated showcase sessions in a bid to offer clients more breadth.
Screening: Wednesday, 9am-4pm, BAFTA Piccadilly.
BBC STUDIOS
Key shows
Douglas is Cancelled – Hugh Bonneville and Karen Gillan star in this cancel comedy drama written by Steven Moffat and produced by Hartswood Films in association with SkyShowtime.
The Jetty – Crime thriller starring Jenna Coleman which asks big questions about sexual morality, identity and memory, in the places that #MeToo has left behind.
Asia – Ambitious landmark series from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, which tells the story of the biggest continent on Earth through epic landscapes and spectacular wildlife.
Key genres: Scripted, unscripted, formats, childrens.
Strategy: Taking place at a new central London location for 2024, BBC Studios Showcase, which for the second year running is taking place during Screenings week, continues to be the biggest single studio content event, according to the BBC. This year’s edition will offer a bespoke experience tailored to customer’s needs, from match-making opportunities with the creative teams behind BBC Studios’ labels, production units and indie partners to discuss projects at early stages, to genre-led presentations highlighting current and upcoming content.
Screening: Monday and Tuesday, all day, 180 Studios, 180 The Strand.
FREMANTLE
Key shows
Costiera – Amazon Prime Video Italy action series from Lux Vide and Adam Bernstein (30 Rock) set on the Amalfi Coast.
Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar [working title] – Kim Kardashian-produced premium doc billed as the “definitive series” about the life of one of Hollywood’s ultimate leading ladies.
Hot Mess Summer – Rylan-hosted entertainment format for Prime Video in which troubled young things run a bar in Zante.
Key genres: Drama, docs, formats.
Strategy: Moving to a new home this year, Fremantle’s showcase will be an immersive one led by the Elizabeth Taylor doc that packs a serious punch with the buy-in of Kim Kardashian. Fremantle is the only distrib exhibiting on Friday and is splitting between drama and docs, and formats.
Screening: Friday, 9.30am-11am (drama & docs – Odeon Luxe), 11am-12pm (formats Odeon Luxe West End)
ITV STUDIOS
Key shows
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story – Compelling ITV true crime show starring Lucy Boynton, shedding new light on Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in Britain.
Tik Tok Murders – Explores three chilling murder cases that went viral on the world’s fastest growing social media app, hosted by Zara McDermott.
A Party to Die For – Traitors-esque Dutch reality series in which one player is ‘murdered’ and others turn detective.
Key genres: Drama, entertainment, factual-entertainment, documentary.
Strategy: ITV Studios is positioning its London TV Screening slate in the premium category, with three showcases at Leicester Square’s Odeon cinema providing an iconic entertainment setting to sell that story. ITV’s sales division has the early buzz series of the year on its slate in Mr Bates vs the Post Office and we understand a number of deals are set to close. ITV’s sales unit is also reporting strong demand for content from the EMEA markets and notes that there has been an increase in supply as U.S. studios return to the market.
Screening: Tuesday, 10.30am-7.30pm, Odeon Luxe Leicester Square
THE BRITS
ABACUS MEDIA RIGHTS
Key shows
The Boy That Never Was — Follows Dillon, a three-year-old child who vanished in Essaouira, Morocco.
The Cuckoo — Dark family secrets resurface in this Channel 5 show about a family who relocate to the countryside hoping to leave financial strife and family conflict behind.
Scrublands — Stan show about a charismatic and dedicated young priest (Jay Ryan) who calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners. One year later investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) arrives to write what should be a simple feature story on the anniversary of the tragedy, but instincts kick in.
Key genres: Scripted (drama, comedy, kids, animation), documentary features and series, non-fiction & entertainment series.
Strategy: Abacus is focusing on commercial-style shows that it badges as “must-have limited series, returnable franchises or one-off events,” which are in high demand. With producers finding it difficult to get commissions greenlit, it says it is working across a variety of methods to keep generating content for its partners.
Screening: Tuesday, 6pm-9pm, Charlotte Street Hotel.
BOSSANOVA
Key shows
The Infinite Deep: Stories of Lost Submarines – Gripping documentary series delves into the world’s most notorious cases of lost submarines, offering expert analysis on the true causes behind some of the most mysterious and tragic catastrophes.
Secret Stories of the Museums – Uncovers intriguing stories of museum objects, their conservation, and unexpected origins, as professionals reveal rare collections and tales from artists, journeys, characters and social contexts.
