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Angelina Jolie and Fremantle Agree International Filmmaking, Television and Documentary Deal
Director, Oscar award-winning actress and Special Envoy for the UN refugee agency, Angelina Jolie has signed a multi-year international filmmaking agreement with leading global creator, producer and distributor, Fremantle. Under the three-year agreement, which commences immediately, Jolie and Fremantle will jointly develop a sophisticated, powerful and internationally focused slate of feature films, documentaries and original series in which she will produce, direct and/or star – based on each individual project.
Angelina Jolie and Fremantle share a global perspective on important storytelling, championing underserved and diverse voices from across the world. This is reflected in this deal, which also extends into local language projects in partnership with Fremantle’s production companies and acclaimed filmmaking talent operating in 26 territories around the world. This includes supporting other writers and directors regionally to help them get their projects made.
Under the deal, Jolie will produce and direct the feature film “Without Blood” this May in Italy. Jolie adapted the script from the acclaimed international bestselling novel by Alessandro Baricco – an unforgettable fable about war, revenge, memory and healing. In addition to “Without Blood,” Angelina Jolie and Fremantle are also working on upcoming feature projects, documentaries and original series that will be announced soon.
eAll about the partnership
eAll about the film project “Without Blood”
Angelina Jolie and Fremantle share a global perspective on important storytelling, championing underserved and diverse voices from across the world. This is reflected in this deal, which also extends into local language projects in partnership with Fremantle’s production companies and acclaimed filmmaking talent operating in 26 territories around the world. This includes supporting other writers and directors regionally to help them get their projects made.
Under the deal, Jolie will produce and direct the feature film “Without Blood” this May in Italy. Jolie adapted the script from the acclaimed international bestselling novel by Alessandro Baricco – an unforgettable fable about war, revenge, memory and healing. In addition to “Without Blood,” Angelina Jolie and Fremantle are also working on upcoming feature projects, documentaries and original series that will be announced soon.
A New Addition to the
Fremantle Family
To achieve its growth targets, Fremantle also relies on the acquisition of individual film and TV production companies. Over the course of the year, Fremantle acquired an array of innovative labels around the world. Its first purchase, in March, was Lux Vide, Italy’s leading independent TV production company with more than 1,300 hours of primetime programming in its catalog. This transaction was followed by Dancing Ledge Productions in the United Kingdom, Element Pictures in Ireland, 72 Films in the United Kingdom, Wildstar Films in the United Kingdom and Silvio Productions in Israel. In March, Fremantle also acquired a 25 percent stake in the US production company Fabel Entertainment, which is particularly successful with the crime series “Bosch.”
In 2022, Fremantle delivered more than 100 scripted productions including high-end series, daily dramas and films that captivated millions of viewers worldwide and won major awards. For example, the feature film “Le Otto Montagne” by the Italian Fremantle subsidiary Wildside was awarded the Jury Prize at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival in June. And star director Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God,” produced in 2021, was nominated for an Oscar in the “Best International Feature Film” category in February. In March, the historical drama “The Shadow In My Eye” by Danish Fremantle subsidiary Miso Film was watched by more than 33 million Netflix viewers worldwide in the first three weeks after its release. And the US talent show “American Idol” achieved average audience ratings of 7.2 million total viewers in its 20th season, making it the year’s most successful format on America’s ABC network.
eAll about “The Shadow In My Eye”
Trailer “Le Otto Montagne”
Trailer “The Hand of God”
eAll about “American Idol”
In 2022, Fremantle delivered more than 100 scripted productions including high-end series, daily dramas and films that captivated millions of viewers worldwide and won major awards. For example, the feature film “Le Otto Montagne” by the Italian Fremantle subsidiary Wildside was awarded the Jury Prize at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival in June. And star director Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God,” produced in 2021, was nominated for an Oscar in the “Best International Feature Film” category in February. In March, the historical drama “The Shadow In My Eye” by Danish Fremantle subsidiary Miso Film was watched by more than 33 million Netflix viewers worldwide in the first three weeks after its release. And the US talent show “American Idol” achieved average audience ratings of 7.2 million total viewers in its 20th season, making it the year’s most successful format on America’s ABC network.
A New Global Bestseller
by Michelle Obama
The US nonfiction publishing event of 2022 was the new book by former First Lady Michelle Obama, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times.” Penguin Random House oversaw its November 15 simultaneous international publication. To be released in 35 languages, the book shares her experiences and her insights for facing life’s great challenges, and her striving to achieve inner personal balance. Upon publication, it went straight to the upper echelons of national bestseller lists, and to number one in North America and Germany. Mrs. Obama’s previous book, her memoir “Becoming,” also a Penguin Random House globally coordinated publication, has sold more than 17 million copies in all formats to date.
In 2022, anticipation also mounted for another of the Publishing Group’s nonfiction events: “Spare,” the long-awaited memoir from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, with its January 10, 2023 worldwide publication, again overseen by Penguin Random House.
–Reading sample “The Light We Carry”
eAll about the launch of the book
Celebrities on “The Light We Carry”
In 2022, anticipation also mounted for another of the Publishing Group’s nonfiction events: “Spare,” the long-awaited memoir from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, with its January 10, 2023 worldwide publication, again overseen by Penguin Random House.
Growth in the
Spanish-Language Book Market
One of the most important growth opportunities for Penguin Random House is the Spanish-language book market. Its Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial division is the largest book publishing group in the Spanish-speaking world. In 2022, Grupo Editorial, with a major publishing presence in nine countries with its 51 publishers, increased the number of its books sold in all its Latin America markets. “Violeta” by Chilean author Isabel Allende, published in January, became its top-selling title of the year. In May, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial went online with its new educational platform “Penguin Aula,” designed to help teachers instill a love of reading in their students. “Penguin Aula” offers materials for all grade levels and is being gradually rolled out to Grupo Editorial’s markets.
In June, Grupo Editorial launched Distrito Manga, a new imprint specializing in the booming manga genre, to great response in Spain and Latin America. Penguin Random House, through its majority stake in its subsidiary, Companhia das Letras, also led the market in Portuguese-speaking Brazil. In March, the company acquired a 70 percent stake in JBC, Brazil’s leading manga publisher, which publishes many manga classics, including “Samurai X,” “Knights of the Zodiac” and “Akira” in Brazil.
eMore about “Penguin Aula”
MListening sample of “Violeta” by Isabel Allende
In June, Grupo Editorial launched Distrito Manga, a new imprint specializing in the booming manga genre, to great response in Spain and Latin America. Penguin Random House, through its majority stake in its subsidiary, Companhia das Letras, also led the market in Portuguese-speaking Brazil. In March, the company acquired a 70 percent stake in JBC, Brazil’s leading manga publisher, which publishes many manga classics, including “Samurai X,” “Knights of the Zodiac” and “Akira” in Brazil.
BMG Invests More Than Half a Billion in Music Rights
2022, BMG invested more than half a billion euros in music rights, more than ever before in its history, mainly driven by Bertelsmann’s Boost strategy. Some key artist catalogues purchased by BMG during the year include Peter Frampton, Harry Nilsson, Fools Garden, Haddaway, John Lee Hooker, Simple Minds, Primal Scream, Chris Rea and Jean-Michel Jarre. The acquisition of the French musician and producer’s music rights in July was BMG’s largest-ever single purchase in France. The deal covers rights to the classic albums “Oxygene” and “Equinoxe” as well as Jarre’s income from his author rights. As a pioneer of electronic music, Jean-Michel Jarre has sold more than 85 million albums during his career.
In Recordings, BMG signed new or extended contracts with artists including Rita Ora, Logic, Julian Lennon, Marteria, Daniel Lanois, Monster Truck, Stefflon Don, Nickelback, Adam Lambert, Jason Aldean and Lina, thanks to its service-oriented approach. BMG’s major releases in 2022 included albums and singles from musicians ranging from Jason Aldean to Louis Tomlinson, Mötley Crüe, Jelly Roll, 5SOS, Monsta X, Slash, AJR, Backstreet Boys, Buena Vista Social Club, Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Kylie Minogue, Dustin Lynch and Bryan Adams. Numerous BMG releases made it to the top of the charts, including releases by Jason Aldean, Backstreet Boys, 5SOS, Louis Tomlinson, Jelly Roll, LadBaby, Nickelback, Daniel Johns, Lady Blackbird and Maxwell. In the publishing business, the catalogs of Bruno Mars, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Juice WRLD, Kurt Cobain and Roger Waters in particular generated high revenues. New contracts or contract extensions/renewals were signed with Halsey, Elvis Costello, Robin Kadir, Bazzazian, Slowthai, Jessie Reyez, Afrojack, Montez and Lucry.
Music by Rita Ora
Music by Louis Tomlinson
Music by Jean-Michel Jarre
BMG Celebrates Success with Its Music Labels
Bertelsmann’s music division acquired Germany’s largest independent music label, Telamo. This was BMG’s largest acquisition in Germany to date, and its biggest label investment since the 2017 takeover of the US country label BBR Music Group. The Telamo acquisition also includes the leading digital offering “Schlager für Alle,” which has more than two million followers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. In the United States, BMG’s Broken Bow Records celebrated a premiere at the end of the year: For the first time, hits by BBR artists including Jason Aldean, Dustin Lynch, Lainey Wilson, Chase Rice, Craig Morgan, Everette and Tyler Farr got more radio airplay during the year than those of any other label, making BBR the “Top Country Label” of the year.
eAll about Telamo
“Schlager für Alle” on YouTube
eAll about BBR
