By Panayiota Pagoulatos
Realscreen Summit (RSS or Realscreen, for short) is an annual global market and conference dedicated to the business of unscripted and non-fiction entertainment in film and television. Three and a half days are filled with high-level keynotes, topical industry panels, networking events, pitch competitions, awards, and programming briefs from top buyers. This year’s summit ran from January 23 – 26, held at the JW Marriott in Austin, and featured 1,350 delegates from North America and some global territories such as South Korea, India, UK, and France, among others.

Realscreen Summit 2023: Women in Leadership Luncheon (Photo Credit: RGP)
My experience attending Realscreen goes back many years and though it’s been a while (first time since before COVID—last time I will ever say this!), it certainly felt and looked different. Walking through the halls of the JW seeing new faces and meeting passionate producers with unique, diverse stories to tell was really inspiring. Because of this, the tone felt very positive and welcoming.
The conversations on stage were different as well, a reflection of the time we’re in now following a global pandemic, political unrest, and escalating police violence against communities of color.

Realscreen Summit 2023: After George Floyd: The Power of Black Content in Unscripted: Aneka Hylton- Donelson, Donny Jackson, Dane Joseph, Valerie Idehen, Angel Rye (Photo Credit: RGP)
One example of this was a panel titled “After George Floyd: The Power of Black Content in Unscripted” on progress in the industry after 2020’s racial reckoning here in the U.S. Conference organizers typically shy away from hard-hitting conversations, so this was a refreshing change of pace. Moderated by Angela Rye, the dialogue was frank while also offering very practical takeaways for executives in positions of power to take note and effect real change. The panel featured Aneka Hylton-Donelson (National Geographic Partners), Valerie Idehen (Hot Snakes Media), Donny Jackson (This Machine Filmworks), and Dane Joseph (Hulu). I encourage you to read Justin Anderson’s lengthy recap of the discussion on Realscreen’s website.

Realscreen Summit 2023: Women in Leadership Luncheon (Photo Credit: RGP)
Something else I really appreciated was when RSS organizers acknowledged the event was taking place in Texas, a state that effectively banned abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned. There is a revolving conversation about whether companies should move productions and events from states with these draconian laws on the books. It’s a complicated topic, but I appreciated the effort made to recognize the issue.
Getting back to the content, kicking off the summit was a dynamic conversation between Kathleen Finch (Chairman & Chief Content Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery’s US Networks Group) and Peter White of Deadline. Acknowledging the tumultuous year, she brought the focus back to what’s coming up, including the recently announced TLC show MILF Manor (now don’t go confusing it with that other show). She also emphasized that producers/production companies should continue to pitch them projects as each of their brands “needs 700, 800 hours a year of fresh content.” More on this in a minute.

Realscreen Summit 2023: Keynote Conversation: Kathleen Finch, Peter White (Photo Credit: RGP)
And finally, I was able to attend Realscreen’s Women in Leadership Luncheon where I had a chance to catch up with Sunita Uchil (Chief Business Officer, International Co-Productions) from Zee Plus, a division of India’s ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., one of the largest media & entertainment companies in the world. Although she is a seasoned executive (once named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the Most Powerful Women in Global Television), this was her first time attending RSS and I wanted her take.
Below is a brief transcript of my conversation with Sunita Uchil, (edited for clarity):

