TBI’s 2024 Predictions: Daria Leygonie-Fialko, founder, Space Production

By Daria Leygonie-Fialko 5th January 2024

Daria Leygonie-Fialko (Source: Space Production)

2024 is set to be a pivotal year for the global content industry, so TBI has enlisted some of the biggest names in the business to share their thoughts on the major trends of the next 12 months and how they’re going to capitalise on them.

Here, Daria Leygonie-Fialko, producer and founder of Ukraine & France-based Space Production, discusses streaming consolidation, new co-production models and the ongoing challenges being faced in Ukraine.

What is the biggest growth area for your company this year?

First and foremost, our growth area is the development of production in Ukraine. To date, we have restored production, which was stopped on 24 February 2022, but next year we would like to increase its volume by launching new projects, which should be relevant, topical and important for today.

This is a real challenge for us, because the advertising market in Ukraine is still at a low point, which is why the opportunities for our main customers have collapsed. Now we are mainly continuing the production of those TVB series that were launched before the war. These brands are reliable because they are loved by the viewers and we know what to expect from them on air. And launching new projects requires more money, more risk and more time.

The second area of growth relates to our international operations. In 2023, we signed our first contracts with our European colleagues, so next year we would like to intensively develop our international projects.

It is not only important to us how our business grows and develops; it is important for us how Ukrainian culture as a whole manifests itself in the West. This happens, among other things, thanks to TV and film content, and we, for our part, also strive to make our contribution, as our mission is to make Ukrainian identity bloom. In 2024, we would like Ukrainian culture to continue its journey of self-identification and introduce its huge heritage and creative potential to the world.

Emily In Paris

What is the key trend going to be in 2024?

The trend that started in 2023 will continue – reuse and recycle. International studios will focus their efforts on making their DTC propositions profitable, spending their production budgets even more prudently, cutting on local productions and increasingly licensing their content to third parties. That will benefit commissioners as they will be spoiled for choice and could also pick and produce some of the projects in very advanced stages of development that were slashed by the streamers.

Though the outlook for independent producers is bleak, it will encourage more comprehensive co-production models, which will offer opportunities for local creators to reach audiences beyond their territories. Not only do co-productions spread the risk and reduce the overall production budgets, but if stories are really co-developed, they can cost-effectively resonate with more than one local audience, thus filling the gap in the number of local productions left by the streamers in smaller markets.

What will be the biggest headline (not involving your own company) in 2024 and why?

Consolidation of streamers. I’m expecting a headline: Company X (fill in the blanks) in talks to acquire company Y (fill in the blanks). If not in 2024, then in 2025 at least one of studio-owned DTC subscription services could exit the market as it is becoming clear that the market can not sustain all, and investors are really anxious for DTC divisions to turn a profit. AI made headlines in 2023, I also expect further breakthroughs in that direction.

What is your New Year’s resolution and why?

My main resolution for New Year is a peaceful Ukraine that becomes a full-fledged player in the world film market.

What show are you most looking forward to in 2024?

I am excited to see Monica Beletsky’s Manhunt. It ticks all the boxes for me: it’s period, it’s real crime, it’s conspiracy, it’s a thriller. It reads like Space’s pipeline. I also can’t wait until the filming of the beautiful and charming Emily In Paris, season four, is completed, thanks to which I finally let Paris into my inner world.

Read more from TBI’s 2024 Predictions

Tom Fussell, CEO, BBC Studios

Nomsa Philiso, CEO of general entertainment, MultiChoice Group

Marina Williams, co-CEO, Asacha Media Group

Kate Beal, founder & CEO, Woodcut Media

James Burstall, CEO, Argonon

Julian Bellamy, MD, ITV Studios

Daria Leygonie-Fialko, founder, Space Production

Rob Wade, CEO, Fox Entertainment

Frank Spotnitz, CEO, Big Light Productions

David Michel, president and co-founder, Cottonwood Media

TBI’s 2024 Predictions: Mark Fennessy, founder & CCO, Helium