Yahoo News ‘How to Have Sex,’ ‘The Taste of Things’ Backer Umedia Launches Development Slate With Belgian Horror Comedy ‘Bloody Brixel Bar’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Brussels-based co-production and financing powerhouse Umedia — the backer of recent festival sensation “How to Have Sex” (pictured) and French Oscar submission “The Taste of Things” — is branching out. Complimenting co-production, tax shelter fundraising and VFX services through subsidiary UFX Studios, Umedia has now launched a development branch to bring in-house productions to the screen.
First among them is “Bloody Brixel Bar,” a YA-skewing horror comedy that Umedia co-CEO Bastien Sirodot describes as a Belgian answer to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Created by upcoming Belgian screenwriter Diane Ntahimpera in collaboration with Amélie Pernot and co-produced by Belgian Heroes, the series follows a reluctant teenage hero, Olivia, tasked with a supernatural cleanup mission.
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“With all our activities thriving and with experienced production teams in-house, we believe it’s the perfect time to expand our horizons and venture into development,” Sirodot tells Variety. “’Bloody Brixel Bar’ is a horror series that draws upon superstitions and the culture of horror films to tell a family story that is both humorous and frightening. Our goal is to create a true Belgian franchise.”
Alongside “Bloody Brixel Bar,” Umedia is also developing a scripted comedy with a pair of local screenwriters and is sourcing various shorts and features to create a pipeline of approximately five projects per year.
“These efforts will only reinforce our existing activities and strengthen our ties with Belgian broadcasters and distributors,” adds Sirodot. “As a result, we remain a strong partner for European producers, and we hope that our development activities will provide an opportunity to build closer relationships.”
Jointly run by Sirodot and Laurent Jacobs since 2020, Umedia continues to back 30-40 projects per year, earmarking €35 million ($37.1 million) for European co-productions in 2023.
While execs are on-hand at Rome’s MIA Market to scout for new investment opportunities, the company has already closed on upcoming European projects like the Melanie Laurent-directed “Sulak,” produced by Légende for Amazon Prime Video; “The Count of Monte-Cristo,” directed by Alexandre De La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte and produced by Chapter 2 and Pathé; and the untitled latest from Xavier Gens, starring Berenice Bejo and produced by Let Me Be for Netflix.
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