As the screen industry converged on MIPCOM in October 2026, one of the key announcements came from the Southern Hemisphere. Bolstered by its recent success at the prestigious Emmy Awards, New Zealand production company Libertine Pictures is set to decisively push beyond domestic borders. Backed by the second season of its flagship series, the banner is embarking on a major expansion through strategic alliances with partners across the globe.
The cornerstone of this new chapter is a collaboration with two major players: Gordian Media and Fusebox Entertainment. While the former is a boutique production company based in Australia and New Zealand focusing on non-scripted programming, Jason Simms of Fusebox Entertainment will serve as Libertine Pictures’ key representative for the global scripted market.
The Emmy win for Secrets at Red Rocks confirmed that ambitious New Zealand stories have powerful international appeal.
Strategic Representation at MIPCOM
The first tangible step in this partnership is taking place at the market in Cannes. There, Jason Simms is officially representing Libertine Pictures’ full scripted slate. His mission is not only to showcase existing projects, but crucially to forge ties with new financial, creative, and distribution partners to bring the next generation of ambitious titles to life.
Alongside these discussions, the company is preparing to launch the second season of its live-action family fantasy adventure, Secrets at Red Rocks. International distribution is handled by WildBrain, underscoring the growing confidence major global players have in New Zealand productions. According to company leadership, these partnerships represent the natural outcome of a long-term effort to professionalize content exports.
Libertine Pictures is building a new generation of projects through strong ties with partners worldwide.
Joining Forces for Non-Scripted Content
While Simms focuses on scripted content, the partnership with Gordian Media unlocks opportunities across documentary and entertainment non-scripted formats. Gordian’s Managing Partner, Brendan Dahill, and Libertine Pictures Managing Director, Richard Fletcher, are leaning into a mutual trust built over years of prior collaboration. Together, they plan to develop projects that harness Australasian creative talent for global audiences.
Key figures driving the new global development strategy:
- Richard Fletcher — Managing Director (MD) of Libertine Pictures, responsible for the overarching expansion vision.
- Jason Simms — Founder and EP of Fusebox Entertainment, specialist in positioning projects in today’s marketplace.
- Brendan Dahill — Managing Partner at Gordian Media, dedicated to developing non-scripted content with international reach.
Impact on the Regional Creative Industry
For New Zealand and Australian creators, the alliance offers a genuine pathway to put their projects in front of global distributors. Richard Fletcher emphasizes that their series’ Emmy nomination and subsequent win proved that local stories can resonate anywhere. The goal now is to turn that success into a sustainable model, where strong partnerships deliver financing and distribution stability.
“Australia and New Zealand boast fantastic creative talent and stories. By working together, we can develop ambitious non-scripted projects with true international potential,”
Next Steps and Timeline
Attention is currently focused on discussions unfolding at MIPCOM in October 2026. Richard Fletcher and his team anticipate that Jason Simms’ international perspective will help strategically position in-development scripts and secure partners for rollouts in 2027 and beyond. The collaboration with Gordian Media is expected to yield initial project announcements in the coming months.
It remains to be seen how quickly new projects will move into physical production. A key barometer of success will be international audience reception for season two of Secrets at Red Rocks, signaling whether the global appetite for New Zealand family fantasy continues to climb.