After Covid restrictions and the financial problems of older NATPE association, the traditional CEE June event is back this week now headed by Brunico Communications, the Canadian responsible of very successful events as REALSCREEN, KIDSCREEN, BANFF and ASIAN ANIMATION SUMMIT, among others. The company has bought the NATPE assets and stresses for Budapest this year +680 badge holders, including +200 buyers from CEE + CIS territories. The US major studios organize their CEE screenings close to the Intercontinental hotel as usual, so the traditional buyer traffic is guaranteed.

Russell Goldstein, president and CEO, Brunico: ‘The key for a successful market is high-quality buyer attendance, and for over 30 years NATPE Budapest has attracted the top acquisitions executives in the CEE region in a greatest volume. This is why the major US studios choose to showcase their latest programming at NATPE Budapest every year. NATPE was already here last year, just after the pandemic, and continues as the referent One, the big meeting point for the region’.

The market provides more than 100 exhibitors, including major studios such as eOne, FOX EG, Fremantle, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal GD, Gaumont, Paramount GCD, Sony PTI, as well as the power units of distribution from Movistar Plus+, ONZA, RTVE (Spain) TelevisaUnivision, RCN, VIP 2000 TV, from Latin America, US independents as VisionFilms, among others. Also, important Government entities such as Unifrance, Audiovisual From Spain, Organization of Ukrainian Producers (OUP), and the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA) from USA.

The agenda of the three-days event combines the US major screenings with keynotes, conferences and networking events. Today (Monday 19) there are two key screenings: in the early afternoon Sony PTI introduces its new season films and series at the iconic Puskin Cinema, while later A+E Networks Media shows a raft of programs at the IC Ballroom III, in the same Intercontinental hotel. Tomorrow it will be the turn of Paramount Global Content Distribution, from the morning.

About keynote speakers for the week, a top one is Hungarian leadling TV group TV2 Media, with its CEO Pavel Stantchev telling about its TV channels schedule (free and Pay) and its two-year-old streaming platform. Also, supporting Ukraine players, the panel “Co-Pro Challenge—Local stories, global appeal” will be starred by the Organization of Ukrainian Producers, looking for co-production pitching opportunities.

Among the novelties, NATPE Budapest launches a “Co-Pro Connections” program, which unites established international producers who bring high-quality projects to present to regional buyers, with the prelude that in a very competitive environment there is a need for early access to stories. new and diverse with local appeal.

Some figures & trends of the CEE market? The region continues very relevant for the international content industry, with for example a whole spending of nearly nine billion U.S. dollars expected for 2027, just in Pay-TV revenues, according to OMDIA. Also, the FAST segment is generating big growth, with a forecast for 2028 of USD 42 million in revenues, mainly pushed by the big local and regional TV groups. With the so different languages, it is difficult for the big titans to expand as in other regions.

Francisco Ferreyra y Alberto Buitron

| NATPE BUDAPEST Daily News

Klara Brachtlova to succeed Erik Huggers at ProSiebenSat.1 Read more...

Peter Nørrelund has rejoined Viaplay Group Read more...

Russian streaming services more.tv and Wink merge into a joint venture Read more...

Paramount Global appoints Lee Sears in EVP role Read more...

If you want to receive our Daily Reports, please send an email to newsletter@prensario.info with your email and contact details