This year’s Cannes Film Festival will be a major event for Elisabeth d’Arvieu, managing director of Mediawan Pictures. With five productions in the official selection and one in Critics’ Week, her team has much to celebrate.
D’Arvieu, a passionate movie lover, developed her interest in films while earning her MBA from Baruch College in New York, where she continues to watch a film daily.
Mediawan’s celebration at Cannes begins with Quentin Dupieux’s opening film The Second Act. They also have contenders like Gilles Lellouche’s Hearts, Kirill Serebrennikov’s Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie, the epic The Count of Monte-Cristo showing out of competition, and Julien Colonna’s Le Royaume in Un Certain Regard.
Mediawan’s selection showcases its commitment to diverse talents and genres, aiming to reach broad audiences with heartfelt stories. D’Arvieu emphasizes their goal to support various talents and genres, striving for broad appeal.
The company’s stakes in Hugo Sélignac’s Chi-Fou-Mi Prods. and Dimitri Rassam’s Chapter 2 contributes to their strong presence at Cannes. At last month’s CinemaCon, Mediawan’s Plan B Entertainment previewed upcoming films like Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 and Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Mediawan’s acquisition of Plan B in late 2022 expanded their portfolio, including projects like the George Clooney-Brad Pitt thriller Wolfs and a Formula 1 drama featuring Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem. These titles are produced with Apple Studios, while Plan B’s 3 Body Problem continues to attract viewers on Netflix.
In France, Chi-Fou-Mi’s partnership with Studiocanal has led to successes like The Stronghold and November, while Chapter 2 collaborates with Pathé on ambitious projects like The Three Musketeers.
D’Arvieu explains that Mediawan’s independence from exclusive deals allows them to develop and finance projects without fixed distribution structures, attracting talent with creative and financial freedom.
Producers in the Mediawan network appreciate this freedom and the support they receive from d’Arvieu and her team. Ian Bonhôte of Misfits Entertainment praises Mediawan’s proactive approach, while Chi-Fou-Mi’s Sélignac values their market insight and feedback on scripts.
Chapter 2’s Dimitri Rassam highlights d’Arvieu’s adaptability to different production needs, and Palomar’s Nicola Serra notes that Mediawan has helped the Italian company expand internationally, including partnerships with U.S. players like CAA.
After acquiring a controlling interest in German film and TV giant Leonine Studios, Mediawan is eyeing future acquisitions in English, Nordic, and Asian markets, adding to their 80 production company partnerships.
Mediawan's Elisabeth d'Arvieu on Key to Studio's Success: 'We Guarantee Independence' https://t.co/SxbnI68QAW
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D’Arvieu and her team are already creating synergies among their holdings, such as a co-production between France’s 24 25 and Italy’s Palomar to adapt Fresh Water for Flowers.
D’Arvieu notes that their literary scouting service helps detect valuable intellectual properties, supporting ambitious projects. In today’s challenging market, the ability to assemble international casts, shoot in Europe, and finance through integrated co-productions gives Mediawan a significant edge. Source
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