Frank Spotnitz has been named to the jury of the MIPTV Drama Screenings as the competition enters its sophomore year.
The X-Files and The Man in the High Castle executive producer will sit alongside The Bridge executive producer Lars Blomgren, Homeland executive producer Ran Tellem, Spiral screenwriter Virginie Brac and Versailles and Yves Saint Laurent director Jalil Lespert to award prizes for the best international dramas.
This year, the Drama Screenings competition will be split into two categories, with “Works in Progress” and “Full Episodes” competing separately.
Clique, Fearless and Gap Year will be competing from the U.K. against Brazil’s Jailers, France’s Missions, Russia’s The Territory and Sweden’s Veni Vidi Vici in the “Full Episodes” category.
Germany’s Babylon Berlin and Bad Banks will compete alongside Canada’s Bad Blood, Russia’s Better Than Us and Denmark’s Ride Upon the Storm in the “Works in Progress” category.
It’s the second year for the competition at MIPTV as a new Cannes television festival is also in the works. Former French culture minister Fleur Pellerin is heading up a commission to develop the fest for next year, and more details will be unveiled on April 3, organizers said.
The TV confab has also partnered with Disney and Lionsgate TV to launch a new preview section. With its April berth, MIPTV is launching a new “Pre-L.A. Screenings Showcase” section poised to give a sneak peek at new series ahead of that May event. The L.A. Screenings is one of the big annual events where international buyers look at new U.S. shows.
The conference will also shine a spotlight on Latin America with a special screenings section dedicated to dramas from the region. Amazon’s Roy Price will deliver a keynote speech as well as be celebrated as a medal of honor recipient.
Pepsi has been named brand of the year, with vp marketing and cultural connections Adam Hater slated to give a keynote speech, as is AOL digital prophet David “Shingy” Shing. Marriott International vp global creative David Beebe and FremantleMedia global vp branded entertainment Samantha Glynne have also been tapped to be featured speakers.
MIPTV is set to run April 3- 6 in Cannes.
