Boat Rocker Media’s global distribution, sales and licensing division Boat Rocker Rights has picked up the rights to Canadian filmmaker Judith Pyke’s latest documentary, The Secrets of Friendship. 

The 60-minute film (pictured), following scientists analyzing the social lives of humans and animals in search of connections, is slated to premiere on CBC’s The Nature of Things on Friday (March 24), and will also be available for streaming on CBC Gem.

The Secrets of Friendship is produced by Vancouver-based Pyke’s prodco Curious Features in association with CBC, and with the participation of the Canada Media Fund (CMF), British Columbia’s Film Incentive BC and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada has renewed and expanded its agreement with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) to broadcast the Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games.

CPC’s deal with CBC/Radio-Canada will see the public broadcaster’s role expand, sublicensing the rights as the official broadcaster of the Games and featuring comprehensive Paralympic Games coverage across its television, streaming and digital platforms in English and French. CBC/Radio-Canada has held the rights to the Paralympic Games broadcast since Sochi 2014.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8, 2024 with the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games slated for March 6 to 15, 2026.

9 Story Media Group

Toronto-headquartered 9 Story Media Group and Karma’s World Entertainment have signed two new licensing deals meant to support Black-owned businesses.

L.A.’s CurlyKids Mixed Texture HairCare and Stafford, Tex.-based Firstline Brands have developed their Karma’s World products with the former’s products available in Walmart stores across the U.S. Meanwhile 9 Story’s agreement with L.A.-based private club The Gathering Spot, which specializes in Black business development and networking for entrepreneurs, includes access to Gathering Spot offers, club memberships and networking opportunities at Licensing Expo in June.

Created by rapper, actor and producer Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Karma’s World (40 x 11 minutes) premiered worldwide on Netflix in October 2021.

Cineflix Rights

Cineflix Rights has presold season two of Sagafilm’s The Minister to Viaplay for its streaming platforms in the U.K. and Germany, with further deals currently in negotiation.

The series was co-commissioned by international broadcasters RUV (Iceland), (Denmark), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway) and YLE (Finland). Season two was written by Birkir Blær and Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson and co-directed by Arnór Pálmi Arnarson and Katrín Björgvinsdóttir.

The series is produced by Hlín Jóhannesdóttir, with Kjartan Thor Thordarson, Hilmar Sigurdsson, Ragnar Agnarsson and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson serving as executive producers.

Cineflix Rights has previously sold season one of the political drama to Viaplay and additional broadcasters and streamers including Ontario pubcaster TVO, SBS (Australia), AMC Networks International Southern Europe, HBO Max (Nordics), Topic (U.S. and Canada), Filmin (Spain), Canal+ (Czech Republic and Slovakia) and Hot (Israel).

Pluto TV

Pluto TV has partnered with Pelmorex’s The Weather Network to bring its recently-launched FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) channel to the platform.

The FAST channel launched earlier this month on Samsung TV Plus with real-time weather coverage, weather stories, long-form programs and in-depth features for major Canadian cities.

The addition of The Weather Network follows deals for Pluto TV with OUTtv Proud and Shades of Black last month as well as its partnership with Blue Ant Media that added new channels HauntTV, Crimetime, HistoryTime and Homeful.

Vision TV

English language Category A specialty channel Vision TV has acquired the documentary The Rhapsody for its world television network premiere on April 3.

The film’s debut on Vision follows its world premiere in July 2022 at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival with subsequent screenings Miami, Australia and Hong Kong.

The Rhapsody is written, directed and animated by David Hoffert (American Mystery), who also produced the documentary alongside Brenda Hoffert, Paul Hoffert and Jeff Preyra. Narrated by Stephen Fry, the film examines the life and work of Leo Spellman, a Jewish musician and Holocaust survivor from Poland.

With files from Kidscreen and Realscreen

Image courtesy of Boat Rocker Rights