The 46th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia ended on September 25th with a spectacular victory for the movie "Fears", coproduced by SPI International Affiliate Kino Polska TV SA. The picture directed by Łukasz Ronduda and Łukasz Gutt moved the Festival audience and received many positive reviews. „Fears" received a total of five awards – apart from the Journalists' Award, the film received the Don Quixote Award of the Film Discussion Clubs and the Youth Jury Award. During the Saturday gala closing of this year's edition of the Festival, Łukasz Gutt received an individual award for cinematography and the Golden Lions, the main award of the Gdynia event, was received by the filmmakers and Daniel Rycharski – the real-life inspiration behind the main character played by Dawid Ogrodnik. "Fears" will be distributed by Kino Świat, a CANAL+ group company.
The film, awarded with Golden Lions at Polish Film Festival 2021 in Gdynia, is based on real events from the life of the colorful and combining-extremes character of Daniel Rycharski – a respected artist, committed Catholic, outstanding activist, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow and winner of "Polityka's" Polish weekly magazine special price called Passport.
The main character is played by Dawid Ogrodnik – the star of "The Last Family", "You Are God" and "You Want to Live" blockbusters, a two-time winner of the Polish Film Award (Eagle), who received numerous distinctions at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, as well as the title of Shooting Star 2019, awarded to the most promising actors of the European cinema.
Dawid Ogrodnik is accompanied by outstanding personalities of Polish cinematography, including: Andrzej Chyra, Jowita Budnik, Maria Maj, Jacek Poniedziałek and the star of the famous "25 Years of Innocence. The Case of Tomek Komenda" movie – Piotr Trojan. The film was directed by Łukasz Gutt, who also created the cinematography, and Łukasz Ronduda – the creator of the critically acclaimed productions "The Performer" and "The Heart of Love", awarded at the International Film Festival in Berlin. At the 46th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, the "Fears" movie won as many as five awards: Journalists' Award, Film Discussion Clubs' Award, Young People's Jury Award, Best Cinematography, and the highest award - Golden Lions for the best film of the Festival.
Daniel (Dawid Ogrodnik) is an artist, Catholic and gay activist. The houses in his hometown are decorated with his impressive murals, his sculptures are displayed in respected exhibitions in Warsaw, and his installations, such as a chapel illuminated and greeting the residents with their voices, serve the local community. His trademark is a sweatshirt decorated with rainbow elements. As a deeply faithful Catholic, Daniel is committed to spiritual matters. He believes that the church should not be a place of exclusion and that there is room in his community for everyone regardless of worldview or personal choices. As a result of dramatic events, Daniel decides to take part in a courageous fight to defend his ideas and decides to crack down on homophobia in his hometown.
FEARS
Genre: Drama
Poland 2021
Production: Kuba Kosma PGP („(Nie)znajomi”, „Serce miłości”), Katarzyna Sarnowska („(Nie)znajomi”, „Chemia”)
Coproduction: Kino Polska TV SA
Co-financing: Polish Film Institute, CANAL+
Direction: Łukasz Ronduda („Performer”, „Serce miłości”), Łukasz Gutt („Odyseja złomowa”)
Screenplay: Łukasz Ronduda („Performer”), Michał Oleszczyk, Katarzyna Sarnowska („(Nie)znajomi”, „Chemia”)
Pictures: Łukasz Gutt („Kamerdyner”, „Serce miłości”)
Scenography: Joanna Kaczyńska („Listy do M.3”, „Serce miłości”)
Costume Designe: Kalina Lach („Wszyscy moi przyjaciele nie żyją”, „Planeta Singli 3”)
Film editing: Przemysław Chruścielewski („Żeby nie było śladów”, „Boże Ciało”, „Serce miłości”), Kamil Grzybowski („Czuły film”)
Cast: Dawid Ogrodnik („Najmro. Kocha, kradnie, szanuje”, „Cicha noc”, „Chce się żyć”), Maria Maj („Między nami dobrze jest”), Andrzej Chyra („W imię…”, „Carte blanche”), Jacek Poniedziałek („Serce miłości”, „Pakt”), Oskar Rybaczek („Klangor”, „Ślad”), Agata Łabno, Jowita Budnik („Plac Zbawiciela”, „Jeziorak”), Karolina Bruchnicka („Córka trenera”, „Moje wspaniałe życie”), Konrad Eleryk („Klangor”, „Furioza”), Piotr Trojan („25 lat niewinności. Sprawa Tomka Komendy”, „Znaki”), Wiktoria Kruszczyńska, Ewa Konstancja Bułhak („Drogówka”, „Dzień kobiet”), Wojtek Ziętek („Boże Ciało”, „Jak najdalej stąd”)
