Brussels-based co-production and financing powerhouse Umedia – behind recent festival sensation How to Have Sex and French Oscar submission The Taste of Things – is branching out. To complement its co-production, tax-shelter financing and VFX services through subsidiary UFX Studios, Umedia has now launched a development arm to bring its own productions to the screen.
First up is “Bloody Brixel Bar”, a YA horror comedy that Umedia co-CEO Bastien Sirodot describes as a Belgian answer to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. Created by up-and-coming Belgian screenwriter Diane Ntahimpera in collaboration with Amélie Pernot and co-produced by Belgian Herios, the series follows a reluctant teenage heroine, Olivia, who is tasked with a supernatural clean-up mission.
“With all our activities thriving and with experienced production teams in-house, we feel it’s the perfect time to expand our horizons and venture into development,” Sirodot tells Variety. “‘Bloody Brixel Bar’ is a horror series that draws on superstition and horror film culture to tell a family story that is both humorous and frightening. Our aim is to create a real Belgian franchise”.
In addition to Bloody Brixel Bar, Umedia is also developing a scripted comedy with two local screenwriters and is sourcing various short and feature films to create a pipeline of around five projects per year.
“These efforts will only reinforce our existing activities and strengthen our relationships with Belgian broadcasters and distributors,” adds Sirodot. “As a result, we remain a strong partner for European producers, and we hope that our development activities will provide an opportunity to build closer relationships.”
Co-headed by Sirodot and Laurent Jacobs since 2020, Umedia continues to back 30-40 projects a year and has earmarked €35m ($37.1m) for European co-productions in 2023.
While executives are on hand at Rome’s MIA Market to look for new investment opportunities, the company has already closed deals on upcoming European projects such as Sulak, directed by Melanie Laurent-and produced by Légende for Amazon Prime Video; The Count of Monte-Cristo, directed by Alexandre De La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte and produced by Chapter 2 and Pathé; and Sharks, the latest from Xavier Gens, starring Berenice Bejo and produced by Let Me Be for Netflix.