The Push – During a weekend getaway to Edinburgh’s iconic ‘Arthur’s Seat,’ the joyous celebration of a young couple turns tragic as Fawziyah Javed, a 31-year-old lawyer and expectant mother, fatally plunges from the rocky summit, unveiling darker details that hint at a potential murder in the picturesque setting.
Key Genres: Factual, factual entertainment.
Strategy: BossaNova says its strategy is to “hold our nerve and stick to the carefully crafted three-pronged plan,” which involves building up existing franchises such as Borderforce USA, Highway Cops and Dog Patrol, birthing new ones such as Secrets of the Lost Liners and “watching and waiting” for docs and limited series like The Infinite Deep and The Push. This liberates and declutters the team’s objectives, according to the company, fully focusing sales efforts.
Screening: Wednesday, 7-10pm, The Century Club (invitation only).
DCD RIGHTS
Key shows
Thou Shalt Not Steal – Noah Taylor-starring Australian series in which Robyn, a young Aboriginal delinquent, escapes from detention and reluctantly teams up with awkward teenager Gidge.
Emergency First Time Medics – Doc series following a group of junior doctors working in the emergency department for the very first time.
The Best of Chicago Transit Authority & More Live at 55 – The band perform classic tracks from its seminal debut album, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary.
Key genres: Scripted, factual, high-end music.
Strategy: DCD Rights heads into the Screenings showcasing new drama, factual and music content to broadcasters and streamers. Its event at the Vue cinema is being designed as an informative and targeted presentation featuring clips and talent across the slate from producers in the UK, U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Highlights will include the sneak peek into footage from Stan’s road trip thriller Thou Shalt Not Steal. DCD Rights is sharing its screening with Hat Trick International.
Screening: Tuesday, 4.30pm-8pm, The Vue Leicester Square.
HAT TRICK INTERNATIONAL
Key shows
Spinal Destination – Sky New Zealand comedy about a woman in a spinal unit left paralyzed.
Michael Mosley: Secrets of Your Big Shop – Channel 4 series in which the presenter takes a leap to uncover the truth behind the nation’s health problems.
The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok – Following host Zara McDermott as she heads to the U.S. to uncover the story of four University of Idaho students found dead in their beds in November 2022, and the social media frenzy that followed.
Key genres: Comedy, factual, entertainment.
Strategy: Hat Trick International continues to have access to strong UK series from its parent company such as Derry Girls, Bloodlands and DI Ray, but its third-party business remains a key strategic play. The firm represents more than 30 producers from across the globe – and this will mean buyers will see a batch of new comedy and factual on the slate. New shows launching come from the likes of Keo Films, Summer Films, Great Southern Film & Television, STV and Lune Media. Hat Trick is sharing its screening with DCD Rights.
Screening: Tuesday, 4.30pm-8pm, The Vue Leicester Square.
PASSION DISTRIBUTION
Key shows
Help! We Bought A Hotel – Aspirational observational documentary series that tells the stories of brave people who have given up their jobs, homes and lives to invest in their long-term dream.
Churchill’s Forgotten War – When Churchill came to power at the beginning of World War II, the fear of a ‘fifth column’ of Nazi spies and sympathizers on home soil was at fever pitch. For the first time, the doc tells us the stories of these mainly innocent men.
Key genres: Premium factual.
Strategy: The showcase will be the main focus, providing an opportunity for this London-headquartered sales house to share exclusive highlights of the forthcoming slate and catch up with clients in person.
Screening: Wednesday, 3.30pm-6.30pm, Groucho Club.
TVF INTERNATIONAL
Key shows
Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre – A harrowing account of the massacre carried out by Hamas at the music festival on October 7, told through first responder and survivor testimony, and eyewitness footage from Hamas’ and survivors’ phones.
Australia’s Open – With access to archive footage from the most electrifying moments of tennis history, including the Williams’ sisters finals clash and the Nadal-Federer rivalry, viewers can take a peek behind the scenes of this iconic tournament.
Marlon Brando: In Paradise – Contains exclusive access to the Godfather’s family and close friends, spotlighting his lesser-known passion for conservation and pioneering efforts to protect the endangered island of Tetiaroa in the Pacific.
Key genres: Premium factual, unscripted, factual entertainment, formats.
Strategy: Just three months after launching 200 new hours at Mipcom, TVF is bringing another 60 of premium factual and unscripted programing to market for The London Screenings. Over drinks and canapés at Icetank Studios in Soho, buyers will meet TVF’s 10 full-time sales execs who speak over 12 languages and represent one of the largest sales teams in the industry, it says.
Screening: Wednesday, 4pm-7pm, Icetank Studio.
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