ViacomCBS Int'l Studios Launches Unified Sales Unit

Jake Kanter International TV EditorEXCLUSIVE: Grantchester actor Robson Green is to front a series for ViacomCBS’s UK broadcaster Channel 5 in which he explores the length of Roman Empire ruin, Hadrian’s Wall.The Scottish arm of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings producer Firecracker Films is producing the three-part series, which has the title Walking Hadrian’s Wall With Robson Green.Green will walk the wall, which stretches 80 miles from coast to coast in the north of England and served as the northerly

ViacomCBS is shuffling its top leadership ranks as it prepares to relaunch its streaming service CBS All Access next year. The company is combining its streaming efforts under a new group, dubbed ViacomCBS Streaming, that will have oversight of both subscription product CBS All Access — which is being rebranded as Paramount+ in 2021 — and free, ad-supported streamer Pluto TV.

ViacomCBS said on Monday that it has promoted Wincie Knight to the role of vp, global inclusion strategy at its ViacomCBS Networks International unit. Based in London, Knight will report to Marva Smalls, the New York-based executive vp of global inclusion at ViacomCBS and executive vp, public affairs, kids & family entertainment brands at ViacomCBS Media Networks, as well as Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS Networks U.K., Australia and Israel.

Christopher Vourlias ViacomCBS International Studios is setting its sights on Southern Europe, with company execs outlining their plans for the region at Rome’s MIA market on Saturday.“South Europe is a focus for us right now.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorTwo-time Oscar-nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), and BAFTA-nominee Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) have joined the cast of comedy-drama The Fantastic Flitcrofts alongside Mark Rylance with shooting now underway in the UK.Ahead of the shoot, eOne acquired UK distribution rights.

Jamie Lang In today’s Mipcom Roundup, ViacomCBS announces MIA attendance and its investment commitment in the Italian industry, NENT Studios U.K.

Naman Ramachandran The U.K.’s Film and TV Charity has launched the Whole Picture Program, a two-year initiative designed to to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the 200,000 people who work behind the scenes in film, TV and cinema.The Film and TV Charity has now secured £3 million ($3.87 million) in funding from Amazon Prime Video, Banijay U.K., BBC, BBC Studios, Channel 4, IMG, ITV, Sky, Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia to

Anna Marie de la Fuente ZDF Enterprises has snapped up international distribution rights, excluding North America, to new crime thriller series “Before We Die.”Produced by Eagle Eye Drama for Channel 4, the six-episode series is a remake of the eponymous noir show from Sweden. The U.K.

ViacomCBS' ViacomCBSNetworks International (VCNI) unit on Tuesday unveiled a "no diversity, no commission" production policy "to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by requiring that all new international productions be made by a diverse team." It said the initiative will apply to its business across five continents and more than 180 countries. The "no diversity, no commission" policy was initially launched byViacomCBSNetworks U.K.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: U.S. producer Joanne Rubino (Hatfields & McCoys), former President of Production at Think Factory Media, is launching LA-based Be Brave Media, with a slate of projects including a biopic of ‘chocolate king’ Milton Hershey.Be Brave will develop, package and produce between three to six projects a year.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentViacomCBS Intl.

Bruce Haring pmc-editorial-managerThe 28th Hamptons International Film Festival has honored director Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese’s This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection as its Best Narrative Feature.The event, running Oct. 8-14, announced its award winners at a virtual ceremony, handing out more than $29,500 in cash awards and $130,000 in goods and services.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS International Studios has announced that it is developing a TV series based on the life of Italian female artist Artemisia Gentileschi, who is considered to be one of the most accomplished painters in the Baroque period.ViacomCBS International Studios has attached Pan’s Labyrinth producer Frida Torresblanco to develop the project, while former ViacomCBS International Studios UK managing director Jill Offman is also involved through her new outfit 66

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJean-Paul Colaco, an experienced hand in the emerging practice of gaining ad support for streaming-video content, will serve as the new head of advertising sales at WarnerMedia, filling a role that has been left open for more than a year.Colaco, known to many as “JP,” has a history with WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentRevving up its streaming service expansion in Europe, ViacomCBS will launch leading AVOD service Pluto TV in Spain from the end of October. It will then roll out Pluto TV in France and Italy in 2021, the French launch being set for first quarter 2021, ViacomCBS Networks Intl.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorViacomCBS International Studios, the production and distribution arm of ViacomCBS Networks International, has unified its global sales unit and promoted two long-serving UK-based sales executives.Under the new structure, the company’s international program sales division, which previously focused on tape and format sales for network-branded content outside Latin America, is coming together with VIS’s sales division, which previously focused on the studio’s

Naman Ramachandran ViacomCBS International Studios (VIS) has revealed a unified distribution outfit called ViacomCBS International Studios Distribution that encompasses all studio sales business including co-productions, pre-sale, formats, tape sales and co-developments.The company’s former International Program Sales division that focused on tape and format sales for network-branded content outside Latin America including the Nickelodeon library and MTV formats, is now combined with VIS’s

BAFTA-winning writer and producer Anil Gupta has joined Sky Studios, the production arm of Comcast-owned pay TV giant Sky, as creative director for original comedy in the U.K. Gupta’s credits include Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No.

Jake Kanter International TV EditorAnil Gupta, the BAFTA-winning executive producer of the UK version of The Office, is joining Sky Studios in the newly-created role of creative director of comedy.Gupta will focus on boosting in-house comedy production at the Comcast-owned company and will report to Jon Mountague, Sky Studios’ director of comedy.As well as Ricky Gervais’ The Office, his credits include Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorEXCLUSIVE: Signature Entertainment has picked up UK and Aus/NZ rights out of the Toronto virtual market to Maisie Williams (Game Of Thrones) horror The Owners and Aus/NZ rights to Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch) thriller Lost Girls & Love Hotels.The deals were negotiated by the company’s Director of Acquisitions and Development Elizabeth Williams.Directed by French filmmaker Julius Berg (Netflix’s The Forest and Osmosis), home invasion chiller The Owners is is