Premium kids/family content producer Cottonwood Media founded in 2014 by David Michel, alongside Zoé Carrera Allaix, and Cécile Laurenson, is beginning a new chapter as the company regains financial independence and broadens its editorial scope.
In 2015, Cottonwood Media became a subsidiary of Federation Studios (formerly Federation Entertainment) a key shareholder in the production company, with David Michel also teaming up as a co-founder of Federation alongside founding partners Pascal Breton and Lionel Uzan.
David Michel is now buying back Federation’s entire stake in Cottonwood Media, which will no longer operate as a subsidiary but as a fully-fledged independent prodco, continuing under his leadership, alongside partners Cécile Laurenson and Zoé Carrera Allaix.
Federation will keep operating as distributor of Cottonwood Media’s existing catalogue through its sales division Federation International. The new agreement also provides for a first look right regarding the distribution of future productions.
David Michel, Cécile Laurenson and Zoé Carrera Allaix, Cottonwood Media said: “The opportunity arose for us to buy back Federation’s stake in Cottonwood. This will help us continue our next phase of growth while being more agile. Also with the recent industry revival of YA content and our desire to expand our offerings, we felt the timing was right. We continue to maintain excellent relations and a strong bond with our friends at Federation, particularly with regard to the distribution of our past productions.”
Pascal Breton, Lionel Uzan, Federation Studios said: “We wish David, Zoé, Cécile and their entire team all the very best. Cottonwood has produced some magnificent international hits over the years at Federation, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration on distribution.”
A key player in kids and youth programming through its international co-productions (both live-action and animation), Cottonwood Media is notably one of the leading specialists in premium English-language teen drama for the global market. In this next chapter, the company is also expanding its creative strategy to include the production of internationally co-produced YA content (16-25/18-29 year olds). As such, several ambitious project will be announced shortly.
Over the years, Cottonwood has produced over 120 hours of programming and 13 international series (live-action and animation) with major broadcasters and streamers in the U.S., UK, Germany, Italy, France and more. This continues with a number of productions that are currently going through the greenlight process with key broadcasters.
To date, Cottonwood’s live-action series include premium productions such as The Lady Grace Mysteries which just wrapped filming in the UK on the final episode of Season 2 (Cottonwood/ Coolabi Productions co-pro commissioned by ZDF Studios, BBC Children’s and Education). Other hits feature Find Me in Paris (3 seasons) co-produced with ZDF and the Paris Opera Ballet School, Spellbound (Hulu, ZDF, Paris Opera, France Televisions), and Theodosia (ZDF, HBO Max, Globo) which over the years has won awards at the Chicago International Children’s Festival (Children’s Jury Award for Best Live-action), Luchon International Film Festival (Best Youth Fiction), and Cartoons on the Bay (Best Live Action).
Cottonwood also continues its work in top-tier animation (series and feature films), and is currently in production on the CGI dramedy 20 Dance Street for France Télévisions and ZDF. Previous titles include The Ollie and Moon Show (France TV, NETFLIX) which sold into 160 plus countries, and Squish!. As well as the feature film Around the World in 80 Days, distributed by Studio Canal (#1 French movie at the international box office in 2021).
