Paramount Global Content Distribution has acquired all international rights, excluding some select territories, to Canadian filmmaker Matt Johnson’s buzzy BlackBerry feature, after IFC picked up U.S. rights in September.

The deal for the division of Paramount was brokered by Nate Bolotin and Pip Ngo for Los Angeles-based XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Dan Cohen for Paramount Global Content Distribution, according to a news release. Additional territories sold for the drama (pictured) — about Canadian software company Research In Motion, now known as BlackBerry Ltd. — include Falcon Films for the Middle East, NonStop Entertainment for Scandinavia, Pasatiempo Pictures for the Commonwealth of Independent States and Skeye for airlines.

Johnson directed the Canadian-shot BlackBerry, which makes its world premiere on Friday (Feb. 17) at the Berlin International Film festival. He also wrote it with Matthew Miller. The producers are Niv Fichman, Miller, Fraser Ash and Kevin Krikst.

BlackBerry is a Rhombus Media and Zapruder Films production, with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates, in association with CBC Films, IPR.VC, and XYZ Films, which is also executive producing. XYZ Films co-financed the film and Elevation Pictures will distribute it in Canada.

Blue Fox Entertainment

Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to Sean Garrity’s feature film The End of Sex. The L.A.-based distributor will have a theatrical release for the film in the U.S. in April, in tandem with the Canadian theatrical release via Vortex Media.

The End of Sex stars Jonas Chernick and Emily Hampshire as a couple who attempt to reinvigorate their sex life. It is directed by Garrity, written by Chernick, and produced by Vortex Productions. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022.

Quebecor Content

Quebecor Content has secured a global distribution agreement with Germany’s Bavaria Media International for the drama series Chaos, produced for TVA by Quebec’s Amalga and Keep It Simple.

The deal was brokered by Quebecor Content in collaboration with Barbara Vallant of Germany-based Aroma TV, according to a news release, which noted that Bavaria Media International is presenting the show this week’s Berlinale Series Market.

Based on an original concept by Josélito Michaud and directed by Stéphan Beaudoin, the 10 x 45-minute Chaos sees a group of adolescents grappling with the aftermath of a deadly explosion at a music concert. It aired on TVA in Canada in late 2021 and was nominated for three Prix Gémeaux awards in Quebec in 2022.

Corus Studios

Corus Studios has inked a licensing deal with L.A.-based Trusted Media Brands (TMB) to add three lifestyle series to its free, ad-supported TV (FAST) channel.

The agreement will bring three lifestyle series – Great Pacific Media’s Worst to First and Save My Reno, and Frantic Films’ Backyard Builds – to the U.S. FAST channel At Home With Family Handyman beginning in March. The linear streaming channel exceeded 11 billion minutes of view time in 2022, according to a news release.

APC

On-demand platform Telus Presents and SVOD MHz have acquired the rights to Belgian political drama Pandore in Canada. The 10 x 52-minute French-language thriller was commissioned by pubcaster RTBF and produced by Brussels-based Artemis Productions.

>Distributor About Premium Content (APC) negotiated the deals for Pandore, with MHz also acquiring U.S. rights for the series. The thriller was also acquired by SBS for Australia and Walter Presents for the U.K. and Ireland. Quebec pubcaster TV5 previously acquired the series to air in Canada.

With files from Victoria Ahearn

Image courtesy of Elevation Pictures