CBC, SVT buy Lanzmann doc

Pubcasters in Europe and North America are the latest to buy Adam Benzine’s documentary Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah.

Canadian CBC’s Documentary Channel, Sweden’s SVT, the Netherlands’ VPRO, Finland’s YLE and Poland’s TVP have acquired the 40-minute doc, along with Israel’s Channel 1.

They join HBO in the US, ZDF/Arte in France and Germany, and Denmark’s DR, who bought the show last year.

The Academy Award-shortlisted doc film examines French director Lanzmann’s 12-year battle to create doc masterpiece Shoah, which is considered to be one of the most definitive Holocaust films ever made.

A number of channels have acquired the original doc since Benzine’s film began airing at film festivals last year.

Tel Aviv-based distributor Cinephil scored the latest deals, with the exception of the Polish deal.

Coproducer Arte will air the show on January 27 (International Holocaust Remembrance Day), while HBO plans to debut it in the US in May.

“Adam Benzine surely pursues the darkest corners of Claude Lanzmann’s heart – what emerges is a vital and gripping personal commentary on the most comprehensive film ever made about the Holocaust,” said Bruce Cowley, creative head of digital channels at CBC.

“Spectres of the Shoah provides incredible context and perspective. It’s an important movie and Documentary Channel is proud to be the film’s Canadian broadcaster.”