Further details of the high-level International Co-Production Summit, co-hosted by NATPE||Content First and Tandem Communications (a STUDIOCANAL company), were announced yesterday. The Summit entitled “Now, the Story Starts in Europe” will be held Tuesday, 24 June 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at the Hilton Prague Hotel during the forthcoming NATPE||Europe, 23-26 June 2014.

Confirmed panelists for the Breakfast Summit represent a pre-eminent group of executives in international production including Rola Bauer, President/Partner, Tandem Communications; Caroline Benjo, Co-Managing Director, Haut et Court; Andrew Critchley, Managing Director, Red Production Company; Thomas von Hennet, Vice President International Co-Production & Documentaries, ProSiebenSat.1; writer/producer Frank Spotnitz, CEO, Big Light Productions, Matthew Stillman, Managing Director, Stillking Films and Tomas Krejci, Executive Producer, Milk & Honey Pictures.

The International Co-Production Summit, moderated by Television Business International (TBI) Editor Stewart Clarke, will cover all aspects of developing a global narrative and moving the international production industry to re-think how the business is run. The Summit panelists are industry leaders, including network and production executives actively involved in international co-productions, show-runners who are breaking the mold and whose narratives are going global, and European production companies who are developing creative strategies. In addition to Tandem Communications, sponsors of the Co-Production Summit include Barrandov Studios, Stillking Films and Universal Production Partners, Inc. (UPP). Biographies for all participants in the Summit are provided below.

In response to demand from the region’s production community, NATPE||Content First organizers have also unveiled a special Producer’s Day Pass, which is now available for producers, development executives and service providers wishing to attend the Co-Production Summit (full details available on www.natpe.com).

Rod Perth, President and CEO of NATPE||Content First, commented, “Commercially viable co-productions are no longer an afterthought in content development - with new global opportunities these production models must be the original thought. As a result, we are extremely pleased to facilitate the coming together of many of the foremost and groundbreaking co-production players in Europe today. Their combined experience and knowledge will be a vital tool for those looking to move into this flourishing yet challenging part of the international content business. We are keen to have as many producers from across the region and beyond join us and anticipate that they will take advantage of the generous Producer’s Day Pass which is now available.”

Rola Bauer added, “Our aim is to stimulate a compelling, informative discussion that will be useful to those interested in the development of co-productions made in Europe, with a global narrative, and to assess the state of the industry and the opportunities ahead.”

A Welcome to Prague cocktail reception will top off the day on Tuesday, 24 June. Sponsored by all the major Czech TV channels including Czech TV, Nova, Prime and TV Barrandov, the reception will be held at the Cloud 9 Sky Bar & Lounge from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Taking place from 23-26 June 2014, NATPE||Europe is set to launch for the first time in Prague where the facilities of the Hilton Prague Hotel will enable the market, screenings, special events, networking and social events to take place under one roof. NATPE||Europe replaces NATPE Budapest the long running event which was previously known as Discop, and offers buyers and sellers throughout Central and Eastern Europe an opportunity to meet in a relaxed atmosphere.