Banijay’s Brazilian prodcos forge microdrama pact

Banijay-owned companies Endemol Shine Brasil and A Fábrica have partnered up to create a slate of vertical-format microdramas.

The collaboration will see Endemol Shine Brasil leading productions and negotiations with brands and platforms, while A Fábrica will spearhead creative development and screenwriting.

The move comes as vertical video becomes increasingly popular, with Broadcast International revealing last year that Disney+ was among numerous streamers exploring a move into microdrama.

Disney+ has since moved into vertical content with Verts in an attempt to keep pace with the medium’s rapidly expanding popularity, while both of Banijay’s Brazilian companies have previously produced the hugely popular shortform dramas.

Endemol Shine Brasil recently delivered an 89-episode microdrama for an as-yet unnamed major vertical content platform, with the show now in post-production, adding to its slate of almost a dozen shows in partnership with local shortform video app Kwai.

The company has also recently renewed its partnership with Meta to produce vertical soaps, while it also has a pair of shows in development for Globoplay in partnership with A Fábrica.

The latter has a portfolio of over 30 projects including feature films, series, and sitcoms, totaling over 800 episodes and over 450 hours of content.

Nani Freitas, chief exec of Endemol Shine Brasil, said: “Microdramas are a clear market trend, and we are proud to be among the first Brazilian production companies to invest at scale.

“As audiences embrace highly bingeable short-form stories, we remain focused on expanding our vertical soap slate with the quality that defines Endemol Shine Brasil. Our partnership with A Fábrica enhances the creative depth and allows us to broaden our exploration of the format.”

Luiz Noronha, executive director of A Fábrica, added: “The rise of vertical storytelling reflects a major shift in how audiences consume content. It demands its own creative language and narrative logic and by bringing together our scripted expertise with Endemol Shine Brasil’s market acumen, we can integrate microdramas into our broader creative strategy.”

Endemol Shine Brasil is behind local versions of hits such as Big Brother Brasil, MasterChef Brasil and Canta Comigo, while A Fábrica Brasil’s slate ranges from films like Minha Vida em Marte to series Galera FC and documentary Filho da Mãe.