Shaftesbury’s strategic partnership with AMC Networks has enabled it to hit the gas on its content plans, according to chairman and president Christina Jennings.

The Toronto prodco’s latest greenlight is SisterS, a Crave original unveiled last month during Bell Media’s upfronts, which is currently in post-production. The dramedy is created by and stars Emmy-nominated Vancouver native Sarah Goldberg (Barry) (pictured bottom left) and Susan Stanley (Hotel Amenities).

The 6 x 30-minute series was coproduced with Irish prodco Peer Pressure, in association with Mermade and Gaze Pictures. Bell Media’s Crave will distribute the series in Canada, while AMC Networks’ IFC and its streaming service Sundance Now will distribute in the U.S. RTÉ will distribute in Ireland, and Fremantle will distribute in all other territories.

“AMC gives us the connections, distribution rights and funding to help with the project,” Jennings tells Playback Daily. “If we want to work with other distributors, like what we did with SisterS with Crave, then we also reach out to them, making a coproduction relationship with each other.”

The partnership was established in February 2021, giving AMC access to Shaftesbury’s slate and allowing AMC to expand its content and development capabilities in Canada.

“What’s great is that we have quick access to an organization like AMC where we can easily pitch our content, and they can quickly respond to us whether the project will be a go or not; or if we need more funding for a project, we can easily contact them and we can figure out the funding details,” says Jennings.

“They also operate several brands like AMC, WE tv, and BBC America, as well as operate and own their own streaming services, so it’s easier to broadcast and distribute our projects in the international markets. [A Canadian novel adaptation] we’re in development on is actually not with the U.S. group, but the AMC international group out of Budapest.”

Jennings says AMC buys their content for either U.S. or international rights, and streams or broadcasts it on their networks; or AMC informs Shaftesbury about the kind of content they want on their networks, and the prodco can pitch them content suited for their needs.

SisterS marks Shaftesbury’s first time working with Peer Pressure. “Credit goes to them as they brought Irish director Declan Lowney to direct the series,” says Jennings, adding that she had Crave and IFC in mind as distributors, with Shaftesbury keen on producing an original for Crave.

“They’ve always been interested in what I call ‘noisy’, [which is cut-through-the-market, unique, and awards bait-type shows]. Then I took it to IFC, who have also had an interest in noisy, fun shows, and pitched it to them. Both loved the series. It was very quick and the creative materials were there when we needed them thanks to our resources at AMC as well as Crave.”

Justin Stockman, VP of English content development and programming at Bell Media, tells Playback that Crave is actively looking to support Canadian talent and was drawn to the project due to Goldberg’s involvement. “Goldberg’s a star both at home and abroad, and is able to balance comedy and drama so well – we’re thrilled to watch her explore these strengths, alongside Susan Stanley, in a Crave Original project.”

Jennings says coproductions are “part of the company’s DNA from the very beginning,” adding that she believes in partnering up and sharing creative and financial resources with other prodcos or broadcasters.

“The big streamers obviously in many cases want all the rights, but we’re still in that model of piecing together rights, where we get to have [control] with other partners.”

Images courtesy of Shaftesbury