Be in the Know – April 2025

April 2025

Latest News

Screentime New Zealand has partnered with LUMA. Hosted in the beautiful Kiwi Park, home to over 20 species of native birds and reptiles, LUMA Enchanted will offer an immersive experience centred around New Zealand’s unique wildlife. Screentime NZ is scaling up the event with storytelling, local artistry, and innovative light and sound technologies that will enhance the natural beauty of the park and its important conservation message. The project is supported by François de Brugada and his team at Banijay Live.

Banijay France’s scripted labels Shine Fiction & Banijay Studios France have combined as a unique premium scripted offering. Operating under the Shine Fiction banner, the expanded entity—led by Chairman Dominique Farrugia and COO Guillaume Thouret—will focus on delivering high-quality scripted series for both local broadcasters and global platforms.

The first-ever MasterChef Creators edition is launching in Brazil with YouTube. The latest extension of the MasterChef universe is bringing together top digital creators with the world’s most successful cookery television format. MasterChef Creators is a collaboration between Endemol Shine Brasil and YouTube, supported by LATAM Airlines.

Getting to know…

Today we find out more about Daniel Silver, CEO at premium documentary label BD4, part of Banijay Americas.

Can you tell us a bit about BD4 and its focus?

At BD4, we champion diverse voices and stories with the power to connect globally and inspire deeper understanding. Our goal is to uncover dynamic IP with multi-platform potential, crafting documentaries that not only stand on their own but spark broader creative universes. I’m also a massive movie fan—I love to be swept up in great stories, and that’s my most honest, binary goal; to make work that entertains, moves, and reminds people why they fell in love with storytelling in the first place.

What appealed to you about joining the Banijay Entertainment family?

Many in this industry are “doc-curious,” treating documentaries as a nice-to-have rather than a strategic investment. Banijay Entertainment stands apart, I was immediately struck by its relentless innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and clear understanding of the untapped potential in the doc space. They recognised the need for something like BD4—and the opportunity to build a true documentary powerhouse together was undeniable. BD4 offers a flexible partnership model for IP holders—from sports leagues to music libraries—that gives them creative control while unlocking global scale and long-term value. Each relationship is tailored, but the offering is consistent: BD4 and Banijay Americas specifically, combine independent financing with global reach, helping partners grow their brand without added overhead. With support from the Banijay Entertainment’s distribution, brand partnerships, and branded entertainment teams, we can take any project from development to global sale—backed by proven talent and formats. It’s an unmatched value proposition—and one especially rare in the U.S. market.

What kinds of stories or talents are you most excited to spotlight?

There are many powerful, urgent documentaries being made today. At BD4, we aim to complement them by bringing joy, surprise, and delight to the form—while always honouring journalistic integrity and our subjects. We believe genres matter, they’re globally familiar, emotionally intuitive, and signal to audiences what they’re going to feel as much as what they’re going to see. By incorporating genre tropes, we make BD4’s projects feel welcoming and familiar, while ensuring the storytellers we work with are authentic and fresh, bringing new and unexpected perspectives to each story. Our goal is for BD4 projects to rival scripted films—something families watch on movie night, couples enjoy on dates, and viewers leave feeling exhilarated, moved, or entertained—not just informed.

You’ve worked across some of the biggest platforms in the industry—Netflix, Disney+, ESPN Films. What learnings are you bringing with you into BD4 and your partnership with Banijay Americas?

I’ve long sensed a quiet reluctance to fully acknowledge that the definition of “documentary” has evolved. While many projects still honor its more traditional and earnest roots, after nearly two decades behind the buying desk at two major studios, I’ve watched documentary content become a vital part of the Hollywood ecosystem.

BD4 was created to embrace this evolution—supporting bold storytellers who approach nonfiction with a commercial, genre-driven mindset. But attracting and collaborating with the best talent takes more than vision—it requires trust, accountability, and authenticity. I’ve built lasting relationships by showing up for creators not just as an executive, but as a genuine lover of film. That empathy, along with a deep respect for the creative process, has been key to building meaningful partnerships—and it’s at the core of how BD4 operates.

You named the company after the subway lines to Yankee Stadium—how does your New York upbringing influence the stories you want to tell?

Outside of my family, my love of movies, and my 8,500+ DVD/Blu-ray collection, my greatest loves are my hometown and the teams that define it. I live and die with the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, and (mostly die with) the Jets. BD4 draws its name from the NYC subway lines that lead to Yankee Stadium, grounding the brand in a deep love for the city—its people, culture, history, and relentless drive. I wanted a name that reflected the spirit of the Five Boroughs: ambition, grit, and triumph. Like the subway itself, BD4 is about connection—linking diverse voices and stories to broad audiences. And just as the Yankee Stadium represents excellence and legacy in sports, BD4 aspires to achieve that same impact through bold, genre-driven storytelling.

How do you see BD4 standing out in the documentary landscape?

With 20+ years in the documentary space, I’ve built long-standing relationships with a wide range of talent and collaborators. I plan to leverage these connections to bring top-tier filmmakers, emerging voices, compelling subjects, and even major sports leagues into the BD4 fold. We’ve seen incredible responses thus far. They are very intrigued by the fact that BD4’s slate will be tightly curated, prioritising audience-driven, commercially viable projects over awards bait. We’re focused on genre-rich stories with clear franchise potential and multiple adaptive paths. This aside, we’ll further delineate ourselves in the marketplace because our approach will include active presence at film markets (going up stream), discovery in emerging talent spaces, and what we call “Barstool Development.” We believe every project should begin as a stand-alone feature, with series potential explored organically. I aim to implement dynamic budgeting and scheduling to maximise on-screen value and margins, with a strong emphasis on upfront development and prep. Wherever possible, we’ll pursue a “License Only” model to retain creative control and IP attachment.

