Discovery pre-buys Tsunami feature doc

Discovery Networks Western Europe has pre-bought feature documentary After the Wave, for a number of territories.

The deal, brokered with UK-based financing and co-production specialist Drive, hands Discovery broadcast rights in the UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. TVF International has distribution rights elsewhere.

The 1x90mins After the Wave focuses on the epic forensic operation that followed the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand, which left more than 5,000 people dead.

Flaming Star Films is producing the doc for pubcaster SBS in Australia to mark the tenth anniversary of the tragedy. Initial funding was secured from Screen Australia and Film Victoria.

“We have a longstanding and fruitful relationship with Discovery internationally, having worked with them on a number of series and specials in the last year,” said Drive’s joint managing director Ben Barrett. “We are delighted to be partnering again on an ambitious, high profile production with a real global relevance.”

Barrett launched Drive last year with former Channel 5 coproductions boss Lila Hurst. It has secured deals with unscripted prodcos Raw TV, Bedlam Productions, Blink Films, Yap Films, October Films and Barcroft Productions, and moved into scripted by brokering an agreement between BBC Two and Sundance Channel in the US for upcoming drama One Child.

Drive brokered this latest agreement with Adam Jacobs, director, factual programming for Discovery Networks Western Europe.