Industry

In a significant move that further cements its position as Europe’s leading independent studio, Mediawan has acquired a majority stake in Our Films, the newly established production and film financing company founded by renowned producers Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Mieli. Based in Rome and launched in early 2024, Our Films aims to collaborate with top-tier filmmakers and talents from Europe, the U.S., and across the globe, focusing on features, documentaries, and series.

The investment aligns with Mediawan’s broader strategy of creating a pan-European studio with an increasingly global footprint. With operations now spanning 13 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, as well as activities in Africa, Asia, and the U.S., Mediawan continues to expand its influence in the global content production industry. The company is behind some of the world’s most iconic productions, such as Call My Agent, Three Body Problem, Bob Marley: One Love, Miraculous Ladybug, and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Mediawan’s portfolio now includes over 80 production entities, making it a creative hub for a diverse range of genres, from film and series to documentaries, animation, and non-scripted content.

Our Films reunites Gianani and Mieli, who have previously teamed up on numerous acclaimed projects. Mieli, former CEO of Fremantle Italia, founded The Apartment Pictures in 2020 and produced globally successful films such as The Hand of God (Silver Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival), Bones and All (Silver Lion at the 2022 Venice Film Festival), Sofia Coppola's Priscilla (Coppa Volpi award at the 2023 Venice Film Festival), and Parthenope (in competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival). Gianani’s productions have also been highly successful, with films like The Mafia Only Kills in Summer (European Film Award for Best Comedy, 2014) and The Eight Mountains (Jury Prize at Cannes, 4 David di Donatello awards, and 2 Silver Ribbons) standing out among his many accolades.

The two producers have also collaborated on international successes such as HBO’s The Young Pope and The New Pope, both directed by Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino, as well as Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are and the TV series My Brilliant Friend, adapted from Elena Ferrante’s best-selling novels.

In a joint statement, Pierre-Antoine Capton, Co-founder and CEO of The Mediawan Group, and Elisabeth d'Arvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are delighted to welcome Lorenzo and Mario, two of the industry’s most accomplished producers of internationally acclaimed films and series, who inspire us with their taste and modern creative edge. Through Our Films, we are reinforcing our ambition to bring together the greatest talent behind the best content worldwide.”

Gianani and Mieli also shared their excitement about the venture: “We could not be more excited to reunite under our new Our Films banner and join forces with the brilliant and passionate Mediawan team. Together, we are building a new creative hub to support the world’s best filmmakers in telling bold and courageous stories that elevate our lives and the artform through shared cinematic excellence. This is the goal for Our Films.”

They continued, “‘Our’ symbolizes our partnership with artists, as we stand alongside them to champion their vision and projects from the very beginning to the distribution stage. Through our efforts and financial resources, we commit to protecting and sharing with our creatives the control, empowerment, and freedom necessary to uphold the integrity of their art. This is the mission of Our Films.”

At the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Mieli will present three projects produced through The Apartment Pictures: Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, based on William Burroughs’ novel and starring Daniel Craig; Pablo Larrain’s Maria, starring Angelina Jolie; and Joe Wright’s eight-episode limited series M, about the life of Mussolini.

Following a strong showing at the Cannes Film Festival, where Mediawan presented an unprecedented eight feature films, the company is set to play a prominent role at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. This includes opening the festival with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, produced by PLAN B, and the world premiere of Jon Watts’ Wolfs, also produced by PLAN B and starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Other notable presentations include And Their Children After Them (in Official Competition) directed by Zoran and Ludovic Boukherma, as well as PLAN B’s documentaries One to One: John & Yoko, directed by Kevin Macdonald, and Apocalypse in the Tropics, directed by Petra Costa.

About Our Films

Our Films is a Rome-based production and film finance company dedicated to bringing cinematic, serial, and documentary projects to life. Founded by Lorenzo Mieli and Mario Gianani, the company is committed to empowering filmmakers by providing them with the freedom and resources necessary to maintain the integrity of their art. With a portfolio that includes films like Paolo Sorrentino’s The Hand of God and Parthenope, Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer and Bones and All, and many more, Our Films is poised to become a key player in the global film industry.