Boat Rocker attends Le Bal Paris as part of independent financing initiative

Le Bal Paris is directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland

Canadian producer and distributor Boat Rocker has greenlit Le Bal Paris, a feature-length documentary set in the glamorous world of debutante balls, as part of a new initiative that will see it independently fund documentary projects.

Produced by Boat Rocker-owned US prodco Maven, the project offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most prestigious debutante ball. According to Boat Rocker, it marks the first time cameras have been granted access to the annual invite-only Le Bal Paris, which brings together high-profile guests in the name of haute couture, couture, high jewellery and charity.

Boat Rocker will handle global distribution of Le Bal Paris.

Directed by documentary filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland (Truman & Tennessee), the project follows the months-long preparations for the event, which has been cancelled for the past two years because of the pandemic. Ophélie Renouard, Mickey Boardman, Leila Mattimore, Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh and Lisa Immordino Vreeland serve as producers.

Michel Pratte, president of Boat Rocker Media, said: “Financing premium documentaries is an essential pillar for delivering on our promise to leading talent that Boat Rocker is the home for creative visionaries to remain independent, while succeeding creatively and commercially.

“The unprecedented demand for premium documentaries has led us to expand our investment past just development and into independently financing documentaries with undeniably unique stories that, as finished products, have extremely high value in today’s competitive marketplace.”

Vreeland added: “Le Bal has been featured in scripted television for years, but this is the first time cameras have been granted access in a documentary format, providing a rare chance to explore the process. It is also a chance to be able to see why an event that is steeped in such history is relevant to Gen Z.”

Other recent greenlights for Boat Rocker include Slip for Roku, Mrs American Pie for Apple TV+ and Robyn Hood for Canada’s Corus Entertainment. Boat Rocker’s preschool series Dino Ranch, for Canadian pubcaster the CBC and Disney in the US, has also been renewed for a second season.