Sunita Uchil, Chief Business Officer, International Co-Productions of Zee Plus
What kind of projects are you working on at Zee and who were you looking to meet at RSS?
My division focuses on co-productions and we are constantly seeking to develop our network of producers, creators & distributors. We are genre-agnostic and welcome ideas from science to history and wildlife as long as the concept has a connection/relevance to India. In an advanced stage of development we have a historical docu-drama, based on unsung warrior queens of India and a thriller anthology. We also have our soon-to-be released series The Spice Trails, a 12-part travel/lifestyle/food series spanning eight countries in South America, and Lions’ Last Roar, a premium doc analyzing the concept of hunting as a means of conservation.
As we move into a post-COVID world, how are you finding the mood in the global industry? Is it back to business as usual, in terms of international cooperation?
While the pandemic gripped us with fear, it taught us to let nature heal itself and not take it for granted. Be grateful for life. It also reinforced the fact that people are the central force of everything worth talking about. Our very first collaboration with Televisa Univision is a testament to this sentiment. The Spice Trails was under production through the pandemic period and it has turned out to be amongst our most spectacular heart-warming series ever!
What are some trends in unscripted entertainment that you wish would come back?
The landscape of unscripted entertainment is changing continuously. We have a variety of shows and formats, including studio game shows, talent shows, and social experiments, and this is set to grow even more. What I’d love to see in unscripted shows is to promote more family engagement.
On that note, it seems that despite the many changes in the industry, broadcasters of all forms and across the globe are looking for fresh stories. If you’re a producer or content creator, getting your ideas in front of the right people can be a huge roadblock (especially for us non-nepo babies). Events like Realscreen Summit put you in the same room with decision makers, a great opportunity to meet a ton of likeminded industry execs and learn a tremendous amount (a very underrated activity). Luckily, there are tons of conferences, markets, and festivals that take place year-round to choose from and maybe (I hope) I’ll see some of you there. For now, adios Austin.
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: LaKisa Renee
Welcome to NYWIFT, LaKisa Renee! LaKisa is a multitalented media/film industry professional, journalist, host, actress, videographer, voice artist, and award-winning makeup artist. She is the owner and Founder of LaKisa Renee Entertainment, a media, fashion and events company. As a media professional, she is a contributing journalist for Cultured Focus Magazine, In Black Magazine, and Steller Magazine. LaKisa spoke to us about her wide range of roles in media, fashion, and entertainment.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Priya Mishra
Welcome to NYWIFT, Priya Mishra! Priya is an award-winning screenwriter and director. She wrote, directed, and co-produced her debut short film Bath Bomb in 2019. Currently, Bath Bomb and Only Business, the second film she directed, are both having successful runs on the festival circuit. A queer second-generation Indian immigrant, and a girl who lost her mom during her junior year of college, Priya’s work centers love, grief, acceptance, social-critique, and embracing your anger. Priya hopes that her work will make audiences feel more connected with other human beings, more angry at the state of the world, and more willing to improve it by embracing vulnerability and kindness. Priya spoke to us about identity, wildly fun times on set, and exploring grief through her creative work.
READ MOREMeet the New NYWIFT Member: Ifeyinwa Arinze
Please join us in welcoming Ifeyinwa Arinze to NYWIFT! Ifeyinwa is a neuroscientist-turned-filmmaker from Nigeria and is currently based in New York City. Her work draws inspiration from human behavior and prioritizes intimate portrayals of Black women and girls that are grounded in generosity and care. Her short film, Two or More, premiered at the 2022 New York African Film Festival and has screened at the 2022 Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2022 Bushwick Film Festival and 2022 TIDE Film Festival, where she received the 2022 NYWIFT Outstanding Woman Content Creator Award. Ifeyinwa spoke to us about why the TIDE Film Festival is special to her, her transition from STEM to the arts, and the inspirations behind her work.
READ MORENYWIFT at Sundance: In Conversation with Nitasha Bhambree
The wildly inventive 2023 Sundance Film Festival feature film Landscape with Invisible Hand follows Adam, a teenage artist coming of age in the aftermath of an alien takeover. Based on the novel by M.T. Anderson, the genre-bending sci-fi dramatic comedy with a YA twist directed by Cory Finley will come out as a limited release August 18, 2023. NYWIFT member Nitasha Bhambree helped bring the fantastical story to life as the Stunt Coordinator for the film. Since graduating New York University with a focus in dramatic performance and film studies, Nitasha has been employed in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She regularly stunt doubles lead actresses in various TV shows and films, and has performed stunts in big budget features such as Joker, The Dark Knight Rises, Spider-Man and A Wrinkle in Time, and has stunt coordinated features and TV series for Netflix, Disney, MGM, A24, NBCU, Hulu, HBO Max and Starz/Lionsgate, and Marvel. Nitasha spoke to us about working in the sci-fi genre, her favorite scenes, and her upcoming projects.
READ MORE
Comments are closed