Cineflix clarifies position following strategic review

Cineflix has clarified that its Buccaneer Media joint venture is not part of the review that has seen it scale back its scripted division.

The company added the producer has several projects in development for broadcasters in the US and the UK with news about these likely ahead of MIPCOM.

Buccaneer was not part of the review and Cineflix said it is fully committed to the UK-based business it launched as a JV with former Lime Pictures creative Tony Wood earlier this year. At launch Buccaneer said it had several projects in the works including a Jekyll and Hyde story starring comedian and actor Eddie Izzard.

The Cineflix restructuring news led to widespread speculation about the futures of Cineflix Studios bosses Pete Smith and Christina Wayne.

TBI understands that Smith is locked in talks over his future at Cineflix, with a decision expected within weeks. Christina Wayne, meanwhile, will remain at the company in the aftermath of the review.

Cineflix told TBI: “Christina Wayne, president of Cineflix Studios, will continue working on the slate of ongoing projects for UK and US broadcasters. We are in discussions with Peter regarding his future role and he remains part of the company.”

The production and distribution business announced a restructure and scaling back of its scripted business last week with CEO Simon Lloyd and executive VP Joe Houlihan exiting Cineflix Productions to launch their own prodco.

The scripted division’s notable success has been period drama Copper (pictured), for BBC America and Canada’s Shaw. The broadcaster’s commissioned a thirteen-episode second season of the show earlier this year, when Nomadic Pictures (Hell on Wheels) came on as a copro partner. Cineflix shares distribution duties with Germany’s Beta Films.

Cineflix is reining in drama production activity and, moving forward, is hoping to run a scripted division with lower overheads focused on the US and UK markets.