News brief: HBO picks up Alec Baldwin’s Cannes doc

HBO has bought Seduced and Abandoned, the one-off doc about The Cannes Film Festival and related topics.

The US premium cable net has taken North American rights to the film, which is distributed by Hanway Films.

The film follows Baldwin and Tyson director James Toback as they attempt to gather finance for a film while at the Cannes Film Festival. It features interviews with Martin Scorcese and Roman Polanski. The doc will be exhibited at this year’s Festival.

The film was produced by Michael Mailer, Alec Baldwin and Toback.

“When James and Alec set out to make this documentary, it took a different turn,” said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO programming. “What resulted is something uniquely special and wonderfully entertaining.”

“HBO has long been a home for unique documentary films,” added Baldwin. “I’m grateful that they have chosen to present ours.”