What’s next for BD4—any early projects you’re excited about or themes you’re eager to explore? 

It may sound cliché, but with BD4’s intentionally small slate, I’m genuinely excited about every project we’re developing. While I can’t share specifics yet, we’re working on two very different love stories with scripted adaptation potential. An inspirational underdog tale that will get audiences cheering, a coming-of-age story, a natural history doc that feels like a real-life fairytale, and several projects in partnership with major IP holder and two sports leagues. I wish I could say more, specifically about our projects connected with the sports league, but they’re big and potentially long-term opportunities. What makes it even more exciting is our collaboration with Banijay Entertainment labels across the globe and the incredible branded entertainment team. These projects not only reflect creative excellence but also represent innovative business models for the doc space. I couldn’t be more energised by what we’re building at BD4 and what’s coming up.

Read the rest of the interview

In other news

Series Mania Highlights

Deadline interview on scripted growth and rise to #1 European Scripted Studio with Marco Bassetti, CEO, Banijay Entertainment

Les Echos interview on Banijay Entertainment’s growing presence in scripted content with Marco Bassetti, CEO, Banijay Entertainment and Alexia Laroche-Joubert, CEO, Banijay France

Banijay France unveiled gripping drama L’Arnaqueuse de Kiabi, based on the true story of Aurélie B, the former treasurer of fashion brand Kiabi, who allegedly embezzled over €100 million

Variety interview with Steve Matthews, Head of Scripted, Creative, Banijay Entertainment, where he delved into the booming crime genre in Europe and the importance of local storytelling with global appeal

Series Mania Talent Masterclass with Rabbit Track Pictures co-founders James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky, and Banijay UK’s CEO, Patrick Holland

The Producer-Creator Relationship: An Undervalued Contribution panel with Frederic Balmary, Chief Business Officer at Banijay Entertainment

Variety feature on Carême, Shine Fiction’s period drama for Apple TV+, which premiered at the festival, showcasing the life of the world’s first celebrity chef

Sales announced for A Life’s Worth, from Banijay Nordics’ Yellowbird, which highlights the challenges faced by the first Swedish U.N. battalion sent to Bosnia in 1993

Weiss & Morales (Portocabo/ Radiotelevisión Española/ ZDF) lead actors Miguel Ángel Silvestre and Katia Fellin joined Germany’s ZDF and Spain’s RTVE, for a content showcase

C21Media Podcast with Johannes Jensen, Head of Scripted, Business, Banijay Entertainment, and James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky, co-founders of Rabbit Track Pictures

Deadline Supporting Actor feature with Max Malka, Producer, Banijay Finland

Simon Cox, EVP Content & Acquisitions, Banijay Rights spoke to Broadcast about the raft of sales for Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light

Read more

Connect & Elevate: Industry-Wide UK Networking Event

We joined forces with some of the industry’s creative powerhouses in London to celebrate our employee resource groups. Building on the success of last year’s Women’s Networking Event, co-hosted by Banijay Elle, Fremantle UK’s Women Network, and All3Media’s All3GEN, we expanded this impactful event to include all employee networks—Embrace, Pride, Wellbeing & Neurodiversity—and welcomed new partners BBC Studios and ITV Studios.

Belong Week

Belong Week took place last month, a global initiative dedicated to celebrating positivity, inclusion, and belonging across our footprint. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, this year’s theme was #AccelerateAction — a chance to raise awareness, inspire meaningful change, and foster an environment where everyone feels valued, connected, and empowered to make their voices heard. 

All sessions are available here.

Jaime Escallon-Buraglia

Head of Unscripted Development, Endemol Shine Boomdog

An award-winning writer, director, and showrunner, Jaime most recently led Los 50 (The Fifty) for Telemundo before joining Endemol Shine Boomdog. With a career spanning films, unscripted series, and over 100 documentaries—including the Emmy award-winning The Cancer Dancer—he has produced major formats like The X-Factor and Survivor. Recognised by NALIP as a top emerging talent, he now leads the charge in developing bold, locally driven content.

Cristina Modica

Executive Assistant to CEO Marco Bassetti, Banijay Entertainment

Cristina joined Banijay Entertainment in 2023, sharing the EA responsibilities for CEO Marco Bassetti with Laurence Morel. Since Laurence’s recent departure, she has served as sole EA to Marco, operating from Rome. 

Judith Henry

Executive Assistant & Office Manager, Banijay Entertainment

Judith joined Banijay Entertainment in 2023 as Office Manager and Executive Assistant to Chief Human Resources Officer, Anne Van Sprang. Since Laurence Morel’s recent departure, she will now support Nicolas Chazarain, Chief Legal Officer, as Executive Assistant.

Endemol Shine Israel is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year

Temptation Island Spain (Cuarzo) ‘Montoya Por Favor’ clip shattered a brand-new record with 37M cumulated views played on Mitele and was Mediaset Spain’s highest-consumed video since November 2021

Deal or No Deal is making a comeback this year with its return to Mexico and the US Hispanic market after a five-year hiatus, as well as Sweden after 11 years