Toronto’s Breakthrough Films & Television is beefing up its television movie division with an emphasis on development and production to meet what it says is a growing international demand for TV movies.

The prodco has tapped Marina Cordoni to head up the division, promoting her from sales agent to head of sales and business development. Cordoni was instrumental in the sales of three TV movies Breakthrough acquired from Blueprint Entertainment two years ago.

She says the brisk sales of Cradle of Lies, Road to Christmas and Absolution led the company to evaluate creating its own supply division.

‘What we’re looking at is full-fledged production of TV movies, but also service opportunities for third-party producers,’ Cordoni tells Playback Daily, adding that the company plans to set up output deals around the world and cater to the needs of international buyers in territories such as France, Scandinavia and Spain.

The thriller and mystery genres remain high on the list of buyers, according to Cordoni.

‘The female-in-peril type of movie continues to be popular because it can play in both afternoon slots as well as primetime…the thriller has traditionally been the one that gains the audience,’ she explains.

Romantic comedies are popular in North America, though Cordoni notes that comedy is ‘culturally driven’ and may or may not work in other countries.

The first project to come out of the new division is the trilogy mystery series Shadow Island Mysteries, which will be shot on location in Ontario’s Muskoka region. The movies are currently in development, with the first two going to script stage.

They will feature the same protagonist throughout, a beautiful property manager who takes care of guests at the Shadow Island Resort, while solving crimes.

Breakthrough Entertainment, the company’s distribution arm, will handle all worldwide sales and presales for the property.