News round-up: CBC’s ‘Trickster’ travels in global pre-sales; Korean animation festival launches; RTL-TVI adapts Lecter’s retro ‘Greetings From’ format

Trickster

CBC’s ‘Trickster’ travels in global pre-sales

Sky in the UK, NITV and SBS On Demand in Australia, Globoplay in Brazil and KinoPoisk in Russia have all acquired the CBC original series Trickster ahead of its October premiere in Canada, following deals with Abacus Media Rights.

The 6 x 60-minute series is produced by Sienna Films and has already been greenlit for a second season by CBC. It was is created by Streel Films’ Michelle Latimer (Rise) and Tony Elliott (Orphan Black), who also act as EPs, alongside Sienna Films’ Jennifer Kawaia and Julia Sereny (Cardinal).  All six episodes are directed by Michelle Latimer.

Based upon the Eden Robinson trilogy Son Of A Trickster, the series is a supernatural mystery which delves into an indigenous mythology.

Jonathan Ford, MD at Amcomri Media Group-owned Abacus Media Rights, commented: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to represent this extremely timely drama on the international market.

“Trickster is at first sight an irreverent coming-of-age story – teen angst, family pressures, and social complications – but dig deeper and the story explores issues of identity, cultural heritage and family legacy as seen through an Indigenous perspective.”

Korean animation festival launches

South Korea’s Korean Creative Agency (KOCCA) is hosting an online conference for the animation industry next month.

Running from 6-8 October, the Festival of Licensing For Animation is inviting European production companies, content creators, distributors, and others in the industry to meet representatives from South Korea’s Animation industry in a series of online meetings.

The organisers say that this will be an opportunity to both offer South Korean creative services to the European industry and learn more about ways the European sector can work with South Korea.”

Interested parties can contact Graham Smith via email at [email protected] to register and for more information.

Greetings From 19XX

Belgium’s RTL-TVI adapts Lecter’s retro ‘Greetings From’ format

Belgian broadcaster RTL-TVI has commissioned a local, French-speaking adaptation of Lecter Media’s “retrotainment” format Greetings From 19XX.

This marks the sixth version of the format, which first launched on Dutch-speaking Belgian channel VTM in 2017 and has also been adapted for RTL4 in the Netherlands, TV4 in Sweden, ZDF in Germany and TV2 in Denmark.

The format sees celebrity families experiencing as throwback weekend, as if it was taking place in the year that the star was 12 years old.

That means hairstyles, clothes, housing decorations, food and technology must all match the period too as the celebrities share their childhood memories.

Ben Pays, EP at Lecter Media, said: “This is such a strong format. It’s really a fill-in-the-blanks template and it’s a thrill to see how successfully it works in every country where it’s being produced.

“Nostalgia is a universal language that touches the same chord in every culture and provides a kind of certainty in these uncertain times. But, above all, Greetings From 19XX is the ultimate family experience, enjoyed by both viewers and the celebrity cast.”

Lennon’s Last Weekend

John Lennon doc sells worldwide

Britbox in the US and Canada, SBS in Australia, DR in Denmark, Movistar+ in Spain and TV4 in Sweden have acquired the documentary Lennon’s Last Weekend, following a deal with distributors Abacus Media Rights.

Originally produced by MGMM Studios for Sky Arts UK, the 1 x 60-minute film is directed by Brian Grant and produced by Scott Millaney. It shines a light on British music star John Lennon’s final-ever interview in December 1980, with BBC Radio One DJ Andy Peebles, which came just two days before the former Beatle’s murder.

Including archival footage and conversations with people who knew Lennon, the film is being distributed ahead of the 40^th anniversary of his death this year.

Abacus Media Rights MD Jonathan Ford commented: “When this world-exclusive interview took place nobody could have known that this would be the very last opportunity for John to open up to the world with his innermost thoughts.

“This is a captivating and poignant documentary and a ‘must-have’ feature to highlight the anniversary of the passing of one of the most influential music makers and pop icons of all time.”