My Octopus Teacher Indie CCO Allison Bean Joins Wildflame; Out On Screen Fellowship; Banijay format procurement role; ‘Firenado’; Discovery’s “Ice Cold Catch” Global Briefing

My Octopus Teacher indie CCO Allison Bean joins Wildflame

Allison Bean, Chief Creative Officer of My octopus teacher Producer Off the Fence (OTF) joins Welsh Indie Wildflame Productions. As Creative Director, Bean will drive Wildflame’s international push, which saw Indie behind Discovery+s brink of disaster and Smithsonian Channels Secrets of the Celtic Tomb. Bean spent 16 years at OTF, part of ZDF Enterprises, overseeing the Academy Award-winning films My octopus teacher and Stan Lee’s Supermans for story. She was hailed by Wildflame CEO Paul Islwyn Thomas as “a major figure in the global manufacturing and distribution industry” who “built the company from its inception into an internationally renowned powerhouse of real manufacturing.”

Queer Charity on Screen Launches Programming Fellowship

EXCLUSIVE: The non-profit and queer arts organization Out On Screen has launched its first Programming Disruptor Fellowship, a mentoring initiative for BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ film curators. The award will award three aspiring film programmers, who identify as BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+, $10,000 and the chance to be an integral part of curating the 2023 Vancouver Queer Film Festival, where select grantees will be recognized as festival programmers. The initiative is led by Out On Screen Artistic Director Charlie Hidalgo. Applications are open until January 13th for programmers across Canada. Hidalgo said, “This grant will enable the curators of BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ to provide a platform for the voices that challenge systems of oppression and reshape our culture.” 2S refers to Two-Spirit, a modern umbrella term coined by some indigenous peoples. in the US (which they call Turtle Island) to describe gendered individuals in their communities

Banijay appoints Helen Greatorex as head of format acquisitions

Banijay responded quickly to replace Carlotta Rossi Spencer, head of format acquisitions, with senior global development producer Helen Greatorex. Rossi Spencer’s move to lead Banijay’s global branded content was announced yesterday, and Greatorex will follow in her footsteps and take the lead in bringing hit-potential unscripted titles to the super-indie company’s catalog headquarters in France. Greatorex, a former acquisitions executive at Endemol Shine Group who served as senior global development producer for just over a year, will continue to report to James Townley, global head of content development. “Helen has been an integral part of the team for a long time and it’s great that she is tackling acquisitions,” says Townley. “Her knowledge of content is extensive and her ability to spot an upcoming hit is like no other.”

Uncork’d Entertainment acquires Firenado and Spanish Horror

EXCLUSIVE: LA’s Uncork’d Entertainment took over Firenadoa disaster film by filmmakers Scott Jeffrey and Rhys Frake-Waterfield (blood and honey). The film follows four scientists who discover a breakthrough technology capable of controlling the weather that fails and causes a fire tornado, then encounter an organized crime group that breaks into the house while trying to support an evacuation. Uncork’d president Keith Leopard negotiated the deal with Dark Abyss Productions ahead of an early release in 2023. Other news: Uncork’d bought the film set of a Spanish horror anthology Vampire Horror Title, with segments by Victor Matellano, Isaac Berrocal and Manuel Martínez Velasco, among others. Set on Halloween night, it introduces Vampus, a grave digger and body thief who presents “four twisted tales of love, murder and various gruesome acts”. One Eyed Films’ Betina Goldman negotiated the deal with Leopard.

Discovery goes to Iceland for Ice Cold Catches

Discovery US and Discovery+ put Icelandic cod fisheries in the spotlight by a Deadliest catch-Similar factual series of British Indie famous films. Ice cold catch will follow the novices who want to pilot Icelandic longliners and make their fortune in icy, treacherous waters. The rookies face a grueling three-week trial and if they impress their captains and crew with their attitude, stamina and potential, they may find themselves on board during the peak season. Famous do Copwatch America for BET and Blinds in the backyard for bravo “Both the film crews and the fishermen on board these boats have done everything to deliver a truly remarkable series that, despite multiple constraints and challenges, embraces, exposes and reveals the unforgiving beauty of fishing in Iceland,” former executive principal Kate Maddigan said.