France’s Mediawan takes majority stake in ‘Bac Nord’ prodco Chi-Fou-Mi

Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel & Matthieu Pigasse

France’s Mediawan Group has continued its acquisition spree by taking a majority stake in Paris-based Chi-Fou-Mi, the prodco behind upcoming Netflix film Bac Nord.

The company, which is helmed by founder Hugo Selignac, has been in operation for a decade and has been behind shows such as Mandibules and Le Grand Bain. Bac Nord, meanwhile, is heading to Netflix globally following a recent deal with distributor StudioCanal.

Chi-Fou-Mi will now become part of cinema division Mediawan Pictures, which is overseen by Elisabeth d’Arvieu and joins a rapidly expanding bouquet of producers under the Mediawan umbrella.

These include The Three Musketeers firm Chapter 2, Call My Agent! outfit Mon Voisin Production, Black Swan, Palomar and Lagardere Studios among numerous others.

Mediawan has also partnered with fast-growing German firm Leonine to create Mediawan & Leonine Studios, which last week took a majority stake in the UK-based Doctor Foster producer, Drama Republic.

Mediawan & Leonine Studios is led by co-CEOs Pierre-Antoine Capton from Mediawan and Leonine’s Fred Kogel. The French side of the business was formed in 2015 by Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse, who have consistently spoken of their ambitious growth plans.

Capton said the acquisition of Chi-Fou-Mi “is in line with our ambition to bring together the best creative talent and create the best IP.”

He added: “This new association will allow us to amplify the development of Mediawan’s film activity and to offer Chi-Fou-Mi our support in continuing to export major European successes.”