Anne Olzmann
Albatross World Sales is an international boutique distributor focusing on Nature & Wildlife, Science, Travel & Culture and History documentary programs for all media worldwide. Recently, the company has acquired the science show "The Secret Knowledge of Animals" (52') that follows global research projects in an attempt to reveal the secrets that shape animals’ lives and behavior. The film is investigating how their journeys can warn humans about natural disasters like volcano eruptions and earthquakes, anticipate significant environmental changes, help humans predict the spread of pandemics and ultimately, lead humans to better understand our planet and answer the crucial global questions of our time. "The Secret Knowledge of the Animals' took three years to make, as the team has travelled the world, so we've been eagerly waiting for it," Anne Olzmann, Managing Director at Albatross said to Señal News. "The main protagonist is Martin Wikelski from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior. He's on the forefront of creating this network of the animals. By putting little transmitters onto hundreds of thousands of animals, scientists can follow their tracks in real time, use the data, and also better protect the animals and herds. For example, if there is any unusual behavior or movement within that herd, then it can be an indication that there is a poacher around," she described.
Albatross World Sales is also promoting the wildlife show "Parents in the Wild" (2x52') that takes viewers on a mesmerizing journey into the enchanting realm of wildlife parenting and history title "Buffalo Bill – The Inventor of the Wild West" (52' or 88') a portrait about the adventurer and showman William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, a self-made man who went from being an insignificant bison hunter to the most famous American of his time.
Albatross has been working a lot with FAST and AVOD platforms in the recent past mostly in North America and Europe, but "our main revenues stream still comes from the linear buyers" Olzmann affirmed.
CHALLENGING TIMES
Olzmann asserted that distribution business has slowed down. "It takes longer to negotiate deals and rights because most broadcasters are quite strict about their content and exclusivity needs, and it often takes much longer to close a deal.” she explained, “But at the same time we have been doing quite a few volume deals with VOD and FAST platforms, which has been a growing revenue stream. However, this has also increased the delivery volume significantly, so while it's good in terms of revenue and greater number of clients it has also been quite challenging at the same time. There were a few adjustments needed" she added. "For acquisitions, we’re also going back to very defined genres. Genre-mixes don’t seem to sit well with TV broadcasters when it comes to acquisition of finished films, the requirements of their slots don’t leave a lot of room for experiments.”
After attending the last MIPTV in Cannes, Albatross World Sales will participate at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle dedicated to the future of our ecosystem and the future of the documentary genre itself; the Wildscreen Festival in the UK which celebrates and advances natural world storytelling; MIPCOM in Cannes, ATF in Singapore and the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers that will take place in Marrakesh. “We’re looking forward to meeting our clients and partners at these great and inspiring markets." Olzmann commented.
