Warner Bros Discovery Secures Rights to Gisele Pelicot Documentary
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has successfully acquired the broadcasting rights for the ITN Productions’ documentary The Pelicot Rape Case: A Town on Trial. This 90-minute documentary, originally produced for the UK’s 5 network, has been secured by WBD in a highly competitive deal across 90 countries in Europe and Africa, facilitated by Orange Smarty. The film features an on-camera interview with an individual accused of raping Gisele Pelicot, a French woman whose spouse, Dominique Pelicot, was convicted for drugging and raping her multiple times over the course of nine years. Several other men from their hometown of Avignon were also found guilty of sexual offenses against her while she was incapacitated. This documentary was showcased as part of Orange Smarty’s offerings at the London TV Screenings last month, alongside other productions like South Shore Productions’ two-part series Eat Smart: Secrets of the Glucose Goddess, which has been picked up by networks in Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. In addition to these, the real estate series A Place in the Sun will be introduced to Canadian audiences after Corus Entertainment acquired 120 hours of the Channel 4 series, along with the BBC Two series Andi Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts for its Flavour Network.
Sunny Side Of The Doc Introduces New Advisory Board
The French documentary platform Sunny Side of the Doc has announced its new advisory board following Aurélie Reman’s recent appointment as Managing Director. The board includes notable figures such as Caroline Behar, the Head of International Coproductions and Acquisitions at France Télévisions; Laurent Duret, founder of Bachibouzouk; Paul Heaney, CEO of Bossanova; consultant Elvira Lind; Wangeci Mūrage, CEO of Media Pros Africa; Emmanuel Prosnier from Getty Images’ Broadcast Department; Ellen Windemuth, Chair of WaterBear Network in the U.S.; and Myriam Weil, Head of Documentaries at Federation Studios. Reman expressed that the formation of this board is a critical step towards solidifying Sunny Side of the Doc as the primary European platform for documentary filmmakers, supported by an extensive global network. The 36th edition of Sunny Side will take place from June 23-26 in La Rochelle, France.
Supernatural Thriller ‘Safehaven’ Acquired by Sphere Abacus
The long-awaited supernatural series Safehaven, based on a graphic novel by James Searle and produced by Michael Bay’s 451 Media Group, is set to reach international audiences. Sphere Abacus, a UK-based distributor, has secured the international sales rights (excluding the U.S.) for this ten-episode series. Filmed in Canada and directed by Kaare Andrews and Seale, the series features stars like Georgie Murphy (Gen V, Small Achievable Goals), Bob Frazer (Supergirl, Motherland), and Gino Anania (Skymed, The Porter). It narrates the story of Jenna Frost (played by Murphy), a rebellious teenager whose passion for art becomes a medium to confront her inner demons. Following a car accident that leaves her in a coma, Jenna finds herself trapped in a comic book world she created, named ‘Safehaven’, which depicts a dystopian high school scenario. Meanwhile, in the real world, cognitive therapist John Rayburn tries to connect with her subconscious to revive her. The production, initially greenlit in June 2022 by Crackle owner Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, faced delays as the company went into liquidation last year.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
