Italian
Mediapro Studio expands with acquisition of Fresco Film
In a significant move, The Mediapro Studio, the content powerhouse of Grup Mediapro, has acquired Fresco Film, a leading Spanish production service company. This acquisition marks a strategic expansion for Mediapro, enhancing its production capabilities and global reach.
Fresco Film: A legacy of excellence
Under the leadership of Peter Welter, Fresco Film has become an industry legend, notably for bringing Game of Thrones to Spain for its fifth season. This move was so impactful that it prompted Spain to introduce incentives for foreign shoots in early 2015, partly to encourage HBO to return for subsequent seasons. Fresco Film continued to service the Spanish shoots for Game of Thrones Seasons 6, 7, and 8, as well as House of the Dragon Seasons 1 and 2, Westworld Season 3, The Blacklist, Narcos: Mexico, Killing Eve Season 3, and movies like Spiderman: Far From Home, Uncharted, Terminator: Dark Fate, and The Covenant.
Crafting iconic locations
Fresco Film is renowned for its ability to conjure up stunning locations. For instance, the Bay of Biscay islet San Juan de Gaztelugatxe was transformed into Game of Thrones’ Dragonstone. Their expertise extends beyond location scouting to managing tax incentives and establishing trust with major studios, producers, and streamers. The list of companies they have collaborated with reads like a who’s who of the industry: Max, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, SkyShowtime, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Discovery, BBC Studios, Paramount Pictures, Hulu, NBC, Peacock, Fremantle, Sky Atlantic, ZDF, ARD, and ITV Studios, among many others.
A new chapter with Mediapro
Laura Fernández Espeso, a key figure at The Mediapro Studio, highlighted the prestige and recognition that Fresco Film has achieved among major global production companies. She noted that their experience and professionalism have established them as a benchmark in the international industry. The integration of Fresco Film into The Mediapro Studio is seen as excellent news, especially following the recent acquisition of Cimarrón.
Peter Welter, CEO of Fresco Film, expressed his excitement about joining Grup Mediapro. He emphasized the synergies that this partnership will create, enabling them to offer even greater production quality and human quality. For Welter, joining forces with Grup Mediapro is a dream come true, representing a logistical, creative, professional, and human expansion.
Synergies and future prospects
One potential synergy could be transforming a service provision into a co-production, leveraging The Mediapro Studio’s extensive production expertise and its drive into English-language production. The establishment of a new U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles further underscores this ambition.
In September 2023, The Mediapro Studio announced the acquisition of Cimarrón, an Uruguay-based production house that gained prominence as a services producer during the pandemic. Cimarrón has set up offices in major Latin American markets, offering another production option to the global giant.
Commitment to sustainability
Fresco Film has been a pioneer in sustainability, maintaining a dedicated department that oversees each project and shoot to ensure environmental responsibility. They use environmental calculators and green suppliers to minimize their ecological footprint. The company has received awards from the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) in 2015 and 2018 for its work on Game of Thrones and in 2020 for its services on Killing Eve.
A bright future ahead
The acquisition of Fresco Film by The Mediapro Studio represents a significant step forward in the world of film and television production. With their combined expertise, resources, and commitment to quality, the future looks promising for both companies. This partnership is set to create new opportunities and elevate the standards of production in the industry.
For more information on the mentioned movies and series, you can check out their trailers and details through the following links:
- Game of Thrones
- House of the Dragon
- Westworld
- The Blacklist
- Narcos: Mexico
- Killing Eve
- Spiderman: Far From Home
- Uncharted
- Terminator: Dark Fate
- The Covenant
This acquisition is a testament to the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry, where strategic partnerships and sustainability are becoming increasingly important.
