Passion Pictures


BBC investigates Howard Marks, Knowsley riots & pandemic in order for factual trio

UK public broadcaster the BBC has commissioned a trio of new documentary titles, including two series and one film. A co-commission with BBC Cymru Wales, Hunting Mr Nice from Passion Pictures and Welsh indie Kailash Films tells the story of notorious cannabis smuggler Howard Marks AKA ‘Mr Nice’. The 2 x 60-minute series for BBC […]

Passion Pictures expands animation push with Circus Studios first-look deal

UK prodco Passion Pictures has inked a first-look deal with Paris-based Circus Studios as part of its rapid animation expansion. Passion-owned Passion Paris has collaborated with Circus Studios on previous projects, including three seasons of Lego City Adventures for Nickelodeon and are currently in development on a new show, Earthworm Jim ‘Beyond The Groovy’ based […]

Rogan snags Passion Pictures exec as head of production

UK factual indie Rogan Productions has appointed Passion Pictures exec Nicholas Franklin as head of production. Reporting to husband-and-wife co-founders, MD Soleta Rogan and creative director James Rogan, Franklin joins the team from his role as head of production at Passion. His credits include films and series such as David Harewood: Psychosis And Me for BBC2, Catching Killers for […]

Passion Pictures ramps up animation push with Oscar-winning creative appointment

UK prodco Passion Pictures has hired Alan Barillaro, the Oscar-winning writer and director of 2016 short film Piper, as creative director for its animation division. The hire comes as the studio plans an “ambitious expansion” into animated TV series and features and follows the appointments of Nicki Cortese as head of development for animated features […]

Factual round-up: Viaplay uncovers ‘Crisis In Cocaine Valley’; Autentic strikes deals; FIFA+ orders Forest Green Rovers doc

Viaplay uncovers ‘Crisis In Cocaine Valley’ Viaplay Group has acquired feature doc Crisis In Cocaine Valley for its Viaplay streaming service in the Nordic and Baltic countries, the Netherlands and Poland. Distributor Quintus Studios struck the deal for the 1 x 60-minute doc, which is produced by Germany’s Maximus Film, and explores the impact of […]

Passion Pictures hires feature exec as head of animation development

UK prodco Passion Pictures has hired feature film exec Nicki Cortese, who worked on franchises including Divergent and Paranormal Activity, as head of development for animated features and series. Cortese will be focused on creating and developing IP alongside Passion’s in-house directors and creative team as well as acquiring outside IP before taking the projects […]

Passion Pictures snags Pixar alum David Park to spearhead long-form animation push

UK-based Passion Pictures has hired Pixar veteran David Park as head of production for long-form animation as part of a push in the space. He will take lead on an expansion of Passion’s feature and long-form production, helping to develop and produce a growing slate of original and commissioned projects for the company, which is […]

Passion Pictures poaches Minnow’s David Moulton for docuseries push

Oscar-winning producer Passion Pictures has hired David Moulton from Minnow Films as its creative director, with a remit to grow its docuseries slate for broadcasters and streamers. Moulton was most recently director of development at UK-based Minnow, where he oversaw the company’s global expansion and gained credits on shows including Netflix’s Bad Boy Billionaires. Prior to that, […]

Netflix documents Ukrainian struggle

Streaming service Netflix has acquired Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, and will launch it exclusively on October 9. The documentary, from filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky, chronicles events of the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine. It follows events over 93 days in 2013 and 2014 that began with student protests supporting European integration and ended […]

Showtime will Stop at Nothing for Lance Armstrong doc

Showtime has acquired Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story, the one-off doc about the disgraced cyclist. The US premium cabler will show the film in a 9pm slot on Friday, November 9. The investigative doc is made by Searching for Sugar Man producer Passion Pictures and has new details about how Armstrong doped through […]