ONLINE ORIGINALS: Is the VOD-led production boom sustainable?

Date: 29 September, 16:00-17:00

Venue: KKI platform / Kino Muranów

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Streaming services have emerged as the biggest commissioners of production in Europe and the appetite for original online film and series was accelerated during the Covid shutdown. Original content available on-demand has been led by the US giants, such as Disney, Amazon, Disney, HBO and Viacom, but broadcasters and growing multinational media companies are rapidly expanding. For producers, an expanding market for new content is promising and countries like Poland have been beneficiaries but it comes with potential challenges and questions about long-term viability.

This session will look at:

Market trends and developments and what today’s new realities tell us about the future prospects for a sustainable production boom.

The producer experience of working with streamers in producing content. What are the differences with previous theatrical and broadcast models.

What streamers want and expect: How to maximise the opportunities of working with streaming platforms for producers and how to navigate the SVOD world, including control over rights.

Production diversity: Production today is a mixed economy with a variety of different models. The session looks at how to create a successful and sustainable business where VOD will sit alongside other models.

HOST

Michael Gubbins

Analyst, journalist and consultant, SampoMedia (UK)

Michael is an international analyst, journalist and consultant, who has been working in the film, audiovisual and media sector for more than 15 years. He works across the film value chain, and is an advisor to Europa Cinemas, EUROVOD and Europa Distribution. He served for seven years as chair of regional screen agency Ffilm Cymru Wales until 2019. His business SampoMedia has worked with business and industry organisations in more than 30 countries on developments in the audiovisual, media and cultural sectors. He was editor of business titles, including Screen International and Screen Daily, and Music Week in a 25-year career in newspapers and magazines and led the West Midlands Screen Bureau creative clusters initiative in 2018-2019.

During lockdown, he has written a major report on independent VOD, led a Zoom series and report on New Realities in Film for UniFrance, and workshops in Venice, Rome, as well as online workshops in the US, Poland, Sweden and Colombia.

SPEAKERS

Jakub Karwowski

CEO Letko (Poland)

Co-founder and president of the Letko animation studio in Warsaw. He is also the co-creator of concepts for animated projects, a script consultant, executive producer, and head of the positivity of the Studio, which he has been running since 2015. Member of the Polish Animation Producers Association and the Producer’s Guild of Poland. Among his other functions, Jakub is also the executive producer of the series Odo, which has been sold to television networks in over 100 countries, the feature film Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs and one of the co-producers of Mariusz Wilczyński’s film Kill It and Leave This Town. Jakub has made 8 auteur projects which have been exhibited in over 50 countries.

Cyprian Marchewka

Development & Creative Producer, Mediabrigade (Poland)