About SPI INTERNATIONAL:
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
Global media company SPI/FilmBox has inked a deal with Pluto TV, the leading free streaming television service in America, to launch SPI’s ad-based movie proposition Filmstream, which broadcasts an expertly curated selection of movies for those who appreciate the art of cinema. The new channel will be added to Pluto TV’s line-up in 18 countries in Latin America including; Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Pluto TV to include another top-quality product that combines premium content curation with the ease of the lean-back entertainment experience,” said Berkin Ecevit, Sales & Business Development Director at SPI International. “Filmstream’s slate of critically-acclaimed and insightful movies will now captivate more movie lovers of all ages through our deal with Pluto TV,” added Ecevit.
Filmstream’s current catalogue includes independent world cinema gems and classic movies from iconic directors such as Hitchcock, Kurosawa, Fellini, and many others. Filmstream plans to expand its line-up with Hollywood blockbusters and popular hits in the future.
Pluto TV also carries Pluto TV FashionBox which includes curated content from SPI’s FashionBox channel and features inspirational, educational, and always highly entertaining content on shopping, lifestyle and new fashion trends.
About SPI INTERNATIONAL:
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
SPI’s premium drama hub Dizi is available on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Spain. Prime members in Spain can access Dizi branded on-demand content via an add-on paid monthly subscription with the linear channel launch expected to follow by the end of the year
SPI/FilmBox announces that Dizi, which offers a curated selection of high-budget and critically-acclaimed Turkish series, is available dubbed in Spanish, as subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) on Amazon Prime Video Channels in Spain as of September 9th 2021. Dizi will be offered as an add-on paid monthly subscription package available for Prime members at 2.99 € per month and subscribers can get a free trial for two weeks.
“The powerful stories told in Turkish series and the magnetic landscapes that provide a backdrop to these stories have been mesmerizing the whole world for the past ten years. Now with the Dizi offer at Amazon Prime, Spanish viewers will gain access to Dizi, The Home of Good Stories, where they can enjoy a curated slate of addictive Turkish series, all in one place with an ever-growing catalogue to come,” said Georgina Twiss, MD Western Europe and Africa at SPI International.
Some of the Dizi highlights which will be available to Prime members in Spain include: Black Money Love, the International Emmy Award-nominated sensation starring Tuba Büyüküstün and Engin Akyürek; Brave and Beautiful, a critically-acclaimed family saga led by Tuba Büyüküstün and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ; Stiletto Vendetta, a suburban tale of glamour and revenge, and Insider, a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with shocking twists and turns.
About SPI INTERNATIONAL:
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
CANAL+ will acquire a 70% majority stake in SPI International while keeping the current management team and operational structure in place.
SPI INTERNATIONAL, a global media company operating 42 TV channels and multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide, is now joining forces with Canal+ Group.
CANAL+ Group is a leading world pay-TV operator and major player in free-to-air television in France. CANAL+ has a wide international footprint with a presence in 40 countries in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In Europe, CANAL+ has a strong presence in mainland France and Poland and has also acquired the M7 Group platform in 2019. The Group totals 22 million subscribers worldwide and has experienced a continuous growth of its international business in recent years. This acquisition will help CANAL+ to expand its strategy of investing in content and reinforce its offers on its different markets, by relying on European leader Studiocanal, Kino Świat in Poland, and now SPI INTERNATIONAL.
