Sales Talk: All3Media Int’l’s Stephen Driscoll on South Korean wave-making & bucket list holidays

Buyers, hungry for new content, are in the UK capital for meetings, presentations and drinks – or logging on from across the globe – for London TV Screenings all this week.

With so many new productions being showcased, TBI has been checking in with execs from international distributors of all sizes as they share the best new shows on their slates, along with the top trends to watch out for in 2022.

The Marriage

STEPHEN DRISCOLL, EVP EMEA, ALL3MEDIA INTERNATIONAL 

What’s your standout show for London TV Screenings and why?

The Marriage showcases the talent of two major stars – Sean Bean having established his reputation across Europe and the USA for some years, and Nicola Walker, well established in the UK, who is fast-building reputation globally as a versatile and thoroughly engaging talent. The project hails from award-winning The Forge – always consistent in the quality of their shows.

What show are you most looking forward to in 2022 (not including your own)?

There are two Apple+ commissions I have been awaiting as a fan of the books – Shantaram, based on the Gregory David Roberts novel, and Mick Herron’s Slough House series.

What single distribution trend will define the next 12 months?

Increased competition for the best productions will continue around the world as the battle for audience/subscribers continues apace.

Squid Game

Three words to describe the global distribution industry right now are…

Ambitious. Innovative. Competitive.

Which country’s programming will boom this year & why?

South Korea – Squid Game was just one milestone in very long line of creativity. They are on a huge creative growth curve that will continue to make major waves in the global market. Also, Italy – more movie crossover talent moving to TV – for example, Indigo’s new show Gymnasts will be a must-buy in the YA space.

Rewind to this time in 2018. You have the same knowledge as you do now – what would be the first thing you’d do?

I would have spent all my money on some really expensive “bucket list” holidays with my family – safaris, Machu Picchu, Japan – and then come home and built a state of the art home office.