Netflix makes factual move

Netflix has made its first major move into factual programming, picking up exclusive streaming rights to an acclaimed documentary about the Egyptian protest movement.

The Square, directed and produced by Jehane Noujaim, tells the story of the Egyptian revolution from the point of view of the young activists in Tahrir Square.

The show, which has been tipped to be a contender for an Oscar, won this year’s Toronto International Film Festival documentary people’s choice award while an earlier version won the audience award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

It will premiere in Netflix’s 40 territories of operation in early 2014, following a limited run in cinemas in New York and Lost Angeles to qualify for Oscar nomination.

Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of original documentary programming, said The Square was “documentary filmmaking at the highest level.”

Netflix, which now claims to have over 40 million global members, said in July that the platform’s original initiative would soon expand out from scripted series like House of Cards into broad-appeal documentaries and stand-up comedy specials.

It recently commissioned its first original non-fiction project, which features comedian Russell Peters.