News round-up: Top Hat’s 9/11 doc sells in Europe and US; Fremantle takes CNN’s ‘First Ladies’ global; Korea’s CJ ENM strikes pact with Indonesia’s GoPlay

9/11: The Twenty Year Anniversary

Top Hat’s 9/11 doc sells in Europe and US

The Canal+ Group in France, TV2 in Denmark, TV4 in Sweden, RTL in the Netherlands and Discovery in the US have all picked up a new documentary from UK-based Top Hat Productions’ about the 9/11 terror attacks, following a raft of pre-sale deals with Keshet International.

The film, with the working title of 9/11: The Twenty Year Anniversary, was originally commissioned for BBC1 in the UK, and is due to be broadcast next year, two decades since the Osama bin Laden-orchestrated attacks on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and Flight 93 in the US sent shockwaves around the world.

Directed by Arthur Cary (The Last Survivors, War In The Blood), the film will feature a cast of contributors who haven’t shared their experiences before, chronicling the story of the two hour period when the terrorists attacked, juxtaposed with a parallel narrative that looks at how those two hours changed the lives of those who were there.

The documentary is being produced by Chery Hockey, with Top Hat founder Darren Kemp as executive producer alongside the BBC’s commissioning editor, Hamish Fergusson. Keshet International is distributing the globally.

Keren Shahar, Keshet International’s COO and president of distribution, says, “Two decades may have passed, but the events of 9/11 still live on for millions of people who saw this tragedy unfold live on their TV screens. 

“We are honored to be able to make this thoughtful and prestigious documentary available to buyers all over the world and help mark this important anniversary with their viewers.”

First Ladies

Fremantle takes CNN’s First Ladies global

Fremantle has partnered with October Films to take international distribution rights to docuseries First Ladies.

The six-part show – which was debuted by commissioner CNN on Sunday – profiles Michelle Obama, Jacqueline Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

It combines interviews, rare archival footage and cinematic recreations to reflect on each woman’s traditional portrayal, revealing how they were impacted during their time in the White House and how their achievements fundamentally shaped American and global history.

Harry Gamsu, VP of non-scripted content acquisitions at Fremantle, said the show “will give global audiences a fresh perspective on who these women were, what they achieved and the power they wielded.”

Parasite

Korea’s CJ ENM strikes pact with Indonesia’s GoPlay

South Korean media giant CJ ENM has struck a deal that will see its content – including Oscar winner Parasite – become available via Indonesian streamer GoPlay.

The agreement will see CJENM’s latest Korean blockbusters become available on demand to millions via GoPlay, which is owned by local operator Gojek. The company says its streaming app has been downloaded more than 190 million times to date.

The service was launched in September 2019 and offers local movies and shows, with genres ranging from drama to horror. The app houses an SVOD service, as well as a live offering and a transaction element with GoPlay Rental.

Shows on offer include political movie Steel Rain 2: Summit, thriller Deliver Us From Evil and Rampant.