Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti is set to receive the Variety Vanguard Award, which will be presented in October at the Mipcom global content market in Cannes.
The award recognizes television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. Bassetti, who leads the French-headquartered TV production and distribution giant behind hits including “Survivor” and “Peaky Blinders,” will receive the award, presented by Variety and Mipcom, on Oct. 13 as part of his keynote conversation at the Palais de Festivals.
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“Marco Bassetti is one of the most entrepreneurial, visionary and impactful television executives of our era who has led Banijay Entertainment to be the world’s largest production and distribution group through his championing of creativity, independence, and innovation,” said Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom Cannes and Mipjunior. “It is our privilege to partner with Variety to recognize his achievements in front of the global TV industry at Mipcom Cannes and to hear his insights on wider opportunities, developments and trends globally, which as a true vanguard, are always invaluable.”
Cynthia Littleton, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, said “Banijay has proven to be one of the most dynamic of the super indie content groups to emerge on the global stage.” She added: “Under Marco Bassetti’s leadership the company has delivered strong results and ambitious slates. We are happy to present him with the Variety Vanguard Award at Mipcom 2025 for his contributions to this ever-growing industry.”
Banijay has, under Bassetti’s watch, successfully navigated the rocky post-Hollywood strikes and industry turmoils to continue delivering enviable results. In 2024, Banijay’s content business reached €3.3 billion and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 15.8%. Already a European leader in unscripted, Banijay is now tracking €1 billion of revenues in scripted in 2025, with recent hits such as “Carême,” produced by its Shine Fiction label for Apple TV+, as well as the animated series “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight” produced by Alain Goldman, while its slate of prestige content slated for 2025 include a “Peaky Blinders” film adaptation on Netflix.
Banijay has also pursued its M&A strategy through the acquisition of Caryn Mandabach Productions, the company behind several highly acclaimed drama hits including “Peaky Blinders,” following the acquisition of scripted producers Fábrica and The Forge, and a majority stake in live entertainment producer Balich Wonder Studios (“FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”), and investments in Cris Abrego and Eva Longoria’s Hyphenate Media Group, Conker Pictures, Rabbit Track Pictures and Lenny Henry’s new venture Esmerelda, among others.
The Vanguard Award presentation will close out an afternoon of C-Suite Converations, an initiative launched two years ago by Variety and Mipcom to help attendees and industry leaders navigate the content business in the age of disruption. Mipcom Cannes will take place Oct. 13-16.
