As part of MipLondon 2025, the panel “Mipdoc co-pro Summit – unlocking funding: strategic partnerships and alternative revenue streams” took place, where prominent industry leaders discussed the future of documentary and factual content funding. Panelists included Amanda Groom, CEO of The Bridge; Claudia Zenkert, Managing Director of SEETREE; John Glencross, CEO of Calculus Media; and Victoria Fäh, IPR Lab Manager at IPR.VC.
The session focused on exploring a changing landscape, where content financing and distribution is rapidly evolving thanks to innovative models and strategic partnerships. Participants presented a futuristic vision ranging from co-productions with up to eleven partners and direct investment strategies, to maximizing intellectual property across multiple platforms.
Amanda Groom, CEO of The Bridge, said «The first panel this morning was on content financing, which involves a sales capitalist, and the IPR lab is experimenting with new forms of IP. Claudia Zenkert, for example, is working with massive co-productions involving 13 people, 3 currencies and 3 locations, facing multiple challenges. This is how the future of the content industry is going to go.»
Another segment of the event addressed the art of distribution. Experts highlighted how distributors not only facilitate access to new audiences, but also play a crucial role in building communities. While it is easy to fragment and distribute content through platforms such as YouTube, it was emphasized that such a strategy is not sustainable in the long term. The real value, according to the panelists, lies in aligning content with the specific needs and preferences of audiences, fostering active and engaged communities.
Another recurring theme was the complexity inherent in co-productions, which, although a recurring success at Mip, require coordinating numerous world-class factual television producers. One of the participants analyzed the task, reflecting the difficulty of harmonizing such diverse criteria and challenges at a single working table. This exchange made it clear that the future of content will depend not only on the large traditional financing houses, but also on the ability to diversify revenue sources and take advantage of opportunities in niche markets.
The panel noted that, although documentaries on music and sports continue to gain ground, there are concerns about the financing of content in general. The growing difficulty in accessing resources, especially for documentary projects, is aggravated by the crisis in the entities and federations that have traditionally supported these types of initiatives.
With an eye towards innovation and collaboration, “MipDoc Co-Pro Summit” offered a clear roadmap for a sector in constant evolution, demonstrating that the key to securing the future of content lies in diversifying financial models and building strategic alliances that respond to the challenges of today’s market.
