Show summary Hide summary
David Michel, a veteran of children’s television, has repurchased Cottonwood Media from Federation Studios, returning the producer to independent ownership. Michel will run the company alongside partners Cécile Laurenson and Zoé Carrera Allaix as Cottonwood leaves an 11-year affiliation with Federation.
Buyback restores Cottonwood’s independence
Michel, who founded the company in 2014 after leading Zodiak Kids, acquired Federation’s entire stake in Cottonwood. The transaction ends the producer’s long-running tie to Federation, though distribution ties will remain.
Paramount closes hard-fought acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery: how the deal unfolded
Entertainment Roundup: Symbioz’s Istanbul Drama, Apple TV’s Dustfall, Skydance Layoff Questions
Federation International will continue to handle the distribution of Cottonwood’s catalog, which includes series such as Find Me in Paris, The Lady Grace Mysteries and Spellbound. Federation will also retain a first-look option on future Cottonwood projects.
Since joining Federation (then Federation Entertainment) in 2015, Cottonwood has helped build an international portfolio. The company has produced more than 120 hours of programming across 13 international series.
New creative focus on young-adult audiences
With the exit from Federation complete, Cottonwood plans to concentrate on co-producing young-adult content. The producer said it will target viewers in the 16–25 and 18–29 age brackets as part of a more agile creative strategy.
In a joint statement, Michel, Laurenson and Carrera Allaix said the buyback gives Cottonwood room to grow and to respond quickly to market opportunities. They noted a renewed industry interest in YA programming and said maintaining good relations with Federation—particularly on distribution—remains a priority.
What this means for Federation and the market
Pascal Breton and Lionel Uzan, longtime Federation figures and co-founders alongside Michel, expressed support for Cottonwood’s relaunch. They wished the team well and said they expect to continue collaborating on distribution for the producer’s past hits.
The deal arrives amid broader uncertainty about Federation Studios’ future. The company’s leadership appointed Morgan Stanley last January to explore options, but no buyer has been disclosed. Deadline says it has contacted Federation for comment.
Industry sources describe a challenging environment for French television companies. With MIPCOM Cannes on the horizon, insiders say discussions about company strategies and sale processes could intensify as the market reassesses priorities.
