Keshet International finalizes first natural history content deal ahead of shows in London

EXCLUSIVE: Keshet International (KI) has signed its first natural history content deal with Finnish MRP Matila Röhr Productions, along with a Channel 4 doc about sexual harassment.

Ahead of this month’s London screenings, the Israeli powerhouse has four feature films, more than 70 short films and two making-of shows, led by MRP Spielfilm Tales of the sleeping giants. Shot over three years in Lapland, the film was recently released in Finnish cinemas and follows the lives of animals such as wolverines, reindeer, foxes, weasels, bears and humpback whales.

AI has also taken over the older features of MRP story of a forest And tale of a lake, along with those of 2019 symphony of nature.

Anke Stoll, SVP of acquisitions and co-productions at KI, said the outfit “expands our catalog” and will “use the incredible archive material to produce new titles for a growing market of blue-chip buyers of natural history content.”

Elsewhere Channel 4 Undercover: Sexual Harassment – The Truth join the AI ​​panel. In the Kalel Productions doc, broadcaster Ellie Flynn conducts hidden camera experiments to expose sexual harassment of women in the real world and online, from “dick shots” to flashing, groping, spitting and raping. In one particularly poignant scene, a man follows her to her hotel room, where she confronts him.

AI has busy London shows ahead as it also unveils scripted programs from its $100m fund ($28m), including A body that works which premiered during Series Mania in March, and the drama by Leonard Cohen The one through the fire. The London shows will run for a week from February 27.

“The sales team and I are excited to introduce our customers to this quality slate of newly acquired content,” said Kelly Wright, Managing Director of Distribution. “This year we are all coming together in person for what is quickly becoming a very important gathering for international distributors like us.”