CineLink Talks to Spotlight Intellectual Property at CineLink Industry Days

Through collaboration with various partners, the panels will explore numerous relevant topics, including best practices in managing intellectual property, co-productions, artificial intelligence, gaming, representation, and intimacy coordination. The 2024 CineLink Talks will center around three thematic areas: intellectual property (IP), industry challenges, and co-producing.

 

In today's fast-paced media landscape, intellectual property (IP) has become a cornerstone of the film and television industry. At this year's CineLink Talks, the program will delve into the multifaceted world of IP, examining its various dimensions from development and adaptation to sellability and the influence of new technologies. These panels will provide invaluable insights from industry experts, share successful case studies, and foster discussions on the future of IP in the entertainment industry. The aim is to explore a broader notion of IP, showcasing how local stories can achieve global success and how IP can be leveraged in innovative ways.

 

This year, we aim to cover both international and regional perspectives. One of the programme highlights are panels that are focusing on reimagining childhood classics for modern audiences. Renowned publisher Astrid Lindgren will discuss how they have released the IP of the latest novel "Ronja, the Robber's Daughter" into a new drama series. Terra Mater, Red Bull’s studio, leverages the latest technology to reimagine the iconic Tarzan character. Additionally, we will explore the cutting-edge challenge of AI in content creation. In January at Göteborg, we witnessed Steve Matthews, Banijay's Executive, test AI on stage in collaboration with TV Drama Vision. Building on this, we have decided to include a human element in the game, pitting AI against a writer, with Steve determining which synopsis is machine-generated and which is human-written.

 

The questions of development and adaptation will be discussed by Billy Bowring Development Producer at See-Saw Films and Isaure Pisani-Ferry, the creator of "Becoming Karl Lagerfeld," series that have been enjoyed by audiences worldwide. We will also explore what makes regional stories unique and how they can be made sellable on a global scale.

 

For years, we have presented the True Stories Market, a unique platform where NGOs showcase personal testimonies from the war atrocities in the former Yugoslavia. This year, we will explore how these powerful narratives can be handled in the context of IP. 

 

Additionally, with a broader focus on IP and greater synergy of the creative industries, CineLink Industry Days introduces a new program, CineLink Books, featuring six publishers from the Former Yugoslavia (two each from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia) to present their novels suitable for adaptation. We are interested in building on the already existing audience and fostering stronger collaboration among industries.

 

Join us at CineLink Talks to delve into the evolving landscape of IP in the audiovisual industry, where the protection, utilization, and creative adaptation of intellectual property are pivotal to fostering innovation and global success.

 

Panels that focus on intellectual property are below:

 

Adapting material for film and television is an art form that demands both creativity and fidelity. This panel explores the intricate process of adaptation, focusing on how stories are transformed during the development phase and the unique challenges that adaptations face compared to original projects. The panelists provide insight into the strategies they employ to preserve the essence of the source material while making it suitable for a new medium. The panel features Billy Bowring, at SEE SAW, who brings a wealth of experience in guiding projects from concept to screen; Isaure Pisani-Ferry, the creative force behind Becoming Karl Lagerfeld, who shares her unique perspective on biographical adaptations and discusses the nuances of bringing real-life stories to the screen; and Steve Matthews, Banijay Entertainment’s Content Executive, who works with the company’s scripted development slates and has wide experience with adaptations. Together, they offer insight into the challenges and triumphs of bringing complex source material to life on television.

 

BILLY BOWRING | Development Producer, SEE SAW Films | UK

ISAURE PISANI-FERRY | Creator of Becomin Karl Lagerfeld | FR

STEVE MATTHEWS | Content Partnerships Executive, Banijay | FR

MODERATED BY Marike Muselaers | VP International Financing and Coproductions, Nordisk Film Production | SE

 

 

Banijay Entertainment’s Content Executive Steve Matthews is a key facilitator across the group’s scripted production development process. He conducted his first challenge with AI at TV Drama Vision in Göteborg; now, Sarajevo has the sequel! In this live experiment, a human writer goes head-to-head with AI. Can Matthews distinguish between human and machine-generated ideas? What would be the next steps in development? And what can an AI development tool offer a seasoned TV series development veteran and a successful writer? We put it to the test live on stage.

