The Woman Who Loves Giraffes

Amsterdam-based producer/distributor Off the Fence has acquired writer/director/producer Alison Reid’s Crave Original documentary, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes (pictured), for international distribution. The deal was negotiated by the film’s exec producer Paul Zimic and Off the Fence’s Loren Syer-Willoughby. Off the Fence introduced the doc at MIPTV earlier this week. Produced by Reid and Joanne Jackson, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes follows the story of Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, a woman who became the first person in the world to scientifically study the behaviour of the animals in Africa. The doc tracks the reality giraffes are facing today and the barriers she encountered during her career as a female biologist. The Woman Who Loves Giraffes was made with the assistance of Ontario Creates, Telefilm Canada, the Rogers Group of Funds, the Rogers Documentary Fund, KinoSmith and the Rogers Telefund. During the week of Jan. 11 to 17, 2019, the film came in at #3 on Playback’s top three Canadian film Hot Sheet, earning a total of $54,816 at the domestic box office after three weeks. According to Zimic the film has now surpassed $100,000 at the Canadian box office.

East Liberty Entertainment

Toronto distribution company East Liberty Entertainment has acquired the Canadian theatrical rights to Dale Hildebrand’s feature film Road To The Lemon Grove. The Canadian feature will open in Cineplex theatres in 16 markets, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver, on Labour Day Weekend. The film tells the story of a deceased Sicilian father who tries to negotiate his way into heaven by plotting one last outrageous mission for his reluctant son. It stars Burt Young, Nick Mancuso, Rossella Brescia, Charley Chiarelli and Loreena McKennitt, and has won a number of international awards, including Best Comedy Feature at the Edmonton Film Festival and the Cirs Award at the Taormina Film Festival. Producers on the project include Chris Gunther and Hildebrand. Executive producers are Jil Amadio and Hildebrand. East Liberty is headed up by president and founder Khaled Sabbour.

Unobstructed View

Unobstructed View has acquired the Canadian rights to writer/director Sameh Zoabi’s Tel Aviv On Fire (Luxembourg/Belgium/Israel/France). Written by Zoabi and and Dan Kleinman, the film follows a middle-aged intern who works for a popular Palestinian soap opera. Day in, day out, he encounters a Israeli military officer and in an effort to earn his favour, the intern begins to suggest changes to the show’s plot. The Canadian rights to the film were negotiated by Unobstructed View’s Jonathan Gross and Kerry Kupecz with Simon Gabriele from Indie Sales. Unobstructed View is planning a theatrical release for the film in the coming months. In addition to taking home the prize for best film and best actor (for Kais Nashif) at the Venice Film Festival in 2018, Tel Aviv On Fire screened as part of TIFF 2018’s Discovery section and will open this year’s Toronto Jewish Film Festival on May 2.

Armoza Formats

Dance competition format Dance Revolution has been commissioned for a local version in Lithuania. Licensed by LNK, the adaptation of the show is set to air in fall 2019. Developed and produced by Montreal’s Quebecor Content and prodco Fair-Play, the series uses 360-degree technology to allow judges to dissect dancers’ routines. Israel’s Armoza Formats sells the format internationally. Spanish prodco Globomedia and Paris, France-based Réservoir Prod are also adapting the series for the Spanish and French markets, respectively. Season two of Dance Revolution is expected to return to TVA later this year.