News round-up: India’s ‘Fauda’ remake returns; Fremantle shops epilepsy doc; Samka hires Cartoon Network’s Wigzell

Tanaav

‘Tanaav returns for S2’

Israel’s Yes Studios and India’s Applause Entertainment have agreed an extension to the format rights to thriller series Fauda for its local remake Tanaav.

The first season of Fauda was remade in India as Tanaav for SonyLIV last year, by Applause, which is the content studio of Aditya Birla Group, with the firm confirmed to now also have secured the rights to adapt the second season.

Set in Kashmir, Tanaav tells the story of a Special Task Group caught up in the fight against terrorism in the region. The season one cast included Manav Vij, Sumit Kaul, Rajat Kapoor and Shashank Arora and was directed by Sudhir Mishra (Serious Men) and co-directed by Sachin Mamta Krishn (Hostages).

Fauda, which follows the work of a team of elite Israeli undercover agents, was created by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz.

Sameer Nair, managing director, Applause Entertainment, said: “We’re honoured to extend our partnership with Yes Studios after the resounding success of Tanaav season one. The teams at Applause and SonyLIV are pumped as we set out to craft an even more gripping tale for our audience with a season two.”

Sisters Interrupted

Fremantle shops epilepsy doc

Fremantle has acquired the global distribution rights for the feature documentary Sisters Interrupted, which explores the story of two sisters and their struggles with epilepsy.

Produced by Captum Productions in association with Docsville Studios, and directed by Caroline Sharp, the documentary follows British sisters Chelsea and Tamsin Leyland as they both battle forms of epilepsy and together fight for access to a treatment that could save both their lives.

Chelsea lives in New York and has gained access to medical cannabis against her neurologist’s recommendations, resulting in her being seizure-free for six years.

Across the Atlantic in the UK, her sister Tamsin often suffers up to 70 seizures a day and is resistant to every medication she has tried. She knows time is running out as she remains unable to access this innovative treatment through the UK health system.

Samka hires Cartoon Network’s Wigzell

Paris-based Samka Group has hired Cartoon Network exec Tramm Wigzell to the newly created post of global head of content.

In his new position, Wigzell will direct all developments for Samka, Sklan&Ka, Good Karma and Jetpack Distribution and will initiate projects in the US. Working alongside each company’s leadership team, he will head up a portfolio of animated and live action series ranging from preschool to teen and young adult fiction.

He will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Samka Group CEO Samuel Kaminka,

As SVP at Cartoon Network, Wigzell oversaw the development of all the network’s original productions, series, movies and shorts, including Ben 10, Summer Camp Island, Infinity Train, Victor and Valentino, Mao Mao, Heroes of Pure Heart and Apple & Onion.