BBC Studios returns to Cannes and is honored at Mipcom

BBC Studios returns to Cannes this autumn to be honored with an inaugural Studio of Distinction award at Mipcom.

Launched by Mipcom organizers RX France to recognize “a groundbreaking achievement by a global studio or platform”, the award will be presented in the week in which the BBC celebrates 100 years of UK and UK public service broadcasting. Awarded to production and distribution powerhouse BBC Studios 90th Year of International Broadcasting.

Senior executives from BBC Studios will deliver keynote speeches at Mip Junior and Mipcom. The company will also be exhibiting at a new location, moving from its purpose-built stand on the Croisette in 2019 (pictured below) to a new location at the Palais des Festivals in the expansive Verrière area, which will also feature an outdoor area overlooking the Croisette has .

On the opening day of Mipcom, Tom Fussell will take the stage in his first public address as BBC Studios CEO to discuss the “rapid pace of change” at the studio, whose recent credits include “Frozen Planet II”, “Good Omen”, Prehistoric Planet, Top Gear, and Happy Valley 3. He will also talk about the company’s next chapter. Fussell became permanent CEO in October 2021, nearly a year after taking the reins as interim CEO following the departure of Tim Davie.

Fussell is joined on stage by Davie, who is now the BBC’s director general.

Davie will speak about the BBC’s continued importance at home and around the world, and why, after 100 years of reinvention, the BBC is pursuing a digitally-led strategy at a time “when its hallmarks of impartiality, trust and quality have never been like this.” important.”

Elsewhere, Cecilia Persson, managing director of BBC Studios’ Kids & Family, will speak at children’s content conference Mip Junior, discussing the opportunities presented by the creation of the new division and setting out her vision that Kids & Family a major global player will enter content for children.

The award ceremony will take place during the keynote session on the opening day.

Lucy Smith, Director of Mipcom and Mip Junior, said: “With the Studio of Distinction award, we are creating a moment to recognize an organization’s exceptional achievements to date, while providing a global stage to share its plans for the future. Our first recipients could not be more timely or relevant given the extraordinary international impact and enduring influence of this unique producer, broadcaster and distributor. We warmly welcome BBC Studios to Cannes for a super-sized mipcom.”

BBC Studios’ return to Cannes appears to mark a turning point in the company’s relationship with the Cannes market, which have not always seen eye to eye. Like a number of companies, BBC Studios stopped coming to MipTV Spring Market a few years ago and has not exhibited at Mipcom since 2019. (The company skipped the first post-pandemic physical release in 2021.)