STEVE MATTHEWS | Contect Partnerships Executive, Banijay | FR

ENNIS ČEHIĆ | Writer | BA

MODERATED BY Marike Muselaers | VP International Financing and Coproductions, Nordisk Film Production | SE

 

 

This panel delves into the complex landscape of adapting existing IP into drama series, exploring the challenges and the opportunities that arise in the process. The discussion centres on two drama series from the region: OPERATION SABRE, which won the Special Interpretation Award at Canneseries this year and is distributed by Beta; and CONSTANTINE’S CROSSING, the adaptation of the novel of the same title, currently in post-production and distributed by Mediawan. The panel explores the creative and distribution sides of securing rights, navigating legal and creative hurdles, and re-imagining original works for television. Special attention is paid to the challenges of using real events and people in adaptations, including the implications for distribution and the necessary clearance processes. Additionally, the discussion addresses what makes series from this part of the world sellable globally, considering how small, local stories can work well internationally and exploring the potential for creating remakes or allowing these series to thrive in their adapted forms.

 

ECKERT EMMANUEL | Acquisition deputy director, Mediawan Rights | FR

ANNA ROHDE | International Creative Executive, Beta Film Group | DE

SNEŽANA VAN HOUWELINGEN | Producer, This and That Productions | RS

BOBAN JEVTIĆ | Head of Content Strategy and Development, Firefly Production | RS

MODERATED BY Matija Dragojević | Scriptwriter | RS

 

 

This session explores expanding the definition of intellectual property and leveraging it through a 360-degree approach, utilising technological advancements. Terra Mater, Red Bull's production studio, highlights its projects TARZAN and HERA, as case studies. TARZAN's public-domain origins and trademark status are examined, demonstrating how virtual production can bring new life to a classic across publishing, TV, and gaming. The HERA project illustrates collaboration with the European Space Agency to create a drama series that mirrors a real-time space mission, integrating TV and AI-driven interactivity. The session is presented by Michael Frenschkowski, Head of Features and Special Projects at Terra Mater Studios, and Andy Briggs, a screenwriter, graphic novelist, author, and producer.

 

MICHAEL FRENSCHKOWSKI | Film Producer, Terra Mater Studios | DE

ANDY BRIGGS | Writer and Producer, Blake friedmann Literary Agency | UK

MODERATED BY Maša Marković | Head of Industry | Sarajevo Film Festival | BA

 

 

In response to the growing demand for intellectual property and the interest from regional and international professionals in adaptations, CineLink launches a new programme section: CineLink Books. The section introduces a special presentation session, during which selected novels from the region of the former Yugoslavia are pitched to internationally and regionally established producers, with a deliberate focus on fostering connections between literature and the film industry by showcasing books from publishers holding IPs. This year, CineLink Books presents six books, featuring two publishers each from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia, aiming to foster discussions about adaptations and enhance the visibility of the regional publishing market.

 

AFTER PARTY (Imprimatur, BA) | COME ACROSS (Naklada Ljevak, HR) | DOGS (Fraktura, HR) | JELLYFISH LIVE FOREVER UNTIL THEY ARE CAUGHT (Geopoetika, RS) | NOBODY IS FORGOTTEN AND NOTHING IS REMEMBERED (Booka, RS) | THAT'S ME (Buybook, BA)

MODERATED BY Galeb Nikačević | Journalist and Host , Agelast Production | RS

 

 

The True Stories Market facilitates a platform for untold true stories from primarily Western Balkan countries, addressing the enduring consequences of past conflicts. It features seven carefully curated cases from prominent organizations and individuals, dedicated to documenting the aftermath iof these conflicts. Film industry professionals gain access to these cases via a public pitching session, enabling them to bring these compelling stories to the screen, making them more accessible to broader audiences through the power of cinema. After the festival, an open call invites filmmakers to apply for projects inspired by the showcased cases, facilitating their transition from market to screen. This year, a €10,000 award sponsored by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Dialogue Southeast Europe will be presented to a deserving recipient, recognizing important stories.

MODERATED BY Robert Zuber | Film Director | HR