Int’l networks go behind bars

Broadcasters in the UK, Poland, Scandinavia, Benelux and Germany have pre-bought a documentary that goes inside some of the world’s harshest jails.

Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons has been developed by Munich-based producer Maximus Film and Berlin-based distributor Quintus Media.

Discovery will air the six-episode series in Scandinavia and Benelux, while A+E Networks has picked up rights for the UK and Poland, with N-TV taking rights for German-speaking Europe.

Gerrit Kemming, CEO of Quintus Media, said the pre-sales proved that the company’s international co-finance model is a “win-win-model for both broadcasters and producers, even if the producer is not from an English-speaking country.”