Sailing Smart: What Makes Investors Say Yes to Your Production Company and Is It Worth It?

As global consolidation reshapes the TV industry, independent producers face new strategic crossroads: whether to sell, attract investment, or build strategic partnerships to scale. What truly makes a company investment-ready and what turns investors away? This candid conversation brings together producers and executives who have navigated all sides of M&A and international growth and have first-hand experience of attracting investment and development money: Marina Williams (the co-founder of Asacha Media Group, acquired by Fremantle), Kjartan Thor Thordarsson (Saga Film) and Tim Robinson (independent strategist and consultant, formerly COO of Fifth Season), moderated by Kateryna Vyshnevska. Together they unpack how to prepare a company for growth, negotiate with strategic partners, and maintain creative control while inviting in capital. From raising development finance and co-investments to structuring acquisitions and managing investor expectations, the panel offers practical insights across creative, financial, and strategic factors, lessons learned and red flags from people who have actually been through the process.