In the context of this agreement, which will enable complementary know-how and skills to be combined, SPI's current owners Loni Farhi & Berk Uziyel will continue to manage and develop SPI’s business with the support of their executive committee, while the parties will be able to generate reciprocal synergies to further strengthen the two groups’ presence in the international markets.
In a joint statement, Loni Farhi & Berk Uziyel, underlined: “It is very exciting news and the start of a new era for SPI INTERNATIONAL. CANAL+ and SPI share a common vision for continuous growth and a strong international presence. We have been strategic partners for years, where we have built a great tradition of collaborations and achieving mutual goals. Now we will have the chance to join forces under one roof. SPI will further accelerate its growth with CANAL+ while leveraging natural synergies. SPI INTERNATIONAL has an amazingly talented team that has produced incredible growth in the last decade. Now, with this great team and with much enthusiasm, we are delighted to become part of the CANAL+ family. Our joined forces will strengthen the existing entertainment products and expand the distribution of our compelling content to far larger audiences.”
For Maxime Saada, CEO of CANAL+ Group: “The acquisition of SPI INTERNATIONAL is part of the strategy we have been implementing for several years. CANAL+ currently has 22 million subscribers in over 40 countries, including 15 in Europe. We have set ourselves the goal of reaching a minimum of 30 million subscribers by 2025, and SPI INTERNATIONAL will certainly be a key asset in achieving this ambition.”
Jacques du Puy, CEO of CANAL+ International said: “We are very pleased to welcome SPI to our group. This acquisition marks a new strategic step for the development of our European contents. It will be a great opportunity to develop new synergies and businesses for our activities, especially in the Polish market and in the Central and Eastern European countries where CANAL+ operates through M7 brands.”
The completion of the transaction is, of course, subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities in the territories concerned (including in particular the authorities responsible for antitrust and merger control).
About CANAL+ GROUP
CANAL+ Group is a leading media company and pay-TV operator. It is also a leading player in French free-to-air television. CANAL+ Group has a wide international footprint with a presence in Europe, Africa and Asia. CANAL+ Group totals 21.8 million subscribers worldwide, including 8.7 million in mainland France. With STUDIOCANAL and KINO SWIAT, CANAL+ Group is also a European leader in the production, acquisition and distribution of feature films and TV series. CANAL+ Group is wholly-owned by worldwide integrated content, media and communication group, Vivendi.
About SPI INTERNATIONAL
SPI INTERNATIONAL is a global media company operating 42 TV channels, multiple digital products across six continents, and a major player in content distribution and broadcasting worldwide.
SPI was founded 28 years ago and has extensive experience in the TV and broadcasting industry. The company operates multiple free-to-air and pay-TV channels in CEE, Western Europe, CIS and Ex-Yugo regions including key European markets such as Poland, Czechia, Romania, Serbia, the Netherlands and Russia. SPI is one of the premier movie service providers in the countries where it operates, with FilmBox being its flagship movie service. SPI Group owns a suite of legacy brands that have become household names such as FilmBox, Film1, Kino Polska, Stopklatka, Dizi along with different thematic channels and streaming services.
SPI’s brands reach millions of households through operators, partner platforms and SPI’s own digital products globally. Working with over 700 operators worldwide, SPI uses cutting-edge technology providing its subscribers with access to SPI’s linear and on-demand content and FilmBox+ service that has over one million subscribers. The company recently launched a new digital service, Dizi, a state-of-the-art aggregator of the best Turkish series worldwide. SPI also owns and operates the brand assets of Film1 premium movie services in The Netherlands, including four linear channels and an on-demand service.
For over 25 years, SPI INTERNATIONAL has been a leading supplier of theatrical films and television programming in the international markets. SPI’s solid alliances with major license suppliers provide compelling content, with strong recognition and high demand.
For more information please contact: marketing@spiintl.com
