Founded in 2023 and led by Boris Hertzog (Lift Value, OuiDO Group), Moon Keys International Content (MKIC) is a distribution company focused on the international sale of animated feature films and TV series. Offering producers a global approach to the exploitation of their projects while maximizing creative and commercial potential, the outfit now enters the international market.
MKIC is committed to being a close partner for the production companies it supports at every stage of their projects: in addition to the traditional Minimum Guarantee, MKIC can provide financial support for development for the project MKIC will distribute. The company says it can also invest in co-productions bringing finance and the know-how of its team. Finally, MKIC can help finalize financing plans by negotiating pre-sales in specific territories.
“Our mission is to be a key player in the field of animation by fully devoting ourselves to the development and marketing of original works and intellectual properties,” explained Hertzog.
In founding MKIC, Hertzog brought together a group of financial shareholders, including Lift Value (a holding company owned by Hertzog and Gilbert Saada), Movie One (an investment fund managed by Calao Finance) and CYD Partners (a family holding company managed by Yvan Depierre).
The company recently welcomed Isabelle Aghina as Director of Distribution and Acquisitions – TV Series. She joins MKIC from Mediawan, where she was responsible for managing international sales of broadcasting rights for television content in a number of European territories, contributing to the international success of series such as global hit Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, as well as sales of the series Pirate Academy, The Little Prince and His Friends and the French productions Barnkids and Idéfix and the Indomitables.
A graduate of the University of Paris Nanterre with a Master’s in business law, Aghina has played a key role in the international success of numerous animation series, both within major companies and independent studios. After starting her career in 1998 with Saban International, she joined Disney France in 2002 as Senior Sales Manager for the distribution of the Disney catalog in France, the Middle East and French-speaking countries.
In 2006, Aghina joined Marathon Media (now Zodiak Kids; home of Totally Spies, Team Galaxy and Martin Mystery) as VP International Sales. In 2007, she joined Viz Media Europe, a subsidiary of the Viz Media U.S. group, a leader in Japanese animation. As Sales Director, she oversaw the distribution of popular manga and anime, including Bleach, Death Note and Kilari. After a brief spell at Lagardère International Studio as VP International Sales, she joined AB International a few months before it was acquired by Mediawan.
Aghina will be working closely with MKIC’s COO, Yvan Depierre (former CFO of Apple France); Head of Development Benoît Pierre; Head of Partnerships Candice Baudet; and Head of Communications & Marketing Clémentine Mellier.
MKIC has already forged partnerships with OuiDO Productions and others (to be announced) and is already involved in the development of four animated series and two features (more information to come). The distribution company has also initiated several discussions with producers to support their feature and series projects.
In 2024, MKIC’s objective is to invest in two to three series and two to three feature-length animated films, which will be primarily French, but also include international projects. The company then aims to participate in the distribution and financing of five series and five feature films per year, with a view to diversifying genres and audiences.
Boris Hertzog is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris (Economics and Finance), holds a Master’s in business law and is a former barrister. He worked in the legal and financial audit fields for over 10 years. In 2002, he took his career in a new direction by helping to set up the 3D animation studio Attitude Studio. He was appointed Managing Director in charge of financial and managerial affairs. In 2004, he won the Grand Prix de l’Entrepreneur in the “Entreprise d’avenir” category, and in 2005, he helped create the Cap Digital competitiveness cluster, where he is Vice-President with responsibility for SMEs.
In 2007, Sandrine Nguyen and Hertzog set up OuiDO! Entertainment, an audiovisual production company whose series division they sold to the Lagardère Group in 2008. Between 2008 and 2013, he co-directed Genao Productions, before creating OuiDO! Productions and acquiring from Lagardère the ongoing development of the series Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks, Sonic Boom, Mini Wolf and The Legendaries.
In 2021, Technicolor announced the merger of the operations of its CGI animation companies — Technicolor Animation Productions, Technicolor Animation and Mikros Animation — under the Mikros Animation brand. Hertzog was appointed Managing Director of the new group, which spanned three continents with offices in Paris, Montreal and Bangalore. He held this position until the end of February 2023, before partnering with Gilbert Saada (former Director of Investments at EURAZEO) to set up the holding company Lift Value, and his consultancy firm BH Conseils. In March 2023, he joined TNZPV’s strategy committee to support and advise the company in the development of its international activities.
A graduate of EDC and former CFO of Apple France (2006-2015), Yvan Depierre has 30 years’ international experience in corporate finance and business development. Familiar with TECH environments, he has also been a member of the steering committee of Asuna Entertainment since 2015, a holding company specialising in setting up and acquiring stakes in companies in the media sector. He is also an ambassador member of Acteurs de la Finance Responsable.
