Former Asacha Media Group international chief Maria Ishak has launched her own company.
Mischief International will have bases in Paris and London, and specialize in IP development, talent, financing and franchise building.
Ishak’s debut comprises a feature documentary with Public Square Films directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker David France, a Finnish drama written by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo screenwriter Camilla Ahlgren, a feature documentary with All3Media’s StoryFilms, and a French-English fact-based drama co-produced with Fremantle’s Mintee and UK-based Indefinite Films.
Mischief will seek to act as a creative and production partner. It will work with creators, producers and writers at every stage of the development and production process, and offer strategic packaging, international co-financing and marketing.
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“Mischief is focused on backing bold ideas with a clear path to market,” said Ishak. “Whether through traditional commissioning or bespoke funding models, we’re here to get shows made. In today’s complex and challenged landscape, the need for creatively driven strategic partnerships has never been greater. Mischief combines a story-first vision with hands-on expertise in developing, financing, and producing content that resonates with international audiences.”
Before founding Mischief, Ishak was Head of International Content and Co-Productions at France’s Asacha, and was part of the negotiation that saw the Oaktree Capital-backed business sold to Fremantle last year. At Asacha, she packaged the likes of Prime Video Spain, TVE and Telekom Serbia’s Cicatriz and Poe, the TF1 drama starring Freddie Highmore.
Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President of North America at All3Media International. Based in New York, she launched the company’s Americas office and led on regional sales, co-productions, and strategic partnerships.
Ishak has worked on titles such as It’s a Sin for Channel 4 and HBO Max), Dinosaur for the BBC, The Wave, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Who is Ghislaine Maxwell.