Int’l nets open eyes to Blink docs

Blink’s archaeology series Secrets

Broadcasters in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and France are onboard a trio of factual programmes from London-based indie Blink Films.

PBS in the US, Channel 5 in the UK and Vision in Canada have commissioned The Last Days of Jesus (1×120′), while UK production-funding and distribution agency Drive has secured a pre-sale to SBS in Australia.

The special looks at the life of Jesus through the prism of Rome, examining how Roman power plays in the Galilee and Judea affected events that may have shaped Jesus’ life and death.

It is a coproduction between Blink Films and Associated Producers, with Dan Chambers, Simcha Jacobovici and David McNab executive producing. PBS International is distributing the documentary worldwide.

Meanwhile, Volatile Earth (3×60′) is a PBS Nova production by Blink Films for WGBH Boston in the US and More4 in the UK, with support from EU Media Plus. The miniseries explores some of the most extreme natural events over the last 50,000 years.

Blink Films will also produce a fourth season of the BBC Worldwide-distributed series Secrets (8×60′) for Smithsonian Channel in the US and Channel 5 UK, with pre-sales secured by Drive to France 5 and SBS.

The archaeology series is known as Ancient Mysteries in the UK and internationally as Treasures Decoded.

Last year Blink Films received a strategic financial investment from Tin Roof Media, which was founded by media entrepreneur Neil Court alongside Charles Wace and Charles Ogilvie.