‘Peter Five Eight’ Joins Jinga’s AFM Slate; ‘Knockout Blonde’ Domestic Deal; OUTtv Co-Commissions Latest ‘Glow Up’; Late Michael Mosley Honored — Global Briefs

By Jesse Whittock, Andreas Wiseman

November 7, 2024 7:28am

Kevin Spacey Crime Pic ‘Peter Five Eight‘ Added To Jinga AFM Lineup

EXCLUSIVE: UK genre specialist Jinga Films has added crime caper Peter Five Eight, starring Kevin Spacey, Jet Jandreau and Rebecca De Mornay, to its AFM line up. Written and directed by Michael Zaiko Hall and produced by Mad Honey Productions, Forever Safe Productions, Ascent Films and LTD Films, the film sees a glamorous real estate agent in a small mountain community revealed to be an unhinged alcoholic with a dark secret. Invincible has theatrically released the movie in the U.S. and Phoenicia Pictures has acquired all rights for Middle East and Turkey. Invincible acquired the movie from VMI, which previously handled sales on it.

Doc On Transgender Boxing Promoter Kellie Maloney Weighs In At Verdi

EXCLUSIVE: Verdi Productions has acquired domestic distribution rights to Knockout Blonde, the doc detailing the life of transgender boxing promoter Kellie Maloney. The film charts her journey in world of boxing as a woman trapped in a man’s body, concealing her gender conflict as she became one of the sport’s most successful promoters, managing the likes of heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis. Rick Lazes, Tom DeNucci and Seth Koch directed and wrote the documentary. Verdi plans to launch it domestically day-and-date in spring 2025. Chad A. Verdi (The Irishman) from Verdi and Rick Lazes from Art Factory Films struck the deal before AFM. Both produce alongside Nick Koskoff, Seth Koch, Chad Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba. Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi served as executive producers. “This is the perfect documentary to begin Verdi Productions’ recent venture to provide domestic distribution for meaningful and inspiring films,” said Chad A. Verdi. “Kellie’s story is incredible — it will both educate and touch audiences nationwide.” 

OUTtv Co-Commissions ‘Glow Up‘ Season 7 With BBC

LGBTQ+ streamer OUTtv has joined forces with the BBC to co-commission the seventh season of makeup reality competition Glow Up. The streaming service had boarded Season 6 as exclusive global SVOD rights holder, but has expanded its participation for the new season as co-commissioner. In the UK, the Wall to Wall-produced show broadcasts on BBC Three and the BBC iPlayer. In the Nordics, OUTflix will have rights to the eight-part season, which will launch in 2025. The show, hosted by Leomie Anderson, sees contestants get the chance for a career-making break by competing in high-stakes assignments from TV special effects to digital fashion weeks, global brand campaigns and red carpets. “Glow Up is a series that we have admired for years, and co-commissioning the upcoming season feels like a natural progression for us following the successful rollout of season six earlier this year on our platform globally.”

Late Presenter Michael Mosley Honored At WCSFP

Michael Mosley, the British TV presenter who died while hiking on a Greek island earlier this year, will be posthumously honored at the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers (WCSFP) with a Lifetime Achievement gong at the Buzzies Awards. The conference noted the journalist, exec producer and presenter was a “tireless advocate for the popularization of science. He had presented programs such as Medical Mavericks, Trust Me I’m a Doctor and The One Show, and produced the likes of The Human Face and Inventions That Changed the World. Paul Lewis, WCSFP Conference Director, said: “Michael was a wonderful supporter and friend of Congress. His enthusiasm and passion for science storytelling has had a profound impact on all of us.” Mosley’s wife Clare will accept the award on his behalf. The presenter died of natural causes while hiking aged 67. The Buzzies will be in Marrakesh, Morocco, during the 2024 Congress, which takes place December 9-12.