Mediawan has made a majority investment in OUR Films, the newly established production and film financing company formed by film and television producers Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli. Launched in early 2024 and based in Rome, OUR Films reunites Gianani and Mieli in a new shingle focused on working with premier established and emerging European, U.S. and international filmmakers and talent across features, documentaries and series.
The investment in OUR Films is consistent with Mediawan’s strategy of creating a truly pan-European studio with an increasingly global presence, dedicated to attracting the best creative talent and delivering premium content across the globe. The company’s presence now spans 13 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux, and the UK in Europe, alongside operations in Africa, Asia, and the US. Mediawan is the creative engine and producer behind some of the world's most iconic IP and productions, including “Call My Agent,” “Three Body Problem,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” “Miraculous Ladybug,” “Rhythm and Flow France,” “The Agency,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” “HIP/High Potential,” and “One Day.”
Lorenzo Mieli, the former CEO of Fremantle Italia, with whom he created The Apartment Pictures in 2020, has produced globally successful films such as “The Hand of God” (Silver Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival), Luca Guadagnino’s “Bones and All” (Silver Lion at the 2022 Venice Film Festival), Sofia Coppola's “Priscilla” (Coppa Volpi award for Cailee Spaeny at the 2023 Venice Film Festival) and Paolo Sorrentino's “Parthenope” (in competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival).
Mario Gianani’s films have earned critical and awards success, including “The Mafia Only Kills in Summer” directed by Pif (European Film Awards for Best Comedy in 2014), “The Eight Mountains” directed by Felix Von Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch (Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, 4 David di Donatello and 2 Silver Ribbons), Italian box office smash “There Is Still Tomorrow” directed by Paola Cortellesi (19 nominations at the David di Donatello Awards in 2024) and Kirill Serebrennikov’s “Limonov - The Ballad” (official competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival), in co-production with Chapter 2 (Mediawan).
Together, Gianani and Mieli have teamed on numerous productions, including international successes such as HBO’s “The Young Pope” and “The New Pope,” both created by Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino; Luca Guadagnino’s “We Are Who We Are,” also for HBO; and HBO’s “My Brilliant Friend,” directed by Saverio Costanzo and adapted from the best-selling novels written by Elena Ferrante and translated worldwide.
“We are delighted to welcome Lorenzo and Mario, two of the industry’s most accomplished producers of internationally acclaimed films and series, who inspire us with their taste and modern creative edge. Through OUR Films, we are reinforcing our ambition to bring together the greatest talent behind the best content worldwide," said Pierre-Antoine Capton, Co-founder and CEO of The Mediawan Group, and Elisabeth d'Arvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures, jointly.
“We could not be more excited to reunite under our new OUR Films banner and join forces with the brilliant and passionate Mediawan team,” stated Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, jointly. “Together, we are building a new creative hub to support the world’s best filmmakers in telling bold and courageous stories that elevate our lives and the artform through shared cinematic excellence. This is the goal for OUR Films.”
Mieli and Gianani added: “’OUR’ symbolizes our partnership with artists, as we stand alongside them to champion their vision and projects from the very beginning to the distribution stage. Through our efforts and financial resources, we commit to protecting and sharing with our creatives the control, empowerment, and freedom necessary to uphold the integrity of their art. This is the mission of OUR Films.”
At the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Mieli will present three projects produced through The Apartment Pictures: Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” based on the book by William Burroughs, starring Daniel Craig; Pablo Larrain’s “Maria,” starring Angelina Jolie; and Joe Wright’s eight-episode limited series “M,” about the life of Mussolini.
Following the presentation of an unprecedented eight feature films in selection for a European producer at the Cannes Film Festival, Mediawan will also play a prominent role at the 2024 Venice Film Festival by opening the festival with the Tim Burton’s film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” produced by PLAN B, and presenting the world premiere of Jon Watts’ “Wolfs,” also produced by PLAN B and starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Mediawan will additionally present “And their children after them” (in Official Competition) directed by Zoran and Ludovic Boukherma and produced by CHI-FOU-MI; and PLAN B’s documentaries “One to One: John & Yoko,” directed by Kevin Macdonald, and Apocalypse in the Tropics directed by Petra Costa.