Vice Distribution lands pre-sales deals for docuseries on flight MH370

Vice Distribution, the global distribution and licensing arm of Vice Media Group, has pre-sold Vice Studios’ forthcoming docuseries about the disappearance of Malaysian flight MH370 to networks in the U.S. and Europe.

The three-part series MH370: The Lost Flight (w/t), which was made available to global buyers at MIPTV this week, has been acquired by A+E Networks’ History Channel in the U.S., TV2 in Denmark, and Viaplay across its European territories (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Poland and pan-Baltics).

Produced for Paramount+ in the UK as part of its launch lineup, the series tells the story of the plane’s disappearance through the eyes of the victims’ families. Shot across four continents in a year, the docuseries will chart the tragedy’s twists and turns while unveiling new evidence.

MH370: The Lost Flight is produced in association with Vice World News. It’s produced and directed by Steve Webb with Neil Grant as executive producer, alongside co-executive producer Yonni Usiskin for Vice Studios. The series was ordered by Guy Davies, VP commissioning editor for Paramount+ UK. The series is distributed worldwide by Vice Distribution.

Abacus Media Rights sells This is Joan Collins to several territories

Abacus Media Rights (AMR), part of Amcomri Entertainment, has announced numerous sales for the new feature-length documentary This is Joan Collins (pictured), which tells the life story of the Hollywood legend using never-before-seen home movie footage and archive, and features narration by Collins herself.

The film has been sold to the U.S. and Canada (BritBox, Turner Turner Classic Movies) as well as French Canada (Bell Media), Australia (SBS), South Africa (M-Net), Spain (Movistar Plus+), Belgium (VRT), Israel (Channel 8, yes-DBS), Croatia (HRT), and Scandinavia and the Baltics (NonStop Entertainment).

This is Joan Collins is produced by Salon Pictures. It’s directed by Clare Beavan (Bricks!), produced by Bevan, Karen Steyn, Nick Taussig and Annabel Wigoder, and executive produced by Steyn. The doc was commissioned for BBC Arts.

“This is a fascinating and engrossing film-length documentary which lifts the lid on the incredible life of one of Britain’s most famous acting legends. We are extremely pleased to see it travel so widely throughout the world,” said Jonathan Ford, managing director at AMR, in a news release.

Bedna Films takes Czech rights to social experiment format The Frame

The cross-platform reality format The Frame, from ITV Studios division Armoza Formats, has been picked up for the Czech Republic, with local rights to the format being taken by Bedna Films.

The Frame (30-60 min.) comes from July–August Productions and follows eight couples whose living space has been reduced to one fixed camera frame. The elimination competition has only one rule: the participants can’t, under any circumstances, leave the frame. Over 30 days, the couples will have to deal with daily tasks, prizes, punishments, outside interruptions and each other while struggling to stay in the shot at all times.

“The Frame is an innovative cross-platform social experiment that is filled with increasing tension, drama and user engagement. The show will broadcast from the homes of the participants 24/7, making it the ultimate reality TV,” said Elizaveta Makarova, sales executive for Eastern Europe & CIS at Armoza Formats, in a release. “And with us sitting at home for the last two years, it is more relatable than ever. We’re very much looking forward to the Czech adaptation of the show and entering The Frame.”