ITV to float Lion Ark in Cannes

ITV Studios has picked up international rights to indie feature doc Lion Ark and will launch it at MIPCOM.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment has all international rights excluding theatrical.

Lion Ark follows efforts to track animal circuses in Bolivia that are flouting the law – and to rescue the animals that they are being illegally used.

The crowd-funded film climaxes with an airlift of 25 lions, which are flown to freedom in Colorado.

Ronan Hand, head of factual and entertainment acquisitions for ITVS GE, said: “The film has already been garlanded with international awards and we expect it will attract a great deal of interest from buyers worldwide looking for the best nature programming at MIPCOM.”

Tim Phillips, Director of Lion Ark, said: “We wanted to make a film that would entertain and inspire, but also have audiences laughing out loud, cheering for the lions, and leave them smiling.”