Irish television companies are this week gearing up for the MIP series of international showcase events, which takes place in Cannes, France, from this Friday (March 30) and runs until April 4.
MIP TV is the biggest of the four showcase events for the television industry which also includes MIPdoc, MIPcube and MIPformats. MIPTV begins on Sunday (April 1) and runs until Wednesday.
Enterprise Ireland will once again return to the Palais de Festival to host the Ireland on Screen stand. It will be located at stand number 02.30 in hall number one. RTE Television will host an adjacent stand.
Irish companies heading to France under the Ireland on Screen umbrella are: Network Ireland Television, Big Mountain Production, Screen Scene, Screentime ShinAwil, Telegael, Tile Films, Tyrone Productions, Video Elephant, Like It Love It, Vision Independent Productions, Windmill Lane Pictures, Dublin Film Distributors and Zink Films.
A networking reception will be held by Ireland on Screen next Monday (April 2) which will aim to showcase the companies heading out under the Ireland on Screen umbrella. RTE Television will also attend the event.
A crucial showcase on the international television calendar, MIP TV provides Irish delegates an opportunity to showcase their content and skills with international buyers in the hope of sealing sales, commissioning, financing and co-production deals with global TV producers, distributors, buyers, sellers and more.
Speaking to IFTN, Eileen Bell, Enterprise Ireland's Digital Media Development Advisor, noted that this year sees a particularly strong contingent of Irish delegates heading to MIPTV.
She said: “It really is a strong year in terms of the Irish contingent attending this year. It’s a strong contingent because there’s a strong selection of participants that ranges from post-production to distribution, formats, factual, content creation and animation. So there’s a good range of Irish companies attending.
“These are also companies with some real success stories behind them and MIPTV is a key market for these companies to showcase their work.”
Bell added: “Enterprise Ireland are pleased to be collaborating with the Irish Film Board on the Ireland on Screen presence at MIPTV and with RTE, who will host a neighboring stand.”
RTE will be represented by delegates from Programme Sales, Programme Acquisitions, as well as two commissioning editors.
The Irish Film Board will be represented by its chief executive, James Hickey, as well as film commissioner Naoise Barry.
MIP TV will be preceded by MIPdoc and MIPcube and MIPformats, which all begin this Friday (March 30) and run until Saturday.
A host of Irish delegates will also be present at those three events.
Taking place at the JW Marriott hotel in Cannes, Monster Entertainment, RTE Television, TG4 and Video Elephant Ltd will all attend MIPdoc.
Edel Edwards, programme sales manager with RTE Television, told IFTN that the station’s key titles at MIPdoc are ‘Hostile Environments’ and ‘MND - The Inside Track’.
Presented by Irish actor Liam Cunningham, ‘Hostile Environments’ was produced by Tony Deegan and RTÉ.
‘MND - The Inside Track’ was presented by RTE Sports broadcaster Colm Murray and detailed his battle with Motor Neurone Disease. It was produced by RTE and Independent Pictures.
MIPcube at the Gare Maritime in Cannes is targeted at companies looking to supply TV content for new and emerging digital platforms. Irish representatives at that are Gallowglass Pictures, Marino Software, RTE – Tyrone Productions, RTE Digital and RTE Television.
RTE Television will also be represented at the Palais de Festival MIPformats, along with Tyrone Productions and Screentime ShinAwil.
