Veteran producers Koby Gal Raday and Ilda Santiago together with Beta Film, Germany, and Brazil’s producer Mayra Faour Auad’s My Mama Entertainment join forces to form Janeiro Studios, a new international production company set to create signature cinema and television works.
Janeiro Studios will focus on premium scripted series and feature films from Brazil and Latin America, as well as on international high-end projects from A-list talents. Based in Rio de Janeiro, Gal Raday will lead the company as CEO, while Ilda Santiago will serve as MD. With offices both in Brazil and in Europe, the company plans to build on its founders’ many years of experience, talents network and passion for singular, curated, and auteur-driven vision. Backed by the combination of European independent powerhouse Beta Group and leading Brazilian production company Mymama Entertainment, Janeiro Studios will pursue collaborations and co-productions both in Brazil and internationally.
Koby Gal Raday has over 20 years of experience in television and film. Serving as Beta’s Chief Content Officer and member of the board, he oversaw Beta’s group international production’s content strategy, high-end productions such as "La Storia" and "Rise of the raven"; created and led initiatives such as Seriesmakers together with Series Mania and helped deepening Beta’s talent’s network and production group with companies like recently announced Number 9 TV. He joined Beta Film from yes, Israel’s leading streamer and satellite platform, where he served as Chief Content Officer, leading the content division and responsible for all areas of content strategy, original content, business development, programming, content and channel acquisition. Under his tenure, yes’ credits included Fauda 2,3, Your Honor, On the Spectrum, Fire Dance, Shtisel 3 and Just for Today. Earlier he served as SVP International Co-Productions and Documentaries at Pro-SiebenSat.1; was co-MD of the Israeli production company July August Productions and held a senior executive position at Israeli commercial channel Reshet.
Ilda Santiago is considered by many as the first lady and driving force in Brazilian cinema and is one of the founders and business partners at Estação Group –a 35-year-old art-house distribution and exhibition company in Brazil. She is responsible for the acquisitions and distribution of over 400 films by Brazilian and International filmmakers. Santiago is co-founder, CEO and artistic director at Rio de Janeiro Int’l Film Festival – since its inception 25 years ago. In this position, she has been expanding the international reach of the festival, having curated Brazilian series in New York, Berlin, Lisbon, Beijing and Washington DC. For the last 18 years, she has been the delegate-correspondent for the Brazilian film industry to the Cannes Film Festival. Recently, she co-produced, along with Conspiração, MyMama Entertainment and Globoplay, Andrucha Waddington’s latest film "Vitoria", starring Fernanda Montenegro.
Acclaimed Producer and distributor, Mayra Faour Auad, is owner-founder and CEO at São Paulo/ Rio de Janeiro based MyMama Entertainment, long-standing producer of feature films, TV series, commercials, music videos, and branded content. Faour Auad alongside MyMama has won two International Emmy Awards for "Hack the city" and for "Our blood, our body" . She also launched the successful series "Bear Diaspora", with more than 25 million views, co-produced with KondZilla and YouTube Originals. In the U.S., Faour Auad was a partner at Passage Pictures - LA, where she executive produced "Netflix white noise" , opening night film at Venice Film Festival, as well as "Tesla", with Ethan Hawke, premiered at Sundance IFF. Leading Mymama she also has been involved as a producer in several highly awarded Brazilian films such as Anita Rocha Da Silveira’s "Medusa" which premiered at the Director's Fortnight Cannes, Flavia Neves’ debut feature "Fogareu", Audience Award for Best Feature Film in Berlinale, and "Amarela" from André Hayato Saito, Official Selection Cannes Film Festival 2024.
Koby Gal-Raday estimates that the project is returning to his roots: “After four inspiring years with Beta group, I’m thrilled to start a new company, continuing a close collaboration with Beta and uniting with brilliant new partners such as Ilda Santiago and Mayra Faour Auad. With over 20 years on the broadcaster, sales and co-production side, I’m ready to return to my ‘roots’ as an independent producer and focus on my ever-lasting passion: facilitating and enabling the creation of untold stories for film and cinema, delivered in bold and unique ways. Ilda and I envision Janeiro Studios to be a real home for talents with a clear artistic signature. In this global challenging market, I truly believe South America and Brazil are in the right moment to champion the work of emerging and established local filmmakers; connect international talents to create within these exciting local industries and explore innovative models of collaboration, co-production and creation both locally and internationally," explained.
As for Ilda Santiago, she considers that the project opens the doors to the Brazilian industry: “I’ve been 'preaching' for co-productions and alliances between Brazil and other countries for many years. It’s exciting to dive into this new chapter, which allows my passion to work with talent across new borders. This new international connection with my highly experienced partners is of the essence at this point of my professional life. Koby and I share the passion and the taste for truly bold new projects, and I will have the opportunity to spend more time with the creatives I love! It opens new doors for Brazil and our industry, as well welcoming stories and talent from abroad to explore Brazilian potential," celebrated.
My Mama Entertainment’s Mayra Faour Auad estimates that the alliance is the result of a process for which she had been preparing: “In my experience both in Brazil, and abroad, it is about time we build and develop bridges for bigger productions. I’ve been preparing myself for this moment and proud to collaborate with such esteemed world-known partners. Brazil is ready to expand its creative and commercial boundaries and the international market expects it from us now," stated.
Finally Beta Film’s Jan Mojto mentioned that the new study is a convergence of visions: “I want to heartly thank Koby for his significant contribution and support in developing Beta as a leading content-driven group. We share his vision for Janeiro Studios’ DNA and focus on talent-driven projects and are happy to continue our close collaboration in his next chapter. After expanding our network of partners and subsidiaries throughout Europe, we are ready to move overseas. Together with Koby, Ilda and Mymama Entertainment, we wish to explore new opportunities and business models in Brazil and South America and create programs for the world," noted.