Discovery takes Tsunami feature doc

Discovery Networks Western Europe has pre-bought Tsunami feature documentary After The Wave from coproduction and finance firm Drive.

The deal, brokered by Drive, sees Discovery acquire the rights to the 1×90’ doc in a number of territories including the UK, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), France, Italy, and Iberia.

After The Wave is being produced by Australian prodco Flaming Star Films and was commissioned by pubcaster SBS Australia. It focuses on the untold story of the forensic operation in Thailand to identify and return home the bodies of over 5,000 victims of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.

The film will mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy and has previously been sold to broadcasters including Discovery Asia, CBC in Canada and NRK Norway by UK-based sales house TVF International, which is handling global distribution.

Principal funding for the project came from government-backed Screen Australia and Film Victoria. The film is directed by Amanda Blue, with Sharyn Prentice as exec producer.