Jéromine Ader de la Villardière: "Premium storytelling with heart and purpose is what will stand out"

Last week, Mipcom saw the official launch of the highly-anticipated tween drama spy series "The Lady Grace Mysteries," a Cottonwood Mediaand Coolabi Group Production, in co-production with ZDF Studios, commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education and ZDF, with pre-sale to France Télévisions, and support from North East Screen and NEScreen Industries Partnership. Señal News spoke with Jéromine Ader de la Villardière, International Sales Manager, Federation Kids & Family, who described the potential of the show and the slate that the company launched in Cannes.

While the kids’ content business is facing multiple challenges, Federation launched two new series at Mipcom. How are you managing to adapt and evolve in this context?
"The kids’ content space is evolving fast, but at Federation Kids & Family, we see this as a moment to be bold. We’re focusing on premium, emotionally resonant series that combine strong storytelling with international appeal. Whether it’s a live action spy drama series such as 'The Lady Grace Mysteries' which is set in a historical period but has been cleverly created to interweave contemporary themes and aspects of teenage life so its relatable to present day viewers, or a dance-driven animated coming-of-age story like '20 Dance Street,' we’re building shows that speak to today’s kids while offering universal themes and long-term franchise potential. We’re also working closely with top-tier partners, such as BBC, France Télévisions, ZDF Studios, to ensure our content is both creatively ambitious and globally scalable."

In that challenging scenario, what specific trends and client needs do you observe within the industry?
"We’re seeing a strong demand for: female-led, character-driven stories with emotional depth, and serialized formats that allow for long-term engagement. We also know there is a demand for diverse and inclusive casts, reflecting the world kids live in today. Cross-platform potential, especially for IPs that can extend into publishing, music, or digital is also an important factor. And above all, authenticity, audiences want stories that feel real, even in fantastical or historical settings."

How does that context apply to Spanish-speaking territories?
"Spanish-speaking territories remain key markets, but they are also among the most challenging today. We’re seeing increased pressure on local broadcasters, tighter budgets, and a highly competitive environment for kids’ content. That said, there is still a strong appetite for high-quality, emotionally engaging series, especially those that offer aspirational stories, diverse representation, and strong female leads. With 'The Lady Grace Mysteries,' for example, we’re offering a smart, adventurous drama that although set in a historical period, brings with it universal themes of friendship, betrayal, and empowerment. With '20 Dance Street,' we bring a contemporary, music-infused series that speaks directly to issues of identity, resilience, and belonging, topics that resonate deeply with young audiences across Latin America and Spain. In a difficult market, we believe that premium storytelling with heart and purpose is what will stand out."

How would you describe the global potential of "The Lady Grace Mysteries" drama series?
"Based on the hit book series, 'The Lady Grace Mysteries' follows Lady Grace Cavendish, a 14-year-old orphan who lives at the heart of Elizabeth I’s court. When the Queen secretly appoints her as a spy, Grace must juggle the pressures of teenage life with solving crimes, foiling assassination attempts, and protecting her godmother, the Queen. It’s fast, witty, and full of intrigue, Elizabethan history reimagined as a high-stakes, adventurous detective series. Think Bridgerton for kids, blending mystery-of-the-week storytelling with a serialized arc of betrayal and forgiveness. Created by Anna McCleery (A Kind of Spark, Free Rein), and produced by Cottonwood Media, Coolabi Productions, and ZDF Studios, for BBC Children’s and Education, ZDF and France Télévisions, the show is designed for kids 8–14, with strong co-viewing appeal for families. It’s a perfect fit for broadcasters and platforms looking for smart, premium family adventure IP."

"20 Dance Street" was another highlight for Mipcom. What are the show's main features?
"'20 Dance Street' is a vibrant, emotionally rich live-action series that follows Maya, an 11-year-old girl from Martinique, as she enters the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. Adapted from the bestselling book series ‘20, allée de la Danse’, the show blends dance, drama, and diversity in a way that feels both aspirational and deeply relatable. It’s about finding your place, overcoming adversity, and growing through friendship and competition. Maya must navigate a new culture, intense training, and complex relationships. The series features a diverse cast and a strong, resilient heroine, a mix of classical ballet and hip-hop as storytelling tools, universal themes: identity, family, ambition, rivalry, and belonging. It has a semi-serialized structure with 26 x 22-minute episodes, a prestigious and authentic setting: the real Paris Opera Ballet School. It’s a celebration of youth, movement, and self-discovery, designed to connect with global audiences and ideal for broadcasters and platforms looking for premium tween content with heart and energy."