Global TV producer and distributor Fremantle has acquired a majority stake in Israeli company Silvio Productions as its worldwide acquisition spree continues.
The producer (formerly known as EGG Films) was founded by award-winning director-writer-producers Yotam Guendelman and Mika Timor, and is behind high-profile documentaries Shadow of Truth, Coastal Road Killer, After Midnight, The Baby Daddy and Emmy-nominated Buried.
Fremantle’s acquisition was led by its European chief Andrea Scrosati and Guy Hameiri, co-founder of its existing Israeli label Abot Hameiri, producer of Netflix’s Shtisel.
Guendelman and Timor will work closely with Abot Hameiri to tap into Fremantle’s global infrastructure, international distribution and strategic support. As part of the acquisition, Hameiri will assume the position of chairman of Silvio Productions, with Guendelman and Timor reporting to him.
Silvio’s Showtime doc Buried, which follows the story of Eileen Franklin who suddenly remembered witnessing the murder of her childhood friend, was recently twice nominated at this year’s News and Documentary Emmy Awards.
Hameiri said Silvio’s documentaries show a “real flair for important storytelling” and their projects “not only connect with a local audience, but importantly globally”.
Guendelman and Timor added: “The cultural, creative, and business rationale is natural, and we look forward to working closely with Andrea and Guy. With their support and the global reach of Fremantle, we will take our business growth trajectory and our ambitious slate to the next level.”
Scrosati added: “Yotam and Mika and the team at Silvio Productions have a proven track-record and take great pride in their filmmaking and storytelling. We welcome them into the Fremantle family at this important time, as we look to scale-up our global documentaries’ capabilities.”
The acquisition continues a frenetic period of merger and aquisitions activity for Fremantle, adding to the deals for UK indies Wildstar Films and 72 Films earlier this month, and investments in Dancing Ledge Productions, Label1, Irish outfit Element Pictures, Italy’s Lux Vide, the US’s Fabel Entertainment and Australian-American firm Eureka.
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