Fremantle signs ‘landmark’ doc-focused deal with US filmmaker Amy Berg

L-R: Jennifer Mullin, Mandy Chang and Amy Berg

European production giant Fremantle has inked a first-look deal with US documentary filmmaker Amy Berg, marking the first deal of its kind under Fremantle’s dedicated documentary unit.

Through the agreement, Berg – whose credits include HBO docs The Case Against Adnan Syed and Phoenix Rising – will develop and produce shows with Fremantle under her Disarming Films banner.

She will work closely with Fremantle’s global head of documentaries, Mandy Chang, with Fremantle also lending editorial and production expertise and handling distribution.

No projects have yet been announced via the partnership, but Fremantle said the first title would be announced soon.

Disarming Films, founded more than a decade ago, is currently working on a follow-up episode to 2019 documentary series The Case Against Adnan Syed that is set to premiere this autumn.

Other projects produced via Disarming Films include We Are: The Brooklyn Saints (Netflix), Keep This Between Us (Freeform) and Dogs (Netflix).

In addition to the deal with Berg, Fremantle also has majority stakes in multiple doc-focused production outfits including 72 Films (All or Nothing: Arsenal, 9/11: One Day in America), Silvio Productions (Shadow of Truth, The Baby Daddy) and Wildstar Films (America the Beautiful, Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory).

Jennifer Mullin, Fremantle’s global CEO, said the partnership with Berg is a “landmark deal” that demonstrates its commitment to the documentary genre.

Berg added: “Led by Mandy Chang, we know Fremantle will not only offer fantastic support and creative freedom, their extensive international infrastructure and expertise will provide Disarming Films with the platform to have our work seen around the world.”

Chang said: “It is a thrill and an honour having this opportunity to work with Amy, whom I have long admired and respected. She is a hugely regarded and talented filmmaker with a great body of work behind her.”