Newen secures $56m from Anton to expand into docs & features

Romain Bessi

TF1 Group-owned Newen Studios has secured a further €50m ($56m) investment from financier Anton to secure distribution rights to film and documentary output.

The additional €50m is a 40% increase on Anton’s current agreement with Newen, which was first struck in 2019 and allowed the France-based firm to co-invest in distribution rights for the group’s productions, as well as for third-party programmes.

The new pact includes projects such as the Kevin Macdonald documentary about high-fashion designer John Galliano.

The companies have previously worked together on a raft of shows, including Newen Studios’ Crossroads, for France Televisions, and Lost Luggage, which is in production for Dutch broadcaster VRT and French-German operator Arte.

Crossroads

They have also linked on series distributed via sales arm Newen Connect such as DNA, The Promise, Imago, Dough, White Sands, Christian and Ammo.

Romain Bessi, who replaced Bibiane Godfroid as MD of Newen Studios late last year, said the expanded agreement “testifies to the successful dynamic achieved by Newen Studios.”

Newen has transformed since its acquisition by French broadcaster TF1 Group in 2015, tripling in size through acquisitions such as Spain’s iZen Group and Germany’s Flare Films, as well as launching Ringside Studio in the UK.

TF1 Studio was combined with Newen Studios at the start of 2020 and the company now has a presence in eight countries, with prodcos including Newen France, North America- and UK-based Reel One, De Mensen in Belgium and Tuvalu in the Netherlands.

Anton, meanwhile, was launched in 2011 and has co-financed IP such as the Paddington movie franchise, Non-Stop and Shaun The Sheep.

The company also has a longstanding relationship with the UK’s BBC Studios, including a drama fund launched in 2019 and a pact with former exec Tobi De Graaff.