Laura Laas will be responsible for selling Gaumont’s animated television series within the EMEA territories and North America, as well as solidifying partnerships for worldwide co-productions.
LOS ANGELES & PARIS -- Gaumont has appointed Laura Laas as Vice President, International TV Sales, Animation, reporting to the company’s President of Worldwide TV Distribution & Co-Production, Vanessa Shapiro.
In her new role, Laas will be responsible for selling Gaumont’s animated television series within the EMEA territories and North America, as well as solidifying partnerships for worldwide co-productions. Laas will work closely with Gaumont’s animation team lead by Nicolas Atlan, President, Animation. She most recently served as International Sales Manager at France TV Distribution, creating and overseeing global distribution strategies for animation content, with earlier positions at Toei Animation Europe, and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Laas will be attending her first market with Gaumont at MIFA in Annecy the week of June 12th, 2017.
Gaumont is set to deliver three animated series this year: Belle & Sebastian (52 x 11’), a co-production with Canada’s Groupe PVP Inc., to air on ZDF (Germany), M6 (France), Piwi+ (France), Radio Canada (Canada), VRT (Belgium), RTBF (Belgium) and RTS (Switzerland); Furry Wheels (52 x 11’), commissioned by France Télévisions and Disney XD; and Trulli Tales (52 x 11’), co-produced with Groupe PVP Inc., Congedo Culturarte and Fandango, to air on Disney Junior EMEA, RAI, Radio Canada and Globosat.
“We have seen significant growth in our animation business over the past year, with three new kids series close to completion, and three recently announced projects in development with several more to be unveiled in the coming months,” commented Shapiro. “Laura’s extensive industry background and expertise will be of paramount importance as we roll out these completed series and finalize co-production partnerships for our new development slate.”
Formed in 1895, Gaumont is the first and oldest film company in the world, with offices in Paris and Los Angeles. In the past few years, the company’s release schedule increased across film and television production, in both the French and English languages.
Source: Gaumont
