Federation hires ex-France 2 drama chief

Paris-based Federation Entertainment has hired the former head of drama at France 2 to take on the same role at the internationally-focused producer-distributor.

Thierry Sorel takes on the newly-created role, effective immediately, reporting to CEO Pascal Breton and managing director Lionel Uzan.

Sorel left France 2 in July after ten years at pubcaster France Télévisions.

He will be responsible for the company’s drama and comedy development.

At France Télévisions-owned France 2, Sorel worked on high-end returning series such as Disparue, Accusé, Les Témoins (Witnesses) and Candice Renoir, and telemovies including Ne M’abandonne Pas and Presque Comme Les Autres.

He joined France Télévisions in 2006, where he initially led youth programming for France 2. He became joint director of fiction of France 3 at 2008, where he was responsible for editing daily show PBLV and launched primetime series Village Français.

He has also held senior positions at French networks Canal J and Tiji.

He is now joining a production company that has quickly established itself as a major player in both the French and international markets, having been created by former Marathon Images drama chief Breton in September 2014. Its shows include Netflix’s Marseille and Franco-Finnish coproduction Bordertown, which is for YLE.

“Thierry’s exceptional expertise and knowledge will add a strong component to our production operations, whilst providing a compelling creative force in Federation’s strategy to produce original programmes for the French and European markets, as well as consolidating further partnerships with independent producers who want to expand internationally,” said Breton.