With the aim of producing and developing premium fiction programming for local French and global marketplaces, former TF1 head of drama Anne Viau has joined Federation Studios as producer, through her newly created production company Quelle Aventure!
Led by Pascal Breton, CEO, and Lionel Uzan, MD, Federation Studios says it heralds a new breed of independent European studios, focusing on the creation, production, financing and distribution of high-quality original productions for the global marketplace.
After completing her studies at Parisian film school La Femis, Viau has worked as a television screenwriter, on many hit French series for CANAL+ and France Télévisions, TF1. In 2011, she joined TF1 as artistic advisor and in 2018, she was appointed Head of Drama and her responsibilities involved promoting the broadcaster’s premium prime-time offerings with flagship event series such as The Bonfire of Destiny or Women at War, launching new recurring series HPI, Balthazar, One of Us and introducing two daily series, Tommorow is Ours and Ici Tout Commence.
The Federation Studios and Quelle Aventure! partnership will be effective as of 1 October. Commenting on the move, Viau said: ‘’Following a career in screenwriting and broadcasting, this alliance and launch of the company marks a new chapter of my professional life. I am delighted to partner with Federation as I have long admired the group’s dynamism, creativity and ambition. This venture also allows me to return to my first love, which is writing and which is central to my new role as a producer, alongside attracting key talent and sourcing great stories. Quelle aventure!’s main goal is to create popular, compelling, high-quality fiction, for traditional broadcasters as well as platforms.’’
Breton added: “Anne has already had two successful professional lives: first as a screenwriter, then as TF1's head of drama. Along with the Federation teams, we're eager to help Anne succeed in her third life as a producer, at a time when the need for fiction has reached unprecedented levels with French broadcasters.”
After completing her studies at Parisian film school La Femis, Viau has worked as a television screenwriter, on many hit French series for CANAL+ and France Télévisions, TF1. In 2011, she joined TF1 as artistic advisor and in 2018, she was appointed Head of Drama and her responsibilities involved promoting the broadcaster’s premium prime-time offerings with flagship event series such as The Bonfire of Destiny or Women at War, launching new recurring series HPI, Balthazar, One of Us and introducing two daily series, Tommorow is Ours and Ici Tout Commence.
The Federation Studios and Quelle Aventure! partnership will be effective as of 1 October. Commenting on the move, Viau said: ‘’Following a career in screenwriting and broadcasting, this alliance and launch of the company marks a new chapter of my professional life. I am delighted to partner with Federation as I have long admired the group’s dynamism, creativity and ambition. This venture also allows me to return to my first love, which is writing and which is central to my new role as a producer, alongside attracting key talent and sourcing great stories. Quelle aventure!’s main goal is to create popular, compelling, high-quality fiction, for traditional broadcasters as well as platforms.’’
Breton added: “Anne has already had two successful professional lives: first as a screenwriter, then as TF1's head of drama. Along with the Federation teams, we're eager to help Anne succeed in her third life as a producer, at a time when the need for fiction has reached unprecedented levels with French broadcasters.”
