The international distributor announced new deals for its factual catalog across the region, to broadcasters including HBO Latin America, Globoplay in Brazil, Directv Latin America and Paramount Network.
Abacus Media Rights (AMR), a member of the Amcomri Media Group, announces a raft of factual programming sales to Latin American platforms as MIPCancun launches this week.
HBO Latin America has acquired 1 x 100-minute feature documentary Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn. Produced by LIGHTBOX and directed by Muta’Ali (Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee), the film tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered in 1989 by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Yusuf Hawkins’ death and the official response to it sparked outrage in New York, unleashing a torrent of racial tension and spurring tireless civil rights activism that exposed deep racial prejudices and inequities which continue to plague the USA today.
Directed by Nick Broomfield, Whitney Can I Be Me, a 100-minute one off documentary film, has been picked up by Globoplay (Brazil). Created with rare footage and exclusive live recordings, Broomfield’s film tells Whitney Houston’s incredible and poignant life story with insights from those closest to her.
The highly anticipated Lennon’s Last Weekend a film of the Beatles legend’s honest and heartfelt final interview has been acquired by DIRECTV Latin America for their exclusive OnDIRECTV channel and associated VOD for DIRECTV GO. Intertwined with footage and commentary from friends, this 65-minute feature documentary produced by MGMM Studios, is now available as December 2020 marks the 40th anniversary of John Lennon’s sudden death in New York.
Paramount Network Latin America has snapped up Margaret Atwood: A Word after a Word after a Word is Power, a revealing 92-minute documentary film from White Pine Pictures which takes a rare glimpse into Margaret Atwood’s personal world. Poet and novelist Margaret Atwood is a household name, yet few know the private Margaret. Atwood’s novels are explored, including her latest, The Testaments, the highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. Who is the woman behind these incredible stories?
Anton Romalijskij, Director of Sales at Abacus Media Rights who brokered the deals comments: “This eclectic mix of premium documentary films uses deep research, high production values and unprecedented access to reveal many unknown and compelling stories. We are very pleased that through these sales Latin American viewers will be able to access a unique insight into some extraordinary lives.”
These significant sales join other recently secured deals by Abacus Media Rights in Latin America including Discovery Latin America’s acquisition of Australian factual entertainment series Outback Lockdown; Globoplay (Brazil) and DIRECTV Latin America have picked up hard-hitting documentary People You May Know, with Globoplay (Brazil) on board to air coming-of-age, supernatural drama series Trickster.
