Milena Sjekloca and Véronique Commelin
CLPB Rights has a strong blend of in-house productions and new acquisitions in its current slate of content. One of the highlights is "Christopher Reeve: The Eternal Superman" (60'), produced by CPB Films for TCM Cinema, thematic channel of Warner Bros Discovery, broadcasting in France. This one-hour special will air on the channel this October, marking the 20th anniversary of his death. "We already have several pre-sales with SBS Australia, CeskaTelevize, and CBC in Canada," mentioned Véronique Commelin, Head of Distribution at CLPB Rights. "The title includes a truly exclusive interview with him, conducted just before he passed away, which had never been published before," added Milena Sjekloca, International Sales and Marketing Manager.
CLPB Rights executives also highlighted the CPB Films original "The Metamorphosis of the Ice Giants" (3x52'), which is currently in production. The three-part series not only documents the melting glaciers but also explores how they are creating new ecosystems and how humans, fauna, and wildlife can adapt to these changes. "The program was commissioned by Arte France," said Commelin.
In the history segment, the French distributor is launching the brand-new title "Orphans of World War II" (90'/2x50'). “The film aims to reveal the complex story of how children were instrumentalized during and after the war. The narrative focuses on a group of Polish orphans. From their deportation to Siberia to their reception in Canada, their fate was determined by the shifting tides of the post-war era and the early days of the Cold War.,’ Commelin described.
CLPB Rights will also showcase the three-part series"There Were Millions of Them" (3x52'), which chronicles European migration from the 17th to the 20th century. "It’s a partly animated series, using 3D, 2D, and artificial intelligence to animate real stories of European migrants through historical documents," commented Commelin. "This title can resonate in Latin America because, while the migration started in Europe, these migrants dispersed to the four corners of the world," said Sjekloca.
"We recently sold 'Magellan’s Extraordinary Odyssey'with a similar treatment to TV UNAM in Mexico, and we have noticed that the use of animation in documentaries is increasingly accepted, with even classic broadcasters starting to embrace this kind of content," she added.
With MIPCOM around the corner, CLPB Rights is gearing up to present new key projects to global buyers. ‘’We’ve just picked up the International distribution of the blue-chip 3X52’ series ‘’Worlds of the Wild’’ produced by Galatée Films for Arte France. "The series planned for the end of 2024 will explore the living world through the lenses of wild species while scientists aiming at reshaping our vision of Nature and our ability to co-exist," said Commelin.
Last but not least, the indie label also sells dramas produced by CPB Films. "We will be launching the third part of 'Everybody Lies,' our detective fiction collection. It’s just being completed, and for MIPCOM, we’ll be able to present the English version to international buyers," revealed Milena Sjekloca. "This collection was launched two years ago in prime time on France Télévision, and this year we have Episode 2 and Episode 3. Episode 4 is expected between the end of the year and the first quarter of 2025," added Commelin. "We have sold the first episode of this procedural show in Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, the UK, the US, Poland, and Spain."
A CHALLENGING YEAR
Commelin noted that 2024 has been quite challenging due to the anxiety surrounding the legislative elections in France and the future of public service projects. "As an independent company, it’s always very challenging," said the executive. "We also have to anticipate trends because I think 2025 will be marked by a lot of changes. We’ve had good surprises, but at the same time, we’ve faced long decision-making processes from broadcasters, making things somewhat unpredictable," she concluded.