Netflix and Mediaset have signed a deal for the streaming giant to produce films in Italy.
The deal will see the two companies co-finance movies shot by local independent filmmakers to be made available worldwide on Netflix from next year, and broadcast on Mediaset’s free-to-air channels 12 months later.
The initial production slate includes The Divine Ponytail, a biopic about Italian footballer Roberto Baggio, and Sicily-based romance Caught by a Wave.
“Great stories can come from anywhere and be loved everywhere,” said Netflix founder and chief executive Reed Hastings, adding that deal aimed to broaden “the variety and diversity of our programming.”
