Discovery Communications has inked an agreement with IMAX Corporation that will see up to 10 documentaries produced through IMAX’s $50 million Original Film Fund landing on the Discovery Channel following their theatrical release.

The new agreement is the first time giant screen exhibitor IMAX has entered a TV distribution agreement for original content.

The global distribution and marketing deal gives Discovery Channel 18 months of exclusive global television rights to the docs, and will see the companies work together on development, production and marketing of the titles.

Set up in May 2014, the Original Film Fund was a program established to co-finance 10 large-format, educational documentaries for IMAX’s institutional partners. Insurance group The Knights of Columbus invested an initial $25 million into the fund, with the possibility of further investments in the future, while IMAX plans to contribute $9 million over five years, and also promises to reinvest portions of box office proceeds into the fund.