It’s set to be a banner year for the LA Screenings Independents this year, which has noted a 30% uptick in registered buyers and up to 60 exhibitors filling up the rooms of the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the trade show’s new venue.
“More people are coming this year, which is great to see – last year was a bit tough, maybe because of hotel prices or how long the event lasted,” says Isabella Márquez, president of Events TM, who has pared the screenings to two instead of three days, May 15 and 16.
These are followed from May 17–21 by slate presentations at studios across Los Angeles, some of which are conveniently closer to the landmark hotel than the trade show’s previous Century City location.
“The LA Screenings are a key hub for content sharing and building industry connections. This year’s move to the iconic Roosevelt Hotel is about bringing everything into one central location, creating a more intimate and focused atmosphere,” says Lisette Osorio, Caracol TV’s VP of International Sales, adding: “It’s also a strategic shift to help manage costs at a time of big industry changes.” Among Caracol’s highlights is dramatic series “La Venganza de Analía – A Second Round for Justice,” leading a robust slate of entertainment formats and documentaries.
‘La Venganza de Analia’ Courtesy of Caracol TV
Camila Castillo
“Personally, I’ve always greatly appreciated and enjoyed visiting our traditional Century City location, which has been an integral part of our lives for many years. However, times change, and we maintain a positive outlook moving forward,” EO Media’s Eze Olzanski concurs, who adds that he hopes to see a movie at the TCL Chinese Theatre across the street.
“If it’s true that Marilyn Monroe’s ghost haunts the hotel, it would be a pleasure to meet her and share a mate with her,” Olzanski quips.
“Being at the LA Screenings with such a diversified slate reinforces our positioning to deliver stories that connect with audiences around the world,” says Pablo Ghiglione, Globo’s head of co-productions and international sales, of the Brazilian company’s diverse lineup led by a new season of high-octane series “Anti-Kidnapping Unit” from Globoplay Originals as well as telenovelas and adaptable formats for local productions.
“The market has become more dynamic with a renewed sense of enthusiasm surrounding the LA Screenings, given there are more buyers returning in person post-Covid,” notes Lionsgate’s Tania Jacobson, SVP, alternative programming, international, who remarks that it would be the first time Lionsgate Alternative Television is presenting as an international distributor.
“In unscripted television, we’re seeing a shift domestically toward greater collaboration between producers and buyers, allowing producers to retain more rights and maintain ownership of their IP,” she says, adding: “By leveraging the combined strength of Lionsgate Alternative Television’s top-tier non-scripted groups and the studio’s best-in-class television distribution team, we are fortunate to be well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.”
Highlights of Lionsgate’s unscripted lineup includes “The Las Culturistas Culture Awards,” a special on cultural milestones of the year, hosted by SNL regular Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers; “Princess Diana’s Dress” (working title), a new docu tracing Princess Diana’s transformation from shy teacher to fashion icon; “Bocelli: Because I Believe,” an all-access doc following Andrea Bocelli behind the scenes, and the second season of “Married to the Game,” which delves into the personal lives of Premier League footballers’ partners.
Credit: J.J. Geiger ‘The Las Culturistas Culture Awards’
For Mike Wald and Jason Spivak, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) co-presidents of distribution & networks, the LA Screenings is “still a very robust point in time” and a perfect opportunity to meet most of SPT’s business allies in one venue.
“The structure of the Screenings in terms of timing of what’s available has changed, but the impact remains very strong. Over the past two years, we have launched two of the biggest shows in the industry, “Twisted Metal” and “Doc,” at the LA Screenings and they continue to be top performers around the world,” they note.
This year’s SPT crop includes “American Hostage,” starring Jon Hamm; Scotland-set “Outlander: Blood of My Blood”; the series adaptation of William Golding’s classic “Lord of the Flies” by “Adolescence” writer Jack Thorne; supernatural thriller “Playing Gracie Darling” and drama “The Lady.”
“Audiences also love dramas based on true crime events, “The Lady” is a great example of this, and one that we are really excited about,” they remark. From “The Crown” producers, Left Bank Pictures, “The Lady” is a partly fictionalized account of Jane Andrews, the former royal dresser of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, whose rise from humble beginnings ended when she was convicted of murder.
The Lady ‘
James Pardon/Left Bank/Sony Pictures Television
Says Michael Bonner, president, NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution: “I can say that across all the various sales markets that we participate in throughout the year (i.e.: NATPE, Content Americas, London TV Screenings, MIPCOM, ATF, etc.), LA Screenings continues to be our largest market.”
“While content remains king, the TV landscape is becoming increasingly more complex: a surge in local productions, audience fragmentation, technological advancements, shift from the traditional pilot season to year-round development, global market dynamics, etc.,” he observes, adding: “That said, we prefer to view challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth.”
The key is to remain “nimble” and adapt to the meet the needs of audiences in an ever-shifting landscape, he notes. “Year-round development means that we are also selling content on a year-round basis; we continue to work with our longstanding linear and streaming clients, but with audiences looking for new ways to watch content, we also work with new partners, services and business models to ensure that our content is anywhere and everywhere consumers are,” he adds.
NBCUniversal’s film and TV slate for 2025-26 includes dramas led by “The Copenhagen Test,” which stars Simu Liu as an American intelligence analyst whose brain gets hacked; “Amadeus,” a reimagined take on Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play and movie starring Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany; Matt Smith-led ”The Death of Bunny Munro,” a wild cautionary tale intertwined with a portrait of a father and son’s bond, and “Ponies,” starring “Game of Thrones” lead Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson as two secretaries turned CIA operatives.
Among its comedies are “The Paper,” an offshoot of “The Office” universe starring Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore and Oscar Nuñez.
‘The Paper’
Aaron Epstein/PEACOCK
Additionally, NBCU will be screening trailers of some of its most highly anticipated upcoming films including “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” “Wicked: For Good” